Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 S.
The 2016 Tesla S is an electric passenger car that carries a distinctly troubled reliability record alongside its electric powertrain, anchored by a substantial 604 owner complaints and 8 official recalls. Suspension faults stand out as the single most prevalent area of dissatisfaction among these reports, underscoring the mechanical challenges facing this specific iteration. Ultimately, this positions the 2016 model year as a notoriously problematic chapter in the vehicle's history, meaning researchers must approach it with the understanding that its electric powertrain is offset by significant, documented vulnerabilities.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 195.7 in |
| Overall width | 77.2 in |
| Overall height | 56.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.5 in |
| Curb weight | 4420 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 65.4 / 66.9 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 47/53 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2016 Tesla S lead in one area — the suspension, 167 of 604 reports (28%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 89 of the reports describe a crash and 12 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 604 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 99 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB-25-16-003 | 2025-06-03 | Electrical System | On certain Model S and Model X vehicles, the battery powered Pyrotechnic High Voltage… |
| 2024.26.9_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| 2024.38_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| fsd-12-5-3_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| fsd-12-5-4_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.