2016 Tesla Model S Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

84Steering complaints

13.1%Of all 639 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION209 · 32.7%

Unspecified / other150 · 23.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM145 · 22.7%

STEERING84 · 13.1%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL79 · 12.4%

Share of the 639 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Tesla Model S overview page.

What owners report

“THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT. HERE IS A VIDEO OF AN OWNER USING AUTOPILOT HANDS FREE AT HIGH SPEED ON A FREEWAY…”NHTSA complaint 11000132 — filed 06/20/2017

“I HAD MY WHEEL TURNED AND I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THEN I SWIPED MY CARD TO GET INTO MY PARKING GARAGE. AFTER I…”NHTSA complaint 10995278 — filed 06/15/2017

“THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT. HERE IS A RECENTLY POSTED VIDEO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=0DPLW8Y6AJG THE OWNER MERGES ON TO A BUSY FREEWAY AT 70…”NHTSA complaint 10994358 — filed 06/11/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Tesla Model S have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Tesla Model S: 84 of 639 complaints on file (13.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Tesla Model S have in total?

639 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 91 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, 64 reported injuries, and 8 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.