There are 18 stored owner reports matching the lighting leading-label group for the 2016 Tesla Model S in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 18 of 18 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)Daytime running lights de soldered themselves from the headlight assembly, Tesla suggested a $4600.00 replacement of headlights at customer cost, no warranty.
Tesla designed a combined headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that apparently has a tendency to overheat and fail prematurely. For example, the replacement cost for a portion of the daytime running light (on one side) is over $1,000. This is apparently a known weak point and should be addressed.
Warning doors are opening by itself headlights are not working and parking sensors emergency braking as well a lot of issues with this car.
Day time running lights have a very short life of 1-2 years before failing. The bulbs are not replaceable and require replacement of entire headlight unit which costs over $1,000.
Unknown. Both left and right daytime running lights are failing. Problem started about two months ago. The bright LED lights are slowly turning an amber color. Daytime running lights are part of the assembly of the headlight so all headlight and daytime running light would have to be replaced just to fix the daytime running light problem. I use daytime running lights for safety reasons while driving.
Headlight daytime running lights (eyebrows) have experienced a failure. Progressively turning yellow, then eventually failing to light up. Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The daytime running lights are essential for safety. The repair is a big cost to car owners with no recourse to fix the headlights themselves at a fraction of the cost the manufacturer charges to replace at their service center. This is a serious safety issue for drivers.
The tail light flooded during rain and the tail light would not turn on. I was notified of this issue after an officer pulled me over and gave me a notice. There were no warning signs. In search of the issue online, it appears that it is a very common issue with the Model S tail lights.
Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The day
CENTER SCREEN FROZEN REPEATEDLY
2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. MY INFOTAINMENT UNIT TURNED BLACK, I LOST: 1.. AUTO PILOT 2. HVAC 3. EXTERIOR LIGHTS 4. RADIO 5. MAPS, BLINKERS WHEN I CONTACTED TESLA, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. WE COULD HAVE EASILY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT LOSING THESE VITAL THINGS. HOW DO YOU GET TESLA TO FIX THIS AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT FIX?
PRIOR TO 10/2/2020 NUMEROUS REBOOTS USUALLY AFTER BEING PARKED. HAD TO WAIT EXCESSIVE TIME SINCE I HAD PIN TO DRIVE ENABLED. DISABLED PIN TO DRIVE SINCE I WAS GETTING STUCK. IT IS EMBARRASSING AND NOT A GOOD REFLECTION ON TESLA PRODUCTS TO HAVE TO WAIT 5 MINUTES TO MOVE YOUR CAR. SOMETHING IS WRONG. 10/2/2020 WHILE DRIVING ON I 40 NOTED THERE WAS A LACK OF TURN SIGNAL SOUNDS. NOTED NAVIGATION DID NOT SEEM TO BE UPDATING TO CURRENT POSITION. WHILE ON AUTOPILOT THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFT TOWARD AN EXIT. THE AUTOPILOT HAD DISENGAGED WITH NO WARNING SOUND' NOTHING. CONTINUED TO STEER MANUALLY. SCREEN WENT BLACK. AC STOPPED. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE SCREEN REBOOTED. HAD TO RE-INPUT DESTINATION. 10/3/2020. WENT TO ASHLAND NC SUPERCHARGER TO TOP OFF BEFORE GETTING ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY. WAS ONLY GETTING 4 KW TO START FINALLY GIVING UP AFTER 30 MINUTES ACHIEVING A MAXIMUM OF 10KW. WHEN I UNPLUGGED I GOT A WARNING "REDUCED POWER, SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN. SERVICE REQUIRED. VEHICLE MAY NOT START". THE SCREEN WENT BLACK AND AFTER TIME FINALLY RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE. LATER IN CHEROKEE NC THE SCREEN AGAIN REBOOTED AFTER CHARGING AT A J1772 STATION. 10/4/2020. WHILE DRIVING WITH ON I95 NEAR ST AUGUSTINE I NOTED THE LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL SOUND AGAIN. THE NAVIGATION WAS FROZEN AGAIN. AGAIN THERE WAS NO SOUND OR WARNING DISENGAGING OR ENGAGING AUTOPILOT. THE SCREEN WENT BLACK. THE AC WENT OFF. I OBSERVED THE TESLA T COME UP THEN THE SCREEN WENT BLACK AGAIN. THEN THE TESLA T CAME UP A SECOND TIME AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE CONTROLS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AGAIN AT NOV 19@ 7:03 PM: DRIVING WEST IN I-4 STANFORD, FL. SAME AS ON 10/2. LOSS OF AUTOPILOT, LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL SOUND, LOSS OF CLIMATE CONTROL, LOSS OF MUSIC. TOOK 6 MINUTES TO REBOOT. TOOK AN ADDITIONAL 5 MINUTES FOR NAVIGATION TO RESTORE. THERE ARE MORE INSTANCES BUT I AM OUT OF CHARACTERS.
VIN: [XXX] WHILE DRIVING AIR SUSPENSION HAS WILDLY ACTIVATED. UNABLE TO MANUALLY TURN HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT. ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAS, UNCOMMANDEDLY, ACTIVATED ON FULL VOLUME AND UNABLE TO REDUCE/MUTE. BLUETOOTH LINK DISCONNECTED FROM PHONE ELIMINATING HANDSFREE ABILITY MID-CALL. MCU (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT)/MAINSCREEN HAS REBOOTED ON ITS OWN, WITH HIGH OUTSIDE HEAT, PHOENIX, ARIZONA< SHUTTING OFF CABIN COOLING FOR AS LONG AS 5 MINUTES. THESE ARE PRIMARY SAFETY CONCERNS AND MAJOR DISTRACTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS FREQUENT LOSS OF GPS/NAVIGATION POSITION, FALSE AURAL WARNINGS AND SOMETIMES A COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE MCU THAT A RESET SOMETIMES/TEMPORARILY CLEARS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE SUMMER THROUGH NOW BOTH LOCALLY WITHIN THE PHOENIX, ARIZONA AREA, PARTS OF NORTHERN ARIZONA, NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA AT DIFFERENT TIMES, ELEVATIONS, CLIMATES AND TIME OF DAY. I HAVE VIDEO THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU IF NEEDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DRL BURN OUT REPEATEDLY. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2016-2020 MODEL S HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN JUST 50K MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MCU SCREEN INTERMITTENTLY BECAME INOPERABLE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE REAR VIEW CAMERA AND EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V035000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
I'VE BEEN HAVING ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE MCU/ TOUCH SCREEN. I WAS DRIVING EARLY MORNING ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS STILL DARK OUTSIDE. I WENT TO TURN ON FOG LIGHTS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AND THE TOUCH SCREEN FROZE ON ME. I HAD NO WAY OF TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON AND HAD TO DRIVE IN THE DARK WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT IS AHEAD OF ME UNTIL I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THEY DID REPLACE THE MCU, HOWEVER I'VE STILL BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TOUCH SCREEN. I DON'T HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM. HOW DO I KNOW THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN?
ONE OF THE LIGHTS DOES NOT TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY TURNS OFF. A MANUAL RESET FROM THE MAIN CONTROL SCREEN IS NEEDED TO TURN THEM ON. THE VIDEO FOOTAGE IS AVAILABLE HERE: HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/S/RNJE8Y4TC3GRXG3/TESLA_LIGHTS_BUG.MP4?DL=0
AFTER THE SHOCK (BECAUSE OF THE FAILED AUTOPILOT), ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN THEM ON BY USING THE WHICH NEAR THE WHEEL. TO TURN THEM ON, I HAD TO RESET THE CAR FROM THE CENTRAL CONSOLE. THE DASHCAM FOOTAGE IS AVAILABLE HERE: HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/S/RJVY3FTOAKX7J74/TESLA_AUTOPILOT_AND_LIGHTS_DEFECTS.MP4?DL=0
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 I NOTICED ONE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STARTED TO GO OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO TESLA AND THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THE OTHER SIDE DID THE SAME THING. AGAIN THEY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT. THEN IN JUNE OF 2019 ONE OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND BOTH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE GOING OUT AGAIN. THERE IS SOME DEFECT THAT CAUSES THEM TO BURN OUT. I FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO DECREASE ACCIDENTS.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.