2021 Tesla Model S
The 2021 Tesla Model S is sold in the U.S. as an electric large hatchback with 4 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model S Long Range, is EPA-rated at 405 miles with 120 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 23 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 179 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model S Long Range | Electric | AWD | 179 and 186 kW AC 3-Phase | 124 | 115 | 120 MPGe | 405 mi | 28.2 | 15 h | $650 |
| Model S Performance (19in Wheels) | Electric | AWD | 149 and 276 kW AC 3-Phase | 114 | 106 | 110 MPGe | 387 mi | 30.6 | 14.7 h | $700 |
| Model S Plaid (21inch wheels) | Electric | AWD | 250 and 250 kW AC 3-Phase | 102 | 99 | 101 MPGe | 348 mi | 33.4 | 15 h | $750 |
| Model S Performance (21in Wheels) | Electric | AWD | 149 and 276 kW AC 3-Phase | 98 | 93 | 96 MPGe | 334 mi | 35.2 | 14.7 h | $800 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44051, 43516, 44069, 43517.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model S Long Range, Model S Performance (19in Wheels), Model S Performance (21in Wheels), Model S Plaid (21inch wheels) | 10 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Doors | 5 |
| GVWR class | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Electric |
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim. Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 195.7 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 77.2 in |
| Height | 56.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.5 in |
| Track, front | 65.4 in |
| Track, rear | 66.9 in |
| Curb weight | 4,969 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 51/49 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Sedan AWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2021 Tesla Model S is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (23)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseElectrical System
SB-25-20-001Air Bags
SB-24-20-001Latches/Locks/Linkages
SB-24-00-012Seat Belts
SB-24-00-008Forward Collision Avoidance
SB-24-00-006Electrical System
SB-24-00-003Electrical System
SB-23-00-008Steering
SB-23-20-005Seat Belts
SB-23-20-004Steering
SB-23-00-001Steering
SB-22-00-014Visibility
SB-22-00-013Back Over Prevention
SB-22-00-009Electrical System
SB-22-00-003Air Bags
SB-22-20-001Electrical System
SB-22-00-003Visibility
SB-22-18-002Electrical System
SB-22-00-002Steering
SB-22-00-001Latches/Locks/Linkages
SB-21-11-003Air Bags
SB-21-20-007Forward Collision Avoidance
SB-21-00-004These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Electrical System:Adas — FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Tesla’s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the system’s ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient time to respond. ODI will evaluate the performance of FSD in degraded roadway conditions and the updates or modifications by Tesla to the degradation detection system, including the timing, purpose, and capabilities of the updates, and Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact. Tesla’s FSD is an advanced
Opened Mar 18, 2026 · action EA26002 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Adas — Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged open
The Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute traffic safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automation system requiring a fully attentive driver who is engaged in the driving task at all times. Level 2 partial automation systems are designed to support and assist the driver in performing certain aspects of the driving task, requiring a driver to supervise and intervene as necessary. The driver remains
Opened Oct 7, 2025 · action PE25012 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Adas — Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements open
The Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”) in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the “SGO”), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the Standing General Order in place at the time required a report to be submitted within one or five days of Tesla receiving notice of the crash. When the reports were submitted, Tesla submitted them in one of two ways. Many of the reports were submitted as part of a single batch, while others were submitted on a rolling basis. Preliminary engagement between ODI and T
Opened Aug 20, 2025 · action AQ25002 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Adas:Autonomous/Self Driving — Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts. closed
On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private property. ODI analyzed complaint data provided by Tesla as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers to identify Summon incidents resulting in crashes. ODI's analysis indicates that almost all Summon reported crashes involved minor property damage claims with no reported incidents involving a vu
Opened Jan 6, 2025 · closed Apr 3, 2026 · action PE24033 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Adas — FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions closed
On October 17, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031) of Tesla’s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) to assess: the ability of the FSD system to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions; whether any other FSD crashes had occurred under degraded roadway visibility conditions that are similar in nature to the four SGO-reported crashes identified in the opening document, and if so, the contributing circumstances for each of those crashes; and any updates or modifications by Tesla to the FSD system that may affect the performance of FSD in degraded roadway visibility
Opened Oct 17, 2024 · closed Mar 18, 2026 · action PE24031 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Adas:Driver Monitoring:Software — Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report (Recall 23V838) applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its Autopilot system, which Tesla described as an SAE Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Autopilot is the simultaneous engagement of Tesla’s Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC) and Autosteer. In describing the safety defect, Tesla’s Defect Information Report (DIR) explained that “the prominence and scope of the system’s controls may be insufficient to prevent driver misuse,” and Tesla committed to the deployme
Opened Apr 25, 2024 · action RQ24009 · the investigation’s page →
Vehicle Speed Control — Sudden Unintended Acceleration open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12VDC systems may have caused some or all of the incidents examined by ODI in DP20-001. The petitioner bases this information on a review of open-source research and the DP20-001 denial. The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number: 11528471.
Opened Jun 29, 2023 · action DP23002 · the investigation’s page →
Unknown Or Other — Defect Petition Interlock Request closed
On March 21, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting a “recall of all Tesla cars” produced from 2013 to the date on which the petition was filed due to what Petitioner considers to be the increased likelihood of pedal misapplication. Attached to the Petition is a paper authored by Petitioner. According to Petitioner, the differences in the operator controls between the subject Tesla vehicles and internal combustion engine powered vehicles promote driver pedal misapplication, leading to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incidents. To fix this alleged defect, Petitioner argues that the subject vehicles should be equipped with measures that require: (i)
Opened Apr 7, 2023 · closed Mar 18, 2026 · action DP23001 · the investigation’s page →
Seat Belts — Front seat belt anchor detachment closed
On March 24, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving 2 consumer complaints alleging the front seat belts had suddenly detached from the outboard lap pretensioner anchor while in motion in model year (MY) 2022-2023 Tesla Model X vehicles. In its June 19, 2023 response to ODI’s May 4, 2023 Information Request letter of the PE, Tesla reported that its review of field repair data identified 12 additional warranty claims of the subject condition in the affected vehicles. On July 14, 2023, Tesla filed a safety recall (NHTSA No. 23V-488) of 15,869 MY 2021 - 2023 Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles. The recall remedy is an inspection of
Opened Mar 24, 2023 · closed May 16, 2024 · action PE23006 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System — Autopilot System Driver Controls closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded PE21020 to EA22002 on June 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the PE21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how Tesla’s Autopilot system may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision. To support this work, ODI collected additional crash information and assessed vehicle control authority, driver engagement technologies, and related human factors considerations associated with partial automation via analysis of peer vehicle data and hands-on vehicle evaluation, assessments from NHTSA human fact
Opened Jun 8, 2022 · closed Apr 25, 2024 · action EA22002 · the investigation’s page →
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings — Unexpected Brake Activation closed
On February 16, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22002) to investigate reports of unexpected deceleration while driving with the adaptive cruise control system engaged in Model Year (MY) 2021 – 2022 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured by Tesla. The subject systems include Autopilot (all versions), Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC). These complaints have been colloquially referred to as “phantom braking”. ODI opened PE22002 to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to assess any resulting safety issues in the subject vehicles. The alleged defect is an unexpected and unrequested vehicle
Opened Feb 16, 2022 · closed Jun 29, 2026 · action PE22002 · the investigation’s page →
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:120/240 Vac Electrical System:Receptacle — Tesla Passenger Play closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-023) on December 21, 2021, to evaluate the driver distraction potential and use frequency / circumstances of in-vehicle game-play functionality referred to as ?Passenger Play? in certain model year (MY) 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles. Distracted driving can result in an increased risk of a crash. PE21-023 was prompted by the receipt of Vehicle Owners Questionnaire (VOQ) 11439598 from the owner of a 2021 Model 3 on November 6, 2021. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Tesla on January 20, 2022 and received Tesla?s response on March 4, 2022. On December 24, 2020, Tesla introduced Passenger P
Opened Dec 21, 2021 · closed May 26, 2023 · action PE21023 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Adas — Autopilot & First Responder Scenes closed
On August 13, 2021, NHTSA?s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-020) to assess the performance of Tesla?s Autopilot system (a system characterized by Tesla as an SAE Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task) available in Tesla vehicles. The investigation opening was motivated by an accumulation of crashes in which Tesla vehicles, operating with Autopilot engaged, struck stationary in-road or roadside first responder vehicles tending to pre-existing collision scenes. Upon opening the investigation, NHTSA indicated that the PE would also evaluate additional similar circumstance crashes of
Opened Aug 13, 2021 · closed Jun 8, 2022 · action PE21020 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Model S
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Tesla publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Tesla Model S, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2021 Tesla Model S
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this Model S →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database13 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 5 injuries · 1 deaths reported
83 per 10,000 built · Tesla reported 21,508 Model S built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2020: 2 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 68 · 2023: 44 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 9
Most-cited components
In depth: automatic emergency braking problems →
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
Beta Autopilot was engaged, driver had hand on steering wheel, vehicle was traveling less than 35MPH (speed limit) and coming around a corner when it misjudged the road curve. The road curved to the left and as the car took the turn it took too wide of a turn and veered slightly off the road.
My 2021 Tesla S has on multiple occasions hard braked when in cruise control when there were no vehicles in view. All occurrences were on four lane interstate highways with no surrounding vehicles
I had a tire that kept loosing pressure so I took it in to see way. With only a little over 12,000 miles have I have a tire that is splitting between the tread and side wall. Its one the inside of the back drivers side tire
The start up chime that dings when the car starts plays CONTINUOUSLY while the car is driven. This is not only distracting, but it prevents the driver from hearing the other dings that are associated with the safety systems (collision warning, lane departure, etc.).
Drivers seat creaks during even moderate acceleration suggesting that it is not properly bolted to the frame and/or that the bolts are not properly torqued
Autopilot cut off while driving on curved highway exit ramp, leading to driver's side of car grazing guard rail and rims of wheels grazing curb. Mostly paint damage. Repair estimate: $7,000.00 Car sustained minor damage, but I was told by collision center that other similar incidents had occurred, including one in which car had gone off…
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Tesla itself: 6 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 7 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 28 per 100,000 built. Every Model S model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 14 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 1,000 and 24,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 HB AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ | 6% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Driver-assist crash reports (38)
Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-011 fatality · 1 serious · 1 no injury reported · 35 severity unknown
Oct 2021 to May 2026 · 34 with an air bag deployment · 5 towed
What was engaged, and what was hit
System named: not named in the filings
Crash partner: Unknown 19 · Other 4 · Passenger Car 4 · SUV 4
Filed by: Tesla, Inc.
| Incident | System | Struck | Injury alleged | State | Speed | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Level 2 | Unknown | unknown | CA | — | 13781-15204 |
| Apr 2026 | Level 2 | Unknown | unknown | OK | 41 mph | 13781-14698 |
| Apr 2026 | Level 2 | Pole / Tree | unknown | NH | 73 mph | 13781-14608 |
| Apr 2026 | Level 2 | Unknown | serious | CA | 42 mph | 13781-15109 |
| Apr 2026 | Level 2 | Unknown | unknown | NJ | 25 mph | 13781-14878 |
| Mar 2026 | Level 2 | Heavy Truck | unknown | CA | 68 mph | 13781-14473 |
| Feb 2026 | Level 2 | SUV | unknown | AL | 25 mph | 13781-14030 |
| Nov 2025 | Level 2 | Unknown | unknown | TX | 12 mph | 13781-13290 |
| Sep 2025 | Level 2 | SUV | unknown | UT | 18 mph | 13781-11748 |
| Jun 2025 | Level 2 | Other | unknown | OK | — | 13781-11184 |
| May 2025 | Level 2 | Unknown | unknown | CA | 69 mph | 13781-10813 |
| May 2025 | Level 2 | Pickup Truck | unknown | VA | 46 mph | 13781-10734 |
Showing the 12 most recent of 38; every one is in this page’s JSON and the dataset.
A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Unknown Or Other, Equipment, Electrical System, Steering, Engine.
- SB-26-18-001 Service bulletin2026-02-04 · Unknown Or Other
- On some Model S and Model X vehicles, the compression gap of the HVAC drain funnel seal is wider than intended, which may cause water ingress. Inspect the sponge area of the HVAC drain funnel for water ingress. If water ingress is present, rework the HVAC drain funnel seal.
- SB-25-16-004 Service bulletin2025-09-03 · Electrical System
- On certain Model S and Model X vehicles, the HV battery umbrella valves, over time, may become damaged due to road debris. Replace all 5 umbrella valves with updated parts. This new revision, R1, updates the affected Countries/Regions.
- SB-25-16-002 Service bulletin2025-09-02 · Electrical System
- On certain Model S and Model X vehicles built between approximately January 2021 and September 22, 2022, the High Voltage (HV) battery ports’ plungers intended for internal water leak egress (also known as flood ports) can be replaced with plungers that are more robust against external ingress due to submersion during flooding or other similar high-severity abuse instances. Replace all 5 flood por
- SB-21-20-007 Service bulletin2025-05-02 · Air Bags
- Certain Model S and Model X vehicles were equipped with driver airbags that do not meet internal quality standards.
- SB-24-17-005 Service bulletin2025-04-03 · Electrical System
- On certain Model S, Model X and Model Y vehicles, the interior camera requires replacement to mitigate reduced driver attentiveness detection performance in low-light conditions.
- SB-24-21-002 Service bulletin2025-03-21 · Electrical System
- Some Model S and Model X vehicles with 1st Generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antennas might suffer from lower-than-expected navigation signal strength under certain circumstances.
- SB-25-17-004 Service bulletin2025-02-28 · Electrical System
- Some Model S and Model X vehicles with revision D interior cameras might suffer from lower-than-expected navigation signal strength under certain circumstances.
- SB-24-21-001 Service bulletin2024-10-01 · Electrical System
- On certain Model S and Model X vehicles built before November 1, 2021, the vehicle may lack Bluetooth headphone hardware support for the rear touchscreen audio.
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Tesla Model S failed the safety inspection on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.5% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected.
failed the safety inspection
378 initial inspections of 373 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2021 Model S | Every 2021 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.8% | 1.5% | 378 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0% | 0.19% | 378 |
| Miles driven a year | 9,059 | 10,343 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 47,540 | 54,681 | odometer at inspection |
Electric vehicles get no emissions test in New York, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Model S by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2021 Model S
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2021 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 23 recall campaigns for the 2021 Tesla Model S. The most serious on file is 24V967000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2021 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2021 Tesla Model S yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (51/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Tesla Model S?
Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Tesla Model S, the longest EPA range is 405 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2021 Tesla Model S?
Transport Canada measured it at 195.7 in long, 77.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 56.7 in tall, on a 116.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,969 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2021 Tesla Model S?
Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Tesla Model S, most often about forward collision avoidance, unspecified, steering. Of those, 13 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 5 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2021 Tesla Model S?
The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Tesla Model S is 10 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Tesla Model S?
The manufacturer has filed 91 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Tesla Model S, most often covering unknown or other, equipment, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-02-04. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2021 Tesla Model S do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Tesla Model S failed the safety inspection on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.5% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 4 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 4 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 23 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 179 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 1 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 91 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 14 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | 38 | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 4 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.