2016 Tesla Model S fuel/propulsion system problems
15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the fuel/propulsion system on the 2016 Tesla Model S — 2% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“On 6/11/26, around 2:10 pm, when i was slowly pulling over to park on a road side, the car suddenly rushed forward unexpectedly. It was so powerful, at the time I could only hear the panic reactions from the two passengers and sense the imminent collision with the parked bmw in the front of several…”
filed Jun 29, 2026
“While driving in traffic, the vehicle displayed warnings stating “Unable to drive — Pull over safely.” The vehicle progressively lost power and became unable to propel itself, requiring me to stop in traffic. Additional warnings indicated reduced acceleration and performance. The vehicle remained…”
filed Feb 24, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Fuel/propulsion System problems in other Model S years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Model S | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 Model S | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 Model S | 2 | 1% |
| 2017 Model S | 8 | 2% |
| 2015 Model S | 32 | 5% |
| 2014 Model S | 23 | 6% |
| 2013 Model S | 24 | 5% |
| 2012 Model S | 2 | 3% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Tesla Model S
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.