2026 Tesla Model S
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
- Fuel economy
- 93–124 MPGecombined; city 97–132, highway 89–116; every version of this model year
- Five years of fuel
- $3,720–$4,970U.S. average; Ohio $3,970–$5,300 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA electricity prices for Jul 2026
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- Not ratedlowest across the versions NHTSA tested
- Recall campaigns
- 0none on file
- Owner complaints
- 7filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales
Versions
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2026 Model S, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
- AWD 124 MPGe combined
- Plaid AWD 110 MPGe combined
- Plaid (21in wheels) AWD 93 MPGe combined
Problems owners report
Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Model S. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
| Part | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
Every Model S year side by side
Recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2026 Model S. NHTSA's recall lookup checks a specific VIN.
Service bulletins and investigations
Carmakers sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice that cover the 2026 Model S, the latest on Feb 4, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: unknown or other (1).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
| Investigation | Part | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering analysis EA26002 FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions | Electrical system | Mar 18, 2026 | Open NHTSA's record and documents |
Used ones for sale
See used 2026 Tesla Model Ss for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: large cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City / hwy / comb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model S All-Wheel Drive | 243 and 248 kW ACPM 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | Electricity 410 miles of range | 132 / 116 / 124 MPGe |
| Model S Plaid All-Wheel Drive | 250 kW ACPM 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | Electricity 368 miles of range | 114 / 105 / 110 MPGe |
| Model S Plaid (21in wheels) All-Wheel Drive | 250 kW ACPM 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | Electricity 309 miles of range | 97 / 89 / 93 MPGe |
Sources and dates
- U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
- NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data