Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 S.
The 2012 Tesla S Electric is an electric vehicle equipped with an electric powertrain, and its recorded reliability data includes 59 total owner complaints with the electrical system as the leading complaint area, plus seven recalls. This level of complaint activity and recall involvement situates the 2012 model year as a significant reference point in the Model S reliability history, reflecting where electrical system concerns generated both owner feedback and formal manufacturer actions. The figures provide a concrete baseline for evaluating how the model's electrical system reliability trended in later years.
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2012 Tesla S dominate in one area — the electrical system, 22 of 59 reports (37%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 8 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 4 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 59 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during… Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may…
Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2012 Model S vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or… Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at…
Showing 5 of 87 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB-25-16-003 | 2025-06-03 | Electrical System | On certain Model S and Model X vehicles, the battery powered Pyrotechnic High Voltage… |
| 2024.26.9_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| 2024.38_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| fsd-12-5-3_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| fsd-12-5-4_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
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NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.