Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 S.
The 2016 Tesla S Electric is a passenger car built around an all‑electric powertrain. It has been subject to eight recalls and has accumulated 604 owner complaints, with suspension problems cited as the most frequent issue. These numbers situate the 2016 model year within the overall reliability record of the Tesla S line, indicating a period where suspension‑related concerns were prominent. As such, the 2016 edition is characterized by its specific complaint and recall totals when viewed against the vehicle's historical data.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 195.7 in |
| Overall width | 77.2 in |
| Overall height | 56.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.5 in |
| Curb weight | 4420 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 65.4 / 66.9 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 47/53 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2016 Tesla S lead in one area — the suspension, 167 of 604 reports (28%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 89 of the reports describe a crash and 12 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension 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 604 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 99 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 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.