2016 Tesla Model S 70D
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2016 Tesla Model S 70D is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 6 on record.
2016 Tesla Model S 70D at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
2016 Tesla Model S 70D recalls 0
No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 2016 Tesla Model S 70D.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
2016 Tesla Model S 70D common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 604 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
2016 Tesla Model S 70D safety ratings
Rollover risk: 5.7% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2016 Tesla Model S 70D 5 HB AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2016 Tesla Model S 70D. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 7
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 ful…
NHTSA #PE25012 · Electrical System · opened Oct 2025Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deploymen…
NHTSA #EA21002 · Air Bags · opened Sep 2021Fore Link Failure Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on forty-three complaints alleging failure of the left or right front suspension fore links in Tesla model year (MY) 2015 through 2017 Model S and MY 2016 through 2017 Model X vehicles. The investigation has identified 426 instances of failure on part number 1041570-00-A or 1041575-00-A fore links. None of the instances resulted in any…
NHTSA #PE20020 · Suspension · opened Nov 2020 · closed Aug 2024Loss of rearview camera Closed
On November 20, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) 20-003 to investigate incidents of media control unit (MCU) failures resulting in loss of rearview camera in model year (MY) 2012-18 Tesla Model S and model year (MY) 2016-2018 Tesla Model X vehicles equipped with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with an integrated 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device.During its investigation, O…
NHTSA #EA20003 · Exterior Lighting, Electrical System, Visibility · opened Nov 2020 · closed May 2024Sudden Unintended Acceleration Closed
On December 19, 2019, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Brian Sparks requesting that the Agency "recall all [Tesla] Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles produced from 2013 to the present" due to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA). In his petition and follow-up submissions, the petitioner identified a total of 232 non-duplicative complaints to NHTSA, including 203 reporting crashes. On January 13, 2020, NHTSA's O…
NHTSA #DP20001 · Power Train, Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control · opened Jan 2020 · closed Jan 2021Battery Management Software Updates Closed
In a letter dated September 17, 2019, Mr. Edward Chen petitioned the NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation of certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that received revised battery management software in one or more over-the-air (OTA) updates from Tesla, beginning in May 2019. The petitioner bases his request on vehicle fires that took place worldwide and OTA software updates Tesla made to the Battery Management…
NHTSA #DP19005 · Electrical System · opened Oct 2019 · closed Sep 2021Automatic vehicle control systems Closed
On May 7, 2016, a 2015 Tesla Model S collided with a tractor trailer crossing an uncontrolled intersection on a highway west of Williston, Florida, resulting in fatal injuries to the Tesla driver. Data obtained from the Model S indicated that: 1) the Tesla was being operated in Autopilot mode at the time of the collision; 2) the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system did not provide any warning or automated braking…
NHTSA #PE16007 · Forward Collision Avoidance · opened Jun 2016 · closed Jan 2017An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 99
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 99.
On certain Model S and Model X vehicles, the battery powered Pyrotechnic High Voltage (HV) Battery Disconnect will reach the end of its battery lifespan in the near future, which will trigger alerts and may limit the vehicle’s performance.
Bulletin SB-25-16-003 · Electrical System · Jun 2025Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin fsd-12-5-4_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin fsd-12-5-4-1_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin fsd-12-5-4_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin fsd-12-5-3_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin 2024.38_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin 2024.26.9_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin fsd-12-5-4-1_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin fsd-12-5-3_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is d…
Bulletin 2024.38_s3xy.pdf · Sep 2024Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the MODEL S 70D AWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.