Tesla Model S Won't Start? What Owners Report
91 of the 3,219 owner complaints NHTSA has for 2008–2024 Model S models describe a car that won’t power on or start. Here is which years and systems show up most, what owners say, what to check first, and when a mobile mechanic can fix it where the car sits.
NHTSA data pulled September 2026.
Turn on the hazard lights if they work, get out of traffic and call roadside assistance. Never touch orange high-voltage cables or open the high-voltage battery.
Which Model S years report it most
Reports peak with the 2015 model year (28). A year with more cars on the road usually has more reports, so use this to know what to ask, not to rank years.
What else these reports mention
Owners filing these complaints most often also named the electrical system and exterior lights – usually where a mechanic starts looking.
| System named | Reports | Mobile mechanic? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 63 | Often in the driveway |
| Exterior lights | 17 | Usually on the spot |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 7 | Usually a shop |
| Throttle and cruise control | 7 | Diagnose first |
| Wipers, windows and mirrors | 7 | Often in the driveway |
| Fuel system | 6 | Diagnose first |
What Model S owners describe
“I discovered my car a 0% battery range with a dead 12 volt as well just as it had depleted and discovered the burnt up wires.”
“In 2021, I was made to believe and instructed to purchase a 12 volt battery to repair recall.”
Related Tesla Model S recalls
19 of the 39 recalls for these years mention a related system or symptom. Check your VIN – if one is open, the fix is free at a dealer.
| Reported | Campaign | Model years | System | What can happen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05 | 26V283000 | 2021–2023 | Driver-assist systems | A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2025-03 | 25V172000 | 2021–2024 | Airbags | An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2025-01 | 25V002000 | 2024 | Driver-assist systems | A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2024-12 | 24V967000 | 2021–2024 | Airbags | A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 2024-07 | 24V554000 | 2021–2024 | Door latches and locks | An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2024-01 | 24V035000 | 2023 | Driver-assist systems | A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash. |
| 2023-12 | 23V838000 | 2012–2023 | Electrical system | In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or… |
| 2023-07 | 23V489000 | 2023 | Driver-assist systems | Safety features that are unavailable without any warning to the driver may increase the risk of a crash. |
Safety recall repairs are done free by the brand's dealers. A mobile mechanic cannot do recall work. Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls on your exact car. "Park it" means NHTSA and the maker say not to drive the vehicle until it is fixed.
What to check first
- Try the key card or phone key again, and check the maker's app for alerts.
- A weak or dead 12-volt battery is a common reason an EV will not wake up – it powers the computers that switch the main battery on.
- Check whether the car was plugged in and whether charging stopped with an error.
- Look up the owner's manual procedure for a dead 12-volt battery – it is different from a gas car.
Full guide: Electric cars: what a mobile mechanic can and can't do
Can a mobile mechanic fix it?
Often, when the cause is the 12-volt battery: many mobile mechanics can test and replace it where the car sits. High-voltage battery, drive unit and software faults go to the brand's service center, and Tesla also sends its own mobile service vans.
Get a mechanic to look at your Model S
Tell us where the car is and what it is doing. We pass your request to one local mobile mechanic at a time – never to call centers or marketers. No cost to you.
Tesla Model S won't start: questions
Why won't my Tesla Model S start?
In 91 owner complaints to NHTSA that describe it, the systems named most often are the electrical system, exterior lights, transmission and drivetrain. Only a mechanic who tests your car can say which applies to yours.
Is there a Tesla Model S recall for this problem?
19 recalls for these model years mention a related system. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls – open recall repairs are free at a dealer.
Can a mobile mechanic fix it?
Often, when the cause is the 12-volt battery: many mobile mechanics can test and replace it where the car sits. High-voltage battery, drive unit and software faults go to the brand's service center, and Tesla also sends its own mobile service vans.
How much does it cost to fix?
It depends on the cause, and much of this work is priced by the brand's service center. Ask for a written estimate before any work starts, and check the VIN for open recalls – those repairs are free.
Where this data comes from
- NHTSA – vehicle safety complaints (public complaint database)
- NHTSA – recalls lookup by VIN
- NHTSA – Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC)
Complaint and recall records for Tesla Model S model years in range, retrieved September 2026. Owner quotes are short excerpts from public NHTSA complaint records, lightly cased for reading.