On certain Model S vehicles, either lower rear control arm might crack, causing excessive negative camber of the rear suspension.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Tesla Model S suspension problems
critical 82 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
82
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
25crashes
1fire
6injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 82 suspension complaints filed for the 2014 Tesla Model S, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Tesla Model S we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 82.
Owners have filed 82 suspension complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TESLA MOTORS INC 2014 MODEL S: INFORMATION REGARDING UPGRADED FRONT SWAY BAR AVAILABLE FOR DUAL MOTOR VEHICLES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe sudden, catastrophic suspension failures across multiple components. Front ball joints and fore links snap like glass during normal driving or minor impacts (small potholes), with owners reporting loud explosion-like noises followed by immediate instability. Rear lower control arms break mid-drive, wheel cambering outward 15+ degrees from vertical, causing the vehicle to twitch violently or veer across lanes. Several failures occurred at highway speeds (60+ mph) during straightforward driving with no warning lights. Metal fatigue and oxidation visible on broken parts suggest prolonged cracking before catastrophic failure.
A recurring pattern: suspension collapses without collision damage, wheels separate from vehicles, and owners lose control on freeways and neighborhood roads alike. Some failures happened below 40k miles; others at 60k–80k miles on cars that should have suspension durability well beyond that. Owners cite a Technical Service Bulletin (SB-19-31-001) for some failures, yet Tesla denied coverage on other vehicles with identical symptoms, claiming VIN out of scope. One owner had to pay $7,000 for a failure matching a published TSB. Service shops have discarded failed parts rather than retained them for metallurgical analysis. Tesla service center personnel dismissed suspension noise as wear-and-tear, charged $2,700 repairs during warranty, and told owners the car was "still safe" despite documented failures in similar vehicles. An owner replaced both control arms after a front ball joint snapped, yet Tesla never responded to his inquiry about the defect.
Same Tesla Model S suspension reports on nearby years: 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Front suspension fore link / ball joint failure
Front fore links and ball joints snap or separate, often suddenly during normal driving. Owners report the components fracturing like glass or pulling out of clamped slots. Upper control arms crack under minor impacts (small potholes). Ball joint stems fail catastrophically, causing wheel misalignment and loss of control.
When: Varying mileage; some failures reported under 60k miles, others at higher mileage. Failures occur both during normal driving and low-speed maneuvers.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud noise (described as explosion-like or ping sound); Immediate loss of vehicle stability or pulling to one side; Wheel misalignment, cambered outward from vehicle; Vehicle becomes hard to control or veers across road; Clunking or clicking sounds from front end on uneven surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of fore links, ball joints, control arms. Tesla parts approximately $350 each. Some owners cite Tesla invoices showing $2,700–$2,143 repair costs. Replacement parts reported as re-engineered from different supplier.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin SB-19-31-001 exists for some failures. Some cars covered by TSB; Tesla has refused coverage on other vehicles claiming VIN outside bulletin scope. No widespread recall issued despite multiple failures.
Rear lower control arm / suspension link failure
Rear lower control arms and suspension links break or snap during normal driving, allowing the rear wheel to slip or separate from the vehicle. Failures appear to involve metal fatigue and poor metallurgy. Some links show oxidation indicating prolonged cracked state before complete separation.
When: Reported at 38k, 54.5k, 60k, 78k miles and beyond. One failure occurred less than 3,000 miles after new suspension work.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud ping or knocking sound while driving or parking; Extreme vehicle twitch or sudden swerving; Rear wheel cantilevered at abnormal angle (15 degrees from vertical); Complete loss of control near highway entry; Wheel or suspension completely separated during highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Rear control arm replacement reported at costs around $7,000 total for bilateral repair. Parts removed and discarded by Tesla rather than retained for analysis. Multiple owners report having repair parts that show oxidation and metal fatigue patterns.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin SB-19-31-001 issued. Tesla has denied coverage on some vehicles based on VIN range; owners report having to pay despite bulletin existence. No full recall issued.
Air suspension height control malfunction / uncommanded raising and collapse
Air suspension system raises vehicle to maximum ride height without driver input, then front suspension collapses completely. Described as uncommanded overinflation event. System also reported to drop excessively low (near frame-dragging condition) due to computer malfunction.
When: Reported during active driving. One incident at low neighborhood speeds, another at highway speeds. Failures can occur without warning.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly raises to/beyond maximum height without input; Immediate front suspension collapse; Vehicle riding abnormally low, frame touching street/driveway; No warning lights preceding failure
Repairs/costs cited: Service center refused to review vehicle logs. Owner dispute over whether this is standard part failure versus system defect. One tire exploded due to low suspension state; vehicle deemed total loss.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service center classified as standard part failure rather than safety-critical system defect. No warranty coverage offered despite vehicle control systems being affected.
Rear sub-frame mounting point failure
Metal fatigue failure at rear sub-frame attachment points, particularly the rear toe arm and lower control arm mounting locations. Metal appears to shear or fail under load during normal driving.
When: Reported at 38.6k, 70 mph highway speed, and other mileages. One failure occurred at 78k miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking or clunking noise from rear suspension; Rear wheel fishtailing or slipping during highway driving; Complete rear wheel or drive tire falling off vehicle; No warning lights or system alerts preceding failure
Repairs/costs cited: New sub-frame required. Costs vary; one estimate cited was substantial repair. Tesla service verified broken metal mount points.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla acknowledged seeing the issue before, dismissed as normal. Attributed failure to harsh acceleration or poor road conditions. No recalls or TSBs widely applied.
Steering knuckle brittle fracture and ball joint clamping design failure
Steering knuckles fracture in brittle manner due to undersized ball-joint design that relies on clamping force to hold ball-joint stem in a slotted hole. Ball-joint stems pull out of clamped slots under load, causing entire suspension arm to collapse outward. Alloy knuckles are too brittle for sustained load.
When: Failures occur during normal driving, parking, and turning maneuvers. One failure noted during pothole strike; another during routine driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Ball-joint stem pulling out of steering knuckle slot; Entire suspension arm collapsing outward; Steering knuckle snapping at the ball-joint tip; Wheel jamming up into wheel well
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacement components appear to be re-engineered versions from different suppliers, suggesting design revision. No cost details provided in most narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla has not responded to owner inquiries about design defects or part improvements. No official acknowledgment of design weakness.
Abnormal tire wear and suspension wear
Interior tire surfaces show abnormal wear patterns early in tire life, and front suspension components show excessive wear at low mileage. Wear indicates misalignment or suspension geometry issues.
When: Reported with less than 3,000 miles after suspension failure or work, and at 38.6k miles. Wear pattern visible after accident-triggering events.
Symptoms owners cite: Interior-side tire tread abnormal wear on both rear wheels; Excessive wear despite low mileage; Wear visible shortly after suspension failure or repair
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair costs cited; wear noted as evidence of underlying suspension geometry problem.
Front suspension collapse (all four corners)
Entire front suspension collapses with all suspension components failing simultaneously or in sequence, jamming wheels up into wheel wells and causing cross-eyed wheel alignment (one wheel straight, one turned inward at abnormal angle).
When: Reported in salvage yard documentation with no clear incident timing. Some failures noted without collision history.
Symptoms owners cite: All four suspension corners collapsed; Wheels jamming into wheel wells; Cross-eyed wheel alignment (one straight, one turned and canted); Vehicle undrivable; may have been driven only after failure due to low height
Repairs/costs cited: Complete suspension system overhaul required; vehicles typically totaled.
Synthesized from 82 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
While driving with my son on local roads, with no unusual bumps or potholes, I experienced an alarming loss of stability. I slowed my speed down and made it home. Once the car was in the driveway, I saw that the rear wheel was cantilevered about 15 degrees from vertical. Once I was able to hoist the car and look underneath, it became clear that the cause of the problem was a broken lower control…
When driving at low speed and turning the car over slightly uneven surfaces like a driveway or car parks the front suspension makes a clunking and clicking sound. Vibration and thuds can be felt through the steering wheel and footwells of the car. I brought to Tesla and they said this is wear and tear and charged me $2,700 to fix even though my car is under warranty. Many similar issues…
Here is a model s in the salvage yard. Somebody ran into the back of it. Most likely because the front wheel and suspension fell off causing it to slow down unexpectedly. Https://www.copart.com/lot/58905699/photos even the headlights are intact. The air-bags have not deployed. So why did the suspension fall to bits? I think we know the answer to that. The suspension parts are as fragile as…
Rear lower control arm broke, causing extreme twitch and near loss of vehicle control about 1/4 mile before getting on highway. There was a loud ping in a parking garage the day before while turning, but nothing seemed to be wrong with the car at that time and I assumed there must have been a water bottle cap or something that went under the tire (can't see ground well in a tight parking garage,…
Here is a model s in the junkyard. Https://www.copart.com/lot/38489036/?resultindex=14&totalrecords=19&backto=%2flotsearchresults%2f%3ffree%3dtrue&query=Tesla&query=Tesla&displaystr=search%20results&viewedlot=38489036 the front lh wheel has been torn off but the wheel and tire are shredded. This is similar to the many other cases where the suspension has failed and caused a crash. It is…
Had suspension trouble with your 2014 Tesla Model S?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2014 Tesla Model S?
It's a serious issue. 82 complaints have been filed, including 25 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 64 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 11,000 and 52,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 11,000; a quarter make it past 52,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Tesla/Model S.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.