NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2021 Tesla Model S Safety Ratings
The 2021 Tesla Model S scores 80 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Strong), 23 recalls, and 174 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2021 Tesla Model S achieved a NHTSA Safety Index of 80/100, placing it in the Strong band. This assessment reflects its full contribution from crash protection and avoidance technology. However, a defect record contributing zero of a possible 20 points significantly reduced the overall score from the previous model year.
The 2021 Tesla Model S holds a NHTSA Safety Index of 80/100 and a perfect 5/5 rollover star rating from NHTSA, with overall, frontal, and side crash ratings listed as not rated by NHTSA.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 94 Sedans from 2021 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2021 Tesla Model S ranks 76 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- families prioritizing rollover safety
- new and teen drivers who want standard crash-avoidance tech
| NHTSA Safety Index | 80 / 100 (Strong) |
|---|---|
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 5 stars |
| Rollover risk | 5.7% |
| Recalls on file | 23 |
| Owner complaints | 174 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 76 of 94 Sedans tested for 2021 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Tesla Model S?
The 2021 Tesla Model S lands at 80/100 in the Strong band, but the story of this specific model year is a meaningful eight-point drop from the 2020 Model S, which held an 88/100. The cause is entirely traceable to the defect record sub-score: the 2021 vehicle earns zero of the 20 available points in that category, compared with whatever contributed to the prior year's stronger total. Crash protection and avoidance tech both score at their maximums, 70/70 and 10/10 respectively, meaning the vehicle's structural and electronic safety architecture is not the issue. The issue is the volume and nature of recall activity. Twenty-three recall campaigns is a substantial figure for a single model year, and the campaigns touch safety-critical systems directly: driver-side air bag tear risk during deployment, an incorrect horn pad in the air bag assembly, a hood latch that may fail, and a back-over prevention software gap. Two campaigns carry over-the-air remedies, but the air bag campaigns do not, and those require physical inspection and parts replacement. The complaint volume of 174 unverified reports, with Forward Collision Avoidance as the single highest-reported component at 47 alleged reports, adds a layer of concern specific to this year's active safety systems.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2021 Tesla Model S perform in crash tests?
The 2021 Tesla Model S has no overall, frontal, or side crash-test rating from NHTSA. These dimensions remain untested. In the single evaluated category, rollover, the Model S achieved 5 out of 5 stars. This result reflects a 6 percent rollover risk and a "No Tip" outcome in the dynamic test. The absence of further NHTSA star ratings for this model year indicates only that those tests were not conducted.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 15898
Index breakdown
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
The 2021 Tesla Model S carries 23 recall campaigns. Specific component areas include back-over prevention software, air bags with an incorrect horn pad, a driver-side frontal air bag cushion that could tear during deployment, a hood latch assembly that may fail, and a seat-belt warning system. The hood latch and seat-belt campaigns each offer an over-the-air software fix. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive appears in the data provided.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE26V283000
Risk: A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
Reported 2026-05-05
AIR BAGS25V172000
Risk: An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.
Reported 2025-03-19
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:CUSHION24V967000
Risk: A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.
Reported 2024-12-24
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH24V554000
Risk: An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
Reported 2024-07-24
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES24V376000
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Reported 2024-05-28
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT24V153000
Risk: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
Reported 2024-02-27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL24V051000
Risk: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Reported 2024-01-30
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE23V838000
Risk: 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 not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Reported 2023-12-12
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR23V743000
Risk: An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-005.
Reported 2023-11-03
SEAT BELTS:FRONT23V488000
Risk: A detached seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and connect the seat belts to pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-004.
Reported 2023-07-14
STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING23V085000
Risk: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Reported 2023-02-15
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM22V818000
Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.
Reported 2022-11-01
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA has received 174 unverified owner complaints for the 2021 Model S, including alleged reports of 13 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 death. These are unverified consumer allegations only. The most-reported component categories are Forward Collision Avoidance at 47 reports, Unknown Or Other at 42, Steering at 29, Electrical System at 25, Suspension at 16, and Service Brakes at 15.
174 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Tesla Model S?
For the 2021 Tesla Model S, the most pressing concern for prospective owners is its substantial recall record. With 23 recall campaigns documented, including open air bag issues requiring physical repair, verifying the completion of these remedies for any specific vehicle is essential.
- The 2021 Model S Safety Index dropped eight points from the 2020 model year, from 88/100 to 80/100, driven entirely by a zero score in the defect record component of the index.
- Two separate air bag recall campaigns affect this specific model year: one for an incorrect horn pad in the air bag assembly, and one for a driver-side frontal air bag cushion that could tear during deployment, both requiring physical repair rather than a software fix.
- Forward Collision Avoidance is the single most-alleged complaint component for this model year, with 47 unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, a notable concentration given that forward collision warning is listed as a standard feature.
- NHTSA assigned a rollover rating of 5/5 with a 6 percent risk figure to this model year, but did not rate overall, frontal, or side crash protection, meaning a significant portion of the crash-test picture remains absent for the 2021 Model S specifically.
RANKINGSWhere the 2021 Tesla Model S places
The 2021 Tesla Model S qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2021 Tesla Model S safety questions
Was the 2021 Tesla Model S crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2021 Tesla Model S, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 80 out of 100, placing it in the Strong band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2021 Tesla Model S crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2021 Tesla Model S earned 5 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 5.7%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2021 Tesla Model S have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 23 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 Tesla Model S. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Tesla Model S?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 174 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Tesla Model S. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Model S years
Rivals in Sedan (2021)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Audi RS 5 Sportback | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2021 Audi S5 Sportback | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2021 Nissan Maxima | 100/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2021 Audi A4 Allroad | 99/100 | not rated | 1 |
| 2021 Cadillac CT5-V | 97/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2021 Infiniti Q50 | 97/100 | not rated | 3 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 15898), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Tesla Model S 2021.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 76 of 94 in the Sedan class for 2021.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.