Tesla is one of the most well-known manufacturers of electric cars, along with the company’s notable contributions to space exploration and solar energy. Despite growing demand for electric vehicles and sustainable practices in the automotive industry, Tesla has proved a polarizing company, in large part due to the unpredictable antics of CEO Elon Musk. Over the years, Tesla’s vehicles have been recalled a number of times for issues ranging from non-compliance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations to parts sporadically detaching from trucks.
In this article, we look at Tesla recall data gathered by Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC in a recently-published study. Our team analyzes the most-frequently recalled Tesla vehicles, some of the manufacturer’s most notable recalls, and explores the facts surrounding the company’s controversial Cybertruck model.
Which Tesla Vehicle Has the Most Recall Orders?
If you guessed that the Tesla Model S would win the dubious honor of being the most-recalled Tesla vehicle, you would be correct! At thirty-nine total recalls, the Model S just narrowly edges out the Tesla Model X, which has been a part of thirty-eight recall orders. Thus far, Tesla’s Roadster and Semi-truck have been involved in the fewest recalls, though production numbers for both vehicles are significantly lower than Tesla’s other consumer-centric vehicles. If you own a Tesla vehicle, now is a great time to double-check that your vehicle has no outstanding recalls. Although recalls don’t expire, manufacturers are only required to provide free repairs for fifteen years.
Tesla’s Largest Recalls of All Time
Some of Tesla’s recalls affected only a handful of drivers. In a few cases, we were surprised to see that a recall order was issued for a single vehicle, such as recall 24V284000. In that instance, a single 2024 Model 3 vehicle was recalled over an air bag defect, which was of course fixed without charge. However, the vast majority of Tesla recalls affected hundreds or even thousands of vehicles. To date, Tesla has issued four recalls that affected at least 1,000,000 individual recalls. Fortunately for both owners and Tesla’s service technicians, all four recalls were fixed with simple over-the-air software updates.
A visual breakdown of Tesla’s five largest recalls is included in the following chart.
Over-the-Air vs. Physical Recalls
As mentioned in the preceding section, many Tesla recalls have been addressed via over-the-air (OTA) software updates. OTA recalls make things easier for dealerships and owners alike, as people aren’t left without their vehicle and service technicians aren’t swamped with cars to fix. Many issues faced by modern vehicles can be corrected by OTA updates, especially when the problem is with the car’s technology features. The first Tesla OTA recall order was issued in 2024, meaning that all prior recalls and some later recalls required a trip to a Tesla dealership. Even after the introduction of OTA recalls, any problem requiring physical repairs or part replacements had to be addressed at a Tesla dealership or authorized repair center.
To date, Tesla vehicles have been involved in eighty-three recall orders. Thirty-one of these recalls were fixed via OTA software patches. The remaining fifty-two recalls were addressed via physical repairs carried out at Tesla dealerships.
How Safe is Tesla’s Cybertruck?
Since it was first made available to consumers in November 2023, the Cybertruck has ignited fierce debates amongst car enthusiasts, motor vehicle safety experts, and the media. Supporters of the vehicle highlight the truck’s unique appearance, responsive handling, and zippy acceleration as reasons to purchase one, despite the truck’s eye-popping price tag of $72,000 or higher (depending on the vehicle’s trim). Safety experts and unimpressed buyers caution against purchasing a Cybertruck, alleging potential hazards (such as doors that cannot be opened externally if the vehicle is disabled in a crash) and low-quality materials.
While we aren’t here to take sides, we can say that the Cybertruck has been recalled repeatedly over the relatively short time it’s been available to American consumers. In fact, the Cybertruck has been part of eight separate recalls in just seventeen short months. The most recent Cybertruck recall, issued in March of 2025, addressed a safety defect where parts of the vehicle could spontaneously detach while the truck was in motion.
To make things worse, many Cybertruck owners who chose to have their vehicles wrapped to enhance their ride’s aesthetics are now regretting that decision. Since the fix to the recall requires parts to be removed and replaced with proper adhesive, vehicles that have already been wrapped will need to be re-wrapped once the parts are back in place. Although the embattled truck may be able to turn things around down the line, the constant barrage of recall orders has dampened spirits amongst prospective buyers.
Analyzing Tesla’s History of Auto Recalls
All car manufacturers will inevitably have recalls at some point, even if the cars they put out are generally high-quality. While the volume of Tesla recalls doesn’t even come close to approaching those of manufacturers such as Ford or General Motors, it’s certainly worth taking into consideration if you’re thinking about buying a new or used Tesla vehicle.
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