Drive Unit "Milling" Noise
SeriousEngineAn internal bearing failure in the drive unit can cause a high-pitched whirring or "milling" noise that increases with vehicle speed.
Est. Repair Cost: £3,000–£6,000 (often warranty)
Reliability GuideCommon Problems with the
Common Problems with the
2014 Tesla Model S
The 2014 Model S was the first to reach UK roads, offering incredible performance and range but with notable first-generation issues. The MCU1 eMMC memory failure, retractable door handle failures, and drive-unit milling noise are all well-documented on these early cars. Tesla's recall (21V035) covers the eMMC upgrade.
What changed for 2014
- •UK launch
- •MCU1 infotainment with finite eMMC lifespan
- •Retractable flush door handles
- •Air suspension available
- •85kWh battery pack
Common MOT watch-outs
- !MCU1 eMMC memory failure — screen freezing and blackout
- !Retractable door handle motor failures
- !Drive unit bearing failure causing "milling" noise
- !Suspension control arm creaking from water ingress
6
Known Issues
1
Serious
3
Moderate
2
Minor
All Known Issues
MCU1 eMMC Memory Failure (Recall 21V035)
ModerateElectrics & ElectronicsThe main touchscreen unit (MCU1) uses an 8GB eMMC chip that has a finite lifespan, eventually leading to system instability or total failure. Tesla issued a voluntary recall (21V035) to upgrade the chip to 64GB.
Est. Repair Cost: £0–£1,800
Suspension Control Arm Creaking
ModerateSuspension & ChassisThe front and rear suspension control arms (wishbones) can develop a loud creaking or squeaking noise, particularly when turning or going over bumps, caused by water ingress into the ball joints.
Est. Repair Cost: £300–£700
Air Suspension Leaks
ModerateSuspension & ChassisThe air suspension struts or compressor can fail, causing the car to sag or display suspension fault messages.
Est. Repair Cost: £500–£1,500
Retractable Door Handles
MinorBodywork & RustThe flush-fitting motorized handles frequently fail to present or unlatch due to broken internal micro-switches or "paddle" gears.
Est. Repair Cost: £250–£450 (per handle)
Yellow Screen Border
MinorInterior & TrimA yellow tint can develop around the edges of the main touchscreen (MCU1 and early MCU2) due to an adhesive failure in the display stack.
Est. Repair Cost: £0–£1,200
Buying Tips for 2014 Tesla Model S
- ✓Prefer 2018+ models with MCU2 — much faster and more reliable
- ✓Test every door handle multiple times — they are a very common failure
- ✓Check if the eMMC recall (21V035) has been performed on pre-2018 cars