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
2015–2016 Tesla Model S
We've identified 6 known issues that can affect the 2015–2016 Tesla Model S. 1 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.
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 2015–2016 Tesla Model S
- ✓Prioritize 2018+ models which feature the faster MCU2 infotainment system; earlier MCU1 units suffer from screen yellowing and eMMC memory failure.
- ✓Check the operation of all door handles multiple times as they are a very common and frustrating failure point.
- ✓Verify if the air suspension holds its height overnight; sagging indicates a leak in the struts or compressor.
- ✓Inspect the large alloy wheels for curbing; the car is very wide for UK roads and wheels are easily damaged.
- ✓Ensure the high-voltage battery has not degraded excessively by checking the estimated range at 100% charge against factory figures.
- ✓Look for uneven panel gaps and wind noise from the frameless doors, a hallmark of early Tesla build quality.