IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2016 Tesla Model S

We've identified 6 known issues that can affect the 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

Drive Unit "Milling" Noise

SeriousEngine

An 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)
Warning Signs:

High-pitched whirring noise, Vibration at speed, Power reduced alerts

What to Inspect:
  • Listen for noise during acceleration and deceleration
  • Check service history for drive unit replacement
  • Test at motorway speeds
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

MCU1 eMMC Memory Failure (Recall 21V035)

ModerateElectrics & Electronics

The 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
Warning Signs:

Screen freezing or rebooting, Longer boot-up times, Total screen blackout, Loss of climate controls

What to Inspect:
  • Check if upgraded to MCU2 (faster, Netflix/YouTube present)
  • Check for lag in navigation
  • Verify backup camera loads quickly
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Suspension Control Arm Creaking

ModerateSuspension & Chassis

The 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
Warning Signs:

Squeaking noise when turning, Knocking over speed bumps, Unsettled handling

What to Inspect:
  • Listen for creaks while steering at low speed
  • Inspect ball joint boots for splits
  • Test drive on rough surfaces
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Air Suspension Leaks

ModerateSuspension & Chassis

The air suspension struts or compressor can fail, causing the car to sag or display suspension fault messages.

Est. Repair Cost: £500–£1,500
Warning Signs:

Car sits low on one corner, Hissing sound from wheel arch, Suspension height error messages, Compressor running constantly

What to Inspect:
  • Check ride height after car has sat overnight
  • Cycle through all height settings
  • Listen for air leaks
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Retractable Door Handles

MinorBodywork & Rust

The 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)
Warning Signs:

Handle won't pop out, Handle pops out but door won't open, Intermittent operation

What to Inspect:
  • Test every handle multiple times
  • Listen for motor whirring without movement
  • Check for loose handle feel
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Yellow Screen Border

MinorInterior & Trim

A 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
Warning Signs:

Noticeable yellow band around screen edges, Discoloration on white backgrounds

What to Inspect:
  • Open a white page (like the web browser) to check for yellowing
  • Verify if the UV light treatment has been performed by Tesla
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Buying Tips for 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.
Check a 2016 Tesla Model S by Registration