Tesla Model S and Model X Problems and the California Lemon Law

Tesla's flagship Model S sedan and Model X SUV carry the brand's most complex hardware, and some of its longest-running complaints. If your Model S or Model X keeps going back for the same problem, it helps to understand which issues have been recalled and how California's Lemon Law treats them. This is general information, not advice about your specific vehicle.

The rearview-camera recall

Tesla recalled 2024-2025 Model S and 2023-2025 Model X vehicles because the rearview-camera display can fail. Losing the rear-camera image reduces the driver's rear visibility and increases the risk of a collision. The remedy is an over-the-air software update that changes the vehicle's power-up sequence to prevent the failure. When a required safety display can go dark, it is treated as a substantial defect, not a glitch.

Infotainment (MCU) and screen failures

The Model S and Model X have a long history of media control unit failures, where the central screen freezes, reboots, or goes black, taking climate, navigation, and backup-camera functions with it. A car whose main controls run through a screen that keeps failing is not fully usable, and repeated repairs or replacements of that unit can add up under the Lemon Law.

Suspension, doors, and drivability complaints

Owners also report front suspension and control-arm complaints, Model X falcon-wing door faults, door-handle failures, and phantom-braking events where the car brakes for no reason. Any one of these can be a nuisance; together, and repeated, they can be the record of a vehicle that has spent too long at the service center for the same categories of defect.

How California's Lemon Law applies

Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a Model S or Model X may qualify if a substantial, warranty-covered defect cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, or if the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days. Tesla's over-the-air updates are convenient, but an update meant to fix a defect is still a repair attempt, and if the same problem returns, those attempts count. Electric vehicles are fully covered.

What to do if your Model S or Model X is affected

• Confirm any open recalls on your VIN at NHTSA.gov.
• Keep records of every service visit and every software update installed to address a problem.
• Note each day the vehicle is unavailable while waiting on a fix or part.
• Talk to a California lemon law attorney if the same defect keeps returning after repairs or updates.