There are 3 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2021 Tesla Model Sin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The reverse lights are incredibly insufficient and pose a safety risk when backing up. The lights are so dim, they are virtually ineffective to the point that they illuminate nothing that may be behind the car. This is not a bulb issue as they came from the factory, new, in this condition and the service center said there is nothing they can do. Other owners I have spoken with report the same issue.
Passenger side headlight, daytime running light portion, is flickering, approximately 1-2 times a minute. I only noticed this as I parked in a dark garage with my lights on, seeing the light flickering against the wall. There is no warning from my car telling me this is happening. This is a safety issue because headlights are a safety feature. If my headlight is going on and off, it will affect my visibility, as well as the visibility of my car to other drivers/pedestrians on the road. I notified Tesla, they had mobile technician come to my house, he visually confirmed this issue, and he subsequently replaced the entire headlight. After the replacement, I noticed that this did not resolve the issue. I notified Tesla and they had me bring in my car to service center for inspection. Per tesla tech service summary: "identified customer concern as a known characteristic with no resolution available at this time. Please maintain regular WIFI connection to ensure timely downloads of future firmware updates. No repairs recommended at this time". I need this issue resolved, I do not feel safe driving my car. Tesla is not repairing the issue and has no clear timeframe as to when this issue will be fixed. I attached 2 photos from my video capture showing when the light is on and off.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and attempting to switch lanes, he attempted to use the turn signals; however, the turn signals were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 2,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026