2021 Tesla Model S

Learn

What changed

Refresh shown in January 2021: a new interior with a wide touchscreen, a yoke, a heat pump and the three-motor Plaid. Driver assistance moves to cameras only.^1,2

What it came with

Motors: Dual motor³, Tri-motor^3,1
Batteries: 95 kWh¹
Drivetrains: All-wheel drive¹
Trims: Long Range^1,2, Plaid^1,2
Packages: Yoke^4,1

Colors

Ultra Red Metallic PR01 ⁵
Diamond Black PX02 ^5,6
Frost Blue Metallic PB00 ^5,6
Pearl White Multi-Coat PPSW Source pending
Solid Black PBSB Source pending
Obsidian Black Metallic PMBL Source pending
Midnight Silver Metallic PMNG Source pending
Deep Blue Metallic PPSB Source pending
Stealth Grey PN01 Source pending
Lunar Silver PN02 Source pending

Interiors

Black ⁷
Black and White ^8,7
Cream ^8,7

Compare with another year

Buy

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Wrong airbag after a wheel swap All years One source so far

What to check: If the yoke or the wheel has been swapped, confirm with Tesla that recall 23V743000 was done.

The driver's airbag fitted after a swap may be the wrong one.

Sources ⁹
Door handles that do not extend All years One source so far

What to check: Walk up to the car with the key and watch every handle come out.

The handles can fail to come out, or break. In a crash that cuts the 12-volt power they may not open; the rear manual releases sit under the carpet below the rear seats.

Sources ¹⁰
Worn suspension All years One source so far

What to check: Look for a car sitting low at one corner, which on air suspension can be a leak.

The car's weight wears suspension parts, and air suspension can leak.

Sources ²
Battery capacity All years One source so far

What to check: Get a battery health report showing how much capacity is left.

Tesla's battery warranty runs 8 years or 150,000 miles and passes to a new owner. It repairs a pack at 70 per cent.

Sources ²

Recalls

21V846000 2017–2021
On one software version, a communication fault can cause false collision warnings or sudden emergency braking. Fixed over the air.^11,9
21V868000 2021
The driver's airbag can tear when it goes off.⁹
21V00B000 2014–2021
The front trunk latch can be out of line, so the hood's second latch does not catch and the hood can open.^12,9
22V037000 2016–2022
Full Self-Driving Beta can roll through all-way stops without stopping. Fixed over the air.^13,14
22V045000 2021–2022
The seat belt chime may not sound at start-up for an unbelted driver. Fixed over the air.^9,14
22V050000 2021–2022
A software fault can trap refrigerant and weaken the windshield defroster. Fixed over the air.^9,14
22V063000 2020–2022
The Boombox can drown out the pedestrian warning sound. Replaced by 22V235000.^15,14
22V104000 2021–2022
The side curtain airbag inflators may be put together wrongly.^9,14
22V235000 2020–2022
The Boombox can drown out the pedestrian warning sound, including in Summon. Replaces the fix for 22V063000.^15,14
22V296000 2021–2022
The touchscreen's processor can overheat while fast charging and restart, losing the rear camera picture. Fixed over the air.^9,14
22V702000 2021–2022
A window may not reverse properly after it meets an obstruction. Fixed over the air.^9,14
22V818000 2017–2021
Power steering assist can drop out on rough roads or after a pothole. Fixed over the air.^11,9
22E092000 2021
The wrong door mirrors were fitted: a curved glass on the driver's side, and no distance warning etched on the passenger's side.⁹
23V085000 2016–2023
Full Self-Driving Beta can behave unsafely at junctions and respond poorly to speed limit changes. Fixed over the air.^13,16
23V488000 2021–2023
The front seat belts may not be fixed properly to their pretensioner anchors and can come loose.^9,16
23V743000 2021–2024
When the yoke or the steering wheel was swapped, the wrong driver's airbag may have been fitted.^9,17
23V838000 2012–2023
Autosteer's checks may not do enough to stop a driver misusing it. Fixed over the air.^18,16
23V862000 2021–2023
The doors can unlock in a crash. Fixed over the air.^14,16
24V051000 2012–2023
The brake, parking brake and ABS warning lights are shown in letters too small. Fixed over the air.^18,16
24V153000 2013–2021
A factory reset can silence the sound that warns pedestrians of the car. Fixed over the air.^19,20
24V376000 2012–2024
The seat belt warning may not come on for an unbelted driver. Fixed over the air.^18,17
24V554000 2021–2024
The car may not notice a hood left unlatched, which could fly open. Fixed over the air.^9,17
24V967000 2021–2025
The driver's airbag can tear when it goes off.^9,21
25V172000 2021–2024
A driver's airbag fitted with the wrong horn pad can stop the horn working.^9,17
26V283000 2021–2023
On one software version, the rear camera picture can lag when reversing. Fixed over the air.^9,16

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Sought after: Better build quality All years One source so far

Owners quoted by Jalopnik say 2021 and later cars are well built, with few rattles or creaks.¹⁰
Avoid: Yoke All years Less sought after One source so far

Jalopnik and Road & Track called the yoke a step backwards, and Consumer Reports criticised it as a distraction.¹

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.