Tesla Model S key fob problems

Filed May 13, 2026 · Acceleration, Body · FL

2022 Tesla Model S Plaid purchased CPO from Tesla Florida Inc. Jacksonville on 8/29/2025 for $75,533.19. Multiple unresolved safety defects. (1) Trunk closure obstacle-detection failure 10/15/2025: key fob fell in gap between liftgate and roof; powered liftgate continued upward opening cycle and compressed fob against fixed roof glass until rear glass shattered. $4,100 repair. Same cycle on a child hand or finger would cause crush injury or amputation. Tesla Model X tailgate and falcon doors have obstacle detection; Plaid liftgate lacks it. (2) Passenger-side rear door handle requires extreme pressure to operate, raised 10/25/2025; iced over 1/19/2026 compounding egress hazard. (3) Center console haptic backup gear selector non-functional plus observed main touchscreen reset/blackout events: no manual gear control during foreseeable touchscreen failure event. (4) HV battery umbrella valves and flood port plunger required replacement 10/25/2025. (5) Rear spoiler bilaterally detached as of 5/13/2026 on 200mph-capable vehicle. (6) Front trunk latch unreliable; requires 2-3 commands to open; risk of hood opening at speed. (7) USB charging circuit melted a portable battery bank 11/2/2025; fire-risk overcurrent indicator. (8) Tire sidewall damage Tesla circled "OK" at CPO delivery; refused replacement 5 times; Tesla SMS 1/13/2026: "sidewall damage would need to be replaced." (9) Multiple unauthorized digital-access events: Track Mode created post-service; Charge Current set to 5A; Dog Mode disabled; pre-delivery key card 8/28/2025; phone key 3/14/2026; both front door reflectors found loosened 11/8/2025. Warranty defect notice sent certified 4/20/2026; Tesla declined 5/7/2026 without addressing any item. Full documentation, SMS thread, photographs attached.

Filed Feb 14, 2024 · Electrical · MD

The vehicles MCU storage files are 100% full, and unable to read or write new data.the caches and nodes to have been cleared several times to restore data storage and writing capabilities. 12v power resets have also been Performed as well as factory reset to eliminate potentially corrupt data and free storage space.while at Tesla they Reformatted gateway SD card. The Vehicle is still unable to take firmware update and unable to unlock vehicle gateway, therefore, a new key fob is not able to be programmed to vehicle. Tesla Tested vehicle app remote start capabilities and verified proper functionality. The tech had me uninstall then reinstall the Tesla mobile app, then pair phone to vehicle. They then informed me that a new Key fob will not be able to be paired to vehicle until infotainment upgrade is performed. no further repairs possible until info upgrade. To which that isn’t right and my car is inoperable for the second time because of this issue

Filed Aug 30, 2023 · VT

Tesla is seemingly not producing replacement key fobs for early models. I have been attempting to order one for over two years and to my knowledge new stock has never once become available over that time. I have also checked with multiple dealerships in person. On older models, the key fob is required to operate the vehicle. I only have one working key fob. I am anxiously awaiting the day when it is lost or malfunctions and I am unable to rely on our only vehicle... seemingly indefinitely. Tesla cannot consider their mobile app as an alternative to physical key fob. I live in rural Vermont. It would be incredibly wreckless to rely on remote start/unlock. Internet connectivity is required on both the car and the mobile device on older models (newer models use Bluetooth locally).

Filed Aug 11, 2023 · CA

The trunk on our Tesla has become locked shut and the emergency release will not work. This seems To have been caused by the software getting buggy from reversing as the trunk was closing. After this the trunk seems to be in an error state and wouldn’t register as closed. After opening it it the. Wouldn’t shut at all following multiple attempts via the key fob. Button. And touch screen. After closing manually it still did not register as shut and is now completely inoperable. Seemingly disabling multiple systems in autopilot and as mentioned can not even be opened via the manual emergency release

Filed Jun 8, 2023 · Body · CO

Door handle that allows for opening the door from the outside fails to present. Motor just turns and turns, and it is impossible to open the door from the outside. This is the SECOND time for this defect on this vehicle - in 2021 the driver-side door failed in the same manner. This is the passenger side door that has failed now. Tesla said in 2021 that this was a known defect with a cheap gear that fails. There is also a class action lawsuit pending in California federal court, Urban v. Tesla, related to this identical defect which involves 2014-2016 Model S vehicles. No warning signs before the failure. In the event that the vehicle is in an accident, this failure would make it difficult for emergency personnel to open the door from the outside (which they otherwise would be able to do, because the key fob in the vehicle would ordinarily allow extension of the handle upon merely pushing in the handle).

Filed Sep 22, 2022 · Electrical, Locks · CA

The contact owns a 2014 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that her husband had buckled their son in the rear passenger’s seat and closed the door; however, while her husband was attempting to open the driver’s side door, the vehicle locked independently. The contact’s husband attempted to unlock the vehicle with the key fob however, the vehicle would not unlock. The contact stated that her husband downloaded the Tesla App to attempt to unlock the vehicle but the vehicle remained locked. The contact’s son also attempted to unlock the vehicle from the inside however, the vehicle failed to unlock or start-up. The contact’s husband was able to lower the rear passenger’s side window and remove the child from the vehicle. The contact stated that several hours later she was able to unlock and start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla Service Center however, the mechanic found no failure with the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the vehicle might have rebooted itself. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Sep 22, 2022 · NJ

Fingers can get caught in the retracting door handles which retract if the key fob is pressed while fingers are in the door handle

Filed Jun 29, 2022 · Body · IL

The Model S door handles extend/retract. The handle mechanism involves a gear that extends the handle out and a spring of sorts that retracts the door handle. The door handle can be programmed to automatically extend when in proximity to the key fob or be programmed to extend only when the car is physically unlocked with the key fob. Over the course of ownership (9 years) I have needed at least 7-8 door handles replaced because of a failure of the door handle to extend. When the door handle does not extend, the door cannot be opened from the outside. It can be difficult to pry open the door handle if the door handle cannot extend. If the driver door handle does not function, and if the driver becomes unconscious or incapacitated, there is no easy way for an individual outside the car to open the driver door without breaking the window or climbing into the car via another door that can be opened with a functioning door handle. This represents a significant safety concern and could render the door unusable and impede the efforts of rescue personnel from intervening on behalf of the driver. These door handles seemingly have a shelf life before failure, and I have been told by Tesla that they consider door handles to be "consumables," which suggests that they, like belts, brake pads, tires, etc. simply need to be replaced after a certain time. Over 30 years of owning and driving automobiles, I have never had to replace defective door handles at all, and certainly not once every year or two. Not to mention the safety issue, but Tesla also charges for parts and labors every time a door handle needs to be replaced.

Filed Jul 23, 2021 · Electrical, Lights · VT

I recently had my Tesla Model S serviced due to the touchscreen going blank (losing functionality of defrosting, temperature, sunroof, and a list of other issues). Driving with a fogged up window is dangerous. Thank you to the federal safety agency for forcing Tesla to replace it free of charge. Unfortunately, it appears that Tesla is not replacing it with a new unit. Instead it is a refurbished unit. Just days after servicing I got in the car to drive and the following error comes up on the touchscreen: "Center display memory storage device is degraded. Without repair, center display may enter limited functionality mode and only display rear view camera. When in limited functionality mode, it may be required to press brake for 30 seconds or press key fob unlock to authorize drive. Please use the Tesla Mobile App to schedule service." I find this quite troublesome and felt it worthy to apprise the federal safety agency that Tesla is clearly not abiding by its requests.

Filed Jul 14, 2021 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

My 2017 Tesla S 75D has been having issues with the eMMC/daughterboard main computer/screen/control panel blanking out, where basically the screen that has the majority of controls goes black for a few hours. On one occasion the steering wheel was affected--it locked up. To temporarily remedy the issue, I have to reboot the software/car, but I have to be parked and stopped for 30 minutes to an hour, to go through this procedure. This is a reoccurring problem that started in 2020 and it seems other issues, have stemmed from this. For example, the system has a delay of 1-2 minutes to start up--at every start up; other sporadic issues such as no sound (as in there are no sounds, music, alarms or otherwise, working, at all); the key FOB is delayed in being detected (even after replacing the battery).