2017 Tesla Model S · symptom sheet
Suspension noise, struts or alignment
- 107owner reports
- 19,000median miles
- $1,500median quote
- 14involved a crash
Newest report Feb 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
107 of the 424 complaints on this car describe suspension. Only infotainment is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 107 reports
Suspension on other Model S years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023.
What this problem usually is
Suspension complaints are mostly about noise and handling: a clunk over bumps, a car that pulls to one side, a ride that bounces or leans more than it used to. The more serious reports describe a part breaking or coming loose, and that's where the recalls in this group are concentrated.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the control arm (27 reports), the ball joint (12 reports) and the struts or shocks (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the suspension system covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the suspension system on the Model S
Fore link failure. Closed aug 12, 2024.
What owners paid
6 of the 107 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $700 to $1,725.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 45,000 miles, from the 74 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2017 Tesla Model S that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
On some Model S vehicles equipped with air suspension, a front-end rattle noise might come from behind the IP carrier when traveling over road transitions at low speed.
What owners wrote
“While parking the left suspension fore link completely broke. The car only has 50k miles on it. I believe it is this issue: [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
Filed Nov 30, 2023 · 50,000 miles
“Suspension links are failing after only 50k miles causing tires to rub wheel well liner.”
Filed Aug 25, 2022 · 50,000 miles
“Front driverâs side suspension fore link snapped while traveling at low speed(possibly while turning). Wheel slid back and hit rear wheel arch during braking, compromising braking & controllability of the vehicle. The car was inspected and repaired by Tesla. The car only has 60K miles, but I was charged nearly $700 to replace. No warning lights indicated a problem.”
Filed Aug 6, 2022 · 60,000 miles
“The suspension failed when I was backing out of a parking spot. As I drove to the Tesla service center for the diagnosis, I could hear rattle and clanging. Tesla notified me the suspension forelink LH and RH had to be replaced.”
Filed Jun 12, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 14 of 107 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 109 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 34 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 25 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 25 reports