The short answer
A 2012 Model S was built with no Autopilot hardware, so Full Self-Driving is ruled out. Free Supercharging that goes with the car came with most of them when new (not with an early 40 or 60 kWh car), but only Tesla's record shows whether this one still has it. It has no battery health screen: compare the range at a full charge with the EPA range when new, 265 miles. Tesla's record for the VIN settles the hardware for one car, and the free check here reads it; the Supercharging code is in the $1.99 report.
Autopilot hardware and Full Self-Driving
A 2012 Model S was built with no Autopilot hardware. That rules Full Self-Driving out: Tesla never offered an upgrade from it.
The media computer
It has the original media computer (MCU1). Tesla's paid upgrade to an Intel Atom unit with an LTE modem may not show on the record: an upgraded car names its processor under Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information.
Tesla says Model S built before June 2015 without an LTE modem lost app features, live maps and over-the-air updates, except on Wi-Fi, when AT&T ended 3G in February 2022: ask whether this one's modem or media computer was upgraded.
Parking sensors
The first Model S may have no parking sensors: ultrasonic sensors came with the Autopilot hardware, from September 2014.
Battery and range
The EPA rated the 2012 Model S by version (the number is the battery Tesla sold it as, in kWh, though some had a bigger pack limited in software; D for dual motor, P for Performance): 85, 265 miles.
The P85 has no EPA rating of its own.
Tesla began building the 70 kWh pack in April 2015, the 90 kWh pack in July 2015, the 75 kWh pack in April 2016 and the 100 kWh pack in August 2016, so a 2012 Model S whose record lists one of those had it fitted later.
It has no battery health screen: ask the seller to show the range at a full charge and compare it with the EPA range when new. The gap is a rough guide to what the battery has lost.
Battery warranty
It was sold with an 8-year battery and drive unit warranty counted from first delivery, with no mileage limit on most versions, but Tesla's service guidance says Model S and X built before 2020 had no battery capacity-retention warranty, so lost range is not a warranty claim.
Supercharging
Free unlimited Supercharging that goes with the car was a launch-era benefit, on Model S and X ordered by mid-January 2017, so most cars of this year were sold with it. Tesla's record shows whether it still has it: SC01 is free and tied to the car, SC04 pay-per-use, SC00 no access. Many now show pay-per-use: in July 2019 Tesla stopped including free unlimited Supercharging on the used cars it sold itself. A listing cannot settle it, and Tesla tells only the owner.
Supercharging was not standard on the first Model S with a 40 or 60 kWh pack, bought before April 2015: a paid option with the 60, not offered with the 40. Tesla's service guidance says those cars were later given pay-as-you-go access by an update.
Fast charging away from Tesla's network
Whether it can fast-charge away from Tesla's network (CCS stations with an adapter, or other NACS stations) depends on hardware the record does not show: ask the seller to check in the Tesla app, which Tesla says shows whether a car needs a retrofit for it.
Recalls
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2012 Model S. Each covers only the cars named in it, so some may not apply to a given car, and some may already be done on it: enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which are open. Recall work is free. The list below is NHTSA's, as read on 5 October 2026.
- 24V376000, 2024-05-28: Seat Belts, Front, Warning Light/Devices. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- 24V051000, 2024-01-30: Electrical System, Instrument Cluster/Panel. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- 23V838000, 2023-12-12: Electrical System, ADAS, Autonomous/Self Driving, Software. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
- 21V035000, 2021-01-29: Back Over Prevention, Software. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.
- 18V204000, 2018-03-29: Steering, Electric Power Assist System. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
- 17V260000, 2017-04-19: Parking Brake. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.
- 17V023000, 2017-01-10: Air Bags, Frontal, Passenger Side, Inflator Module. Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2012 Model S vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- 15V780000, 2015-11-23: Seat Belts, Front. Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.