Buying a used 2019 Tesla Model S: what to check

Autopilot hardware and Full Self-Driving

A 2019 Model S was built with Autopilot hardware 2.5 or, on cars built from about March 2019, hardware 3.0 (HW3). The change came during this model year, so the year alone does not settle it: Tesla's record names it (APH3 or APH4), and the car shows it under Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information. Tesla's own recall filing (22V-169) lists Model S built with computer 2.5 as late as July 2019, so a car built after March can still have it.

Tesla updates the record when hardware is changed. It says a car on 2.5 with Full Self-Driving bought is eligible for a free upgrade to 3.0, and owners who subscribed have paid for one, so the record may list 3.0 on a car of this year.

In April 2026 Tesla said Hardware 3 cannot run unsupervised FSD, and that customers who bought FSD would be offered a discounted trade-in or a computer and camera upgrade. It has published no prices or dates, nor whether a later owner qualifies. Since July 2026 Tesla has been releasing a reduced version, FSD v14 Lite, to Hardware 3 cars.

Tesla's record shows whether Full Self-Driving was bought (APPF) and whether it is active (APF2); APPF next to APFB means it was bought and is no longer active. The car's own Software screen shows what it has now. Since February 2026 Tesla sells Full Self-Driving only as a subscription, which ends with the seller.

The media computer

It has an Intel Atom media computer. The car names its processor under Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information.

Parking sensors

It was built with ultrasonic parking sensors, which came with the Autopilot hardware.

Battery and range

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. Tesla's warranty itself goes by the date of first sale, 29 January 2020, so a car first sold after that date may be covered: the owner can ask Tesla.

Supercharging

Tesla has given free Supercharging to the first owners of many new Model S and X since 2017, but its 2017 policy tied it to that owner, so it ends when they sell and a used car is pay-per-use (SC04), whatever the listing says. Tesla's app shows it the same way as the kind that transfers.

Fast charging away from Tesla's network

Before you buy, check whether it can fast-charge away from Tesla's network: Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information > CCS and 3rd-party NACS DC Fast Charging Support. Enabled means it can (CCS stations need an adapter); Not enabled means it needs a hardware retrofit, and the Tesla app shows whether one can be booked; Not compatible means it cannot.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2019 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."
• 24V153000, 2024-02-27: Forward Collision Avoidance, Warnings, External/Pedestrian Alert. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
• 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.
• 23V085000, 2023-02-15: Steering, Automated/Adaptive Steering. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution.
• 22V818000, 2022-11-01: Steering, Electric Power Assist System. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
• 22V169000, 2022-03-18: Back Over Prevention, Display Function. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
• 22V037000, 2022-01-27: Electrical System, ADAS, Autonomous/Self Driving, Software. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
• 21V00B000, 2021-12-21: Latches/Locks/Linkages, Hood, Latch. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
• 21V846000, 2021-10-29: Forward Collision Avoidance, Sensing System, Camera. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.