2017 Tesla Model S: the value pick between the facelift and MCU2

The 2017 Tesla Model S is a facelifted car with a 48 A onboard charger, Autopilot hardware 2 or 2.5, and the original MCU1 screen computer. EPA range runs from 249 miles (75) to 335 miles (100D), and its 9 recalls are almost all over-the-air software fixes. For a used buyer it often hits the best balance of price and equipment among the 2012 to 2018 cars.

Where the 2017 sits between 2016 and 2018

Think of 2017 as a year of consolidation. The April 2016 facelift, the 48 A charger and the October 2016 switch to Autopilot HW2 all carry through unchanged, so you do not have to decode three different builds as you do with the mixed-build 2016 Model S. Every 2017 car has the camera suite.

It also escapes several service recalls that hang over older cars. The NHTSA list for 2017 has no Takata airbag campaign, no corroded steering-bolt campaign and no parking-brake caliper campaign. Of its 9 recalls, only two need a service visit.

What it does not get is the newer media computer. MCU2, with its Intel Atom processor, 5 GHz Wi-Fi and newer Bluetooth, started on builds from about March 2018, so the 2018 Model S is the earliest year where you can find one from the factory. On a 2017, the touchscreen is slower and its 8 GB memory chip is the known weak point.

HW2 or HW2.5?

Tesla revised the Autopilot computer around August 2017. HW2.5 added redundancy and is what makes the dashcam and Sentry Mode video recording possible. Early 2017 cars have HW2.

Either version can be lifted to the HW3 computer for free, but only if Full Self-Driving was bought outright for that car. A subscription does not count. So a 2017 car with purchased FSD is worth more than the same car without it, by more than the paint and mileage suggest. To check what you have, look under Controls, Software, Additional Vehicle Information, or ask Tesla with the VIN.

2017 versions and EPA range

The line-up thinned out during the year. The 60 and 60D, which used software-limited 75 kWh packs, ended in March 2017, and the 75 became the entry car at $69,500 in April. The 90D was dropped during 2017. The 100D arrived early in the year and became the long-range pick at 335 miles; Tesla raised its price by $2,500 to $97,500 in April 2017, when the P100D went to $140,000.

For most buyers the choice comes down to a 75D (259 miles, about 33 kWh per 100 miles) or a 100D (335 miles, about the same efficiency). The 100D costs more but makes long trips far less dependent on Supercharger spacing.

How long a 2017 takes to charge at home

Every 2017 car accepts at least 48 A (11.5 kW), which is exactly what a Gen 3 Wall Connector delivers on a 60 A breaker. That pairing adds about 35 miles of range per hour by EPA-based estimates, so a 50-mile day is back in the battery in under 90 minutes. Tesla's current table for Model S at 48 A says up to 41 miles per hour, but that is for newer, more efficient cars.

Some 2017 cars were ordered with the optional 72 A charger. You will see 72 as the maximum on the charging screen. Using it means a Gen 2 Wall Connector on a 90 A breaker, which is a heavier, costlier circuit with its own disconnect rules. It adds about 52 miles per hour, but few owners need it. Our Tesla charger amps explainer lays out the breaker and wire pairings, and what an install costs covers the price drivers. Use a licensed electrician and get the permit.

If you already have a dryer-style or 14-50 outlet, the current Mobile Connector draws 32 A, about 23 miles per hour. That is enough for many commutes; see Wall Connector vs Mobile Connector for the trade-offs. To work out the monthly bill, use our home charging cost guide.

Away from home, older Model S may need a Tesla retrofit before the $300 CCS1 adapter will work at third-party fast chargers; Tesla prices the S/X retrofit with adapter at $380 (as of October 2026). Check eligibility for your VIN in the Tesla app first.

Recalls and crash data for 2017

The two service-visit recalls are 21V035, which replaces the MCU1 memory board, and 21V00B, which realigns the frunk latch so the secondary catch engages. The rest are software. Two of those matter on the road: 21V846 fixed a communication error that could trigger false forward-collision warnings or unexpected emergency braking, and 22V818 recalibrated the power steering so assist would not drop out after a pothole.

• 21V035000January 29, 2021Back over prevention, softwareService visit
  MCU1 touchscreen eMMC memory wear can cause loss of rearview camera, defrost/defog controls and exterior turn signal lighting; VCM daughterboard replaced (firmware 2020.48.48.12+ also advised)
• 21V846000October 29, 2021Forward collision avoidance, sensing system, cameraSoftware update
  Software communication error may cause false forward-collision warnings or unexpected automatic emergency braking
• 21V00B000December 21, 2021Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchService visit
  Front trunk (frunk) latch may be misaligned so the secondary latch does not engage; hood could open unexpectedly
• 22V037000January 27, 2022Electrical system, adas, autonomous/self driving, softwareSoftware update
  FSD (Beta) 'rolling stop' could let the car roll through all-way stop intersections; feature disabled
• 22V818000November 1, 2022Steering, electric power assist systemSoftware update
  Power steering assist may be lost on rough roads or after a pothole; EPAS recalibrated
• 23V085000February 15, 2023Steering, automated/adaptive steeringSoftware update
  FSD Beta may act unsafely around intersections and respond poorly to speed limit changes

Source: NHTSA recalls API. A recall only applies if your VIN is listed.

NHTSA only rated the 2017 Model S for rollover (5 stars, 5.7% risk). The 75 and 75D are listed as not rated for overall, frontal and side crashes, so there is no full government score to compare.

379 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Model S. Source: NHTSA complaints database.

Who should buy a 2017

A 2017 suits someone who wants a capable long-range Model S with modern-looking styling and Autopilot, can live with or pay to replace the older screen computer, and charges at home. The battery warranty ended during 2025 for these cars, so pay for a health check before you agree a price. If a newer touchscreen is a must, stretch to a post-March 2018 build; otherwise compare the full set of Model S model years.

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