The 2022 Tesla Model S is the refreshed car in its second year: same yoke-era interior, same 405-mile dual-motor and tri-motor Plaid. What makes it different is two changes Tesla made during production, and a recall list that is shorter than 2021's but still has five service-visit items.
Two build-date cutoffs inside one model year
Radar, mid-February 2022. Tesla told InsideEVs that all North American Model S built from mid-February 2022 dropped forward radar and moved to camera-only Tesla Vision. Early-2022 cars keep the radar unit. It is a hardware fact worth knowing before you pay, since both versions are sold under the same model-year badge and often at similar prices.
Swiveling screen, partway through the year. Edmunds notes the center screen gained a power swivel mid-year. Early cars have a fixed screen.
What stays the same across the year: HW3 Autopilot computer, AMD Ryzen infotainment, heat pump, ultrasonic parking sensors, and a 48 A onboard charger. Tesla also renamed the Long Range simply "Model S" for 2022.
Range depends on wheels more than trim
| Trim | EPA range | Efficiency | Home AC max | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model S (Dual Motor AWD) | 405 mi | 120 MPGe | 11.5 kW | $104,990 |
| Plaid (19 in wheels) | 396 mi | 116 MPGe | 11.5 kW | $135,990 |
| Plaid (21 in wheels) | 348 mi | 101 MPGe | 11.5 kW | $135,990 |
The dual-motor 2022 Tesla Model S keeps the 405-mile rating. The Plaid improved on paper: 396 miles on 19 in wheels (116 MPGe), up from the 387 first reported for 2021. On 21 in wheels the Plaid is 348 miles. That is a 12% cut for looks and grip, and it shows up in energy cost too: about 29 kWh per 100 miles on 19s against about 33 on 21s, computed from the EPA MPGe.
Prices were high. Edmunds lists $104,990 for the Model S and $135,990 for the Plaid, though Tesla changed prices several times during 2022. Price cuts in 2023 dropped the base car to $74,990, which pulled used 2022 values down with it. See the 2023 Model S page for that story.
Recalls: what still needs a technician
NHTSA lists 20 campaigns. Fifteen were software updates; five need a service appointment:
- 22V526000: the front bumper carrier could make the passenger air bag deploy incorrectly in some low-speed crashes. The carrier is replaced. This one is specific to 2022 among the years we cover here.
- 22V104000: side curtain air bag inflators may have been assembled wrong.
- 23V488000: front belts may not be attached to the pretensioner anchors.
- 24V967000: driver air bag could tear (2021 to 2025 S and X).
- 25V172000: wrong horn pad on the air bag, so the horn may not sound.
Two software recalls are worth reading even though they are already fixed on an updated car. 23V862000 dealt with doors that could open their locks in a crash. 22V296000 covered the infotainment CPU overheating during fast charging, which could blank the backup camera.
- 22V037000January 27, 2022Electrical system, adas, autonomous/self driving, softwareSoftware update
FSD Beta 'rolling stop' could let the car roll through an all-way stop - 22V045000February 1, 2022Electrical system, softwareSoftware update
Seat belt chime may not sound at start-up when the driver is unbuckled - 22V050000February 2, 2022Electrical system, softwareSoftware update
Heat pump valve software error could reduce windshield defrost performance - 22V063000February 4, 2022Electrical system, softwareSoftware update
Boombox could obscure Pedestrian Warning System sounds (superseded by 22V235000) - 22V104000February 23, 2022Air bags, side/window, curtain, inflatorService visit
Side curtain air bag inflators may have been assembled incorrectly - 22V235000April 12, 2022Electrical system, softwareSoftware update
Boombox could obscure Pedestrian Warning System sounds; Boombox disabled in Drive, Neutral and Reverse
Show all 20 recalls
- 22V296000May 3, 2022Back over prevention, display functionSoftware update
Infotainment CPU overheating during fast charging could stop the rearview camera image displaying - 22V526000July 21, 2022Air bags, frontalService visit
Front bumper carrier could cause improper front passenger air bag deployment in some low-speed crashes - 22V702000September 19, 2022Visibility, power window devices and controlsSoftware update
Window automatic reversal may not react correctly to an obstruction - 23V085000February 15, 2023Steering, automated/adaptive steeringSoftware update
FSD Beta could act unsafely at intersections and respond poorly to speed limit changes - 23V488000July 14, 2023Seat belts, frontService visit
Front seat belts may not be properly attached to the pretensioner anchors and could detach - 23V743000November 3, 2023Steering, steering wheel/handle barService visit
Wrong driver air bag may have been fitted when a yoke or steering wheel was replaced - 23V838000December 12, 2023Electrical system, adas, autonomous/self driving, softwareSoftware update
Autosteer driver-engagement controls may not be enough to prevent misuse - 23V862000December 19, 2023Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchSoftware update
Doors could unlock during a crash (FMVSS 214) - 24V051000January 30, 2024Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelSoftware update
Brake, Park and ABS warning lights used too small a font - 24V376000May 28, 2024Seat belts, front, warning light/devicesSoftware update
Seat belt warning light and chime might not activate for an unbelted driver - 24V554000July 24, 2024Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchSoftware update
Hood latch system may not detect an unlatched hood after it has been opened - 25V172000March 19, 2025Air bagsService visit
Air bag with the wrong horn pad may have been fitted, so the horn may not sound - 24V967000December 24, 2024Air bags, frontal, driver side, cushionService visit
Driver air bag could tear during deployment - 26V283000May 5, 2026Back over prevention, softwareSoftware update
Rearview camera image may be delayed after shifting into Reverse
Source: NHTSA recalls API. A recall only applies if your VIN is listed.
NHTSA has not crash-rated the 2022 Model S, so there is no star rating to report. Complaint volume:
139 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2022 Model S. Most frequent areas (approximate order): unknown or other; forward collision avoidance; steering; electrical system; structure; wheels. Source: NHTSA complaints database.
Edmunds also recorded build-quality flaws on its test cars (misaligned doors, torn moldings, crooked trim) and brake fade on a Plaid after repeated hard runs. On any used Plaid, inspect pads and rotors.
Charging at home: what each circuit gets you
The 2022 Tesla Model S takes up to 48 A AC. The chart shows how long 200 miles of range takes on common setups.
| How you charge | Speed |
|---|---|
| Wall Connector at 48 A (11.5 kW, 60 A breaker) | up to 41 mi of range per hour |
| NEMA 14-50 outlet, Mobile Connector at 32 A | about 27 mi per hour |
| Regular 120 V outlet | 2 to 3 mi per hour |
| Empty to full, largest pack (about 95 kWh) | about 9 hours at 11.5 kW |
Rates scale Tesla's published Wall Connector table for this model; older cars and cold batteries charge slower. Times are estimates.
The arithmetic is simple. Tesla quotes 41 mi/hr for the Model S at 48 A, so 200 / 41 = 4.9 hours. At 32 A (a 40 A circuit, or a NEMA 14-50 with the Mobile Connector) it is about 27 mi/hr and 7.4 hours. Both finish overnight. A 60 A circuit is worth it mainly if you regularly arrive home low and leave early.
Before you pick, compare the Wall Connector vs Mobile Connector and read how charging speed changes on other setups. For the circuit itself, see installing a Tesla wall charger; Tesla's manual calls for 6 AWG 90 C copper on a 75 C-rated 60 A breaker, and an electrician should confirm it for your panel.
Test-drive checks specific to 2022
- Build month. Before mid-February 2022 means radar fitted; after means Tesla Vision only.
- Screen swivel. Present on later builds only.
- Wheels. A Plaid on 21s gives up about 48 miles of rated range against 19s. Ask whether the original wheels come with the car.
- Service recall paperwork. Especially 22V526000, the bumper carrier job, which needs the front bumper area opened up.
- Panel fit and trim. Doors, moldings and the rear hatch seam, given the build-quality notes from test cars.
- Brakes on a Plaid. Pad depth and rotor surface tell you whether it has been launched hard.
- Charging screen. Plug in and confirm it reads 48 A on a 60 A circuit.
Who the 2022 suits
It suits buyers who want the refreshed interior with fewer recall campaigns than 2021 and do not need HW4. If you want radar, buy an early-2022 build. If you want the round wheel option and HW4, step to 2023. If you are weighing the older year for price, compare the 2021 Model S recalls first, since 2021 has four more campaigns.
For how this year ranks against the rest, see Model S years to avoid.
What 2022 Model S shoppers ask
Does the 2022 Model S have radar?
Only early builds. Tesla moved North American Model S production to camera-only Tesla Vision from mid-February 2022, so later 2022 cars have no forward radar. Ultrasonic parking sensors were still fitted on 2022 cars; those went in 2023. Check the build date in the Tesla app or on the door-jamb label.
What is the range of the 2022 Model S Plaid?
The EPA rates the 2022 Plaid at 396 miles on 19 in wheels and 348 miles on 21 in wheels. The dual-motor car is rated 405 miles. The 48-mile gap between Plaid wheel options is the biggest single range factor you control, so ask which wheels came on the car and which are on it now.
How many recalls does the 2022 Model S have?
NHTSA lists 20 campaigns as of October 2026. Most were software fixes sent over the air. Five need service: curtain air bag inflators (22V104000), the bumper carrier affecting passenger air bag deployment (22V526000), front belt anchors (23V488000), and two air bag part recalls (24V967000 and 25V172000). Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which are still open.
How long does a 2022 Model S take to charge at home?
On a Wall Connector with a 60 A breaker it adds about 41 miles of range per hour, so a full charge from near empty takes roughly 9 hours. On a NEMA 14-50 outlet with a Mobile Connector it adds about 27 miles per hour. A standard 120 V outlet adds only 2 to 3 miles per hour, which suits very light use.
Did the 2022 Model S screen tilt?
Partway through the model year Tesla added a power swivel to the center screen so it can angle toward the driver or passenger. Edmunds notes the change. Early 2022 cars have a fixed screen. It is easy to check on a test drive: look for the swivel option in the display settings.
Sources
- NHTSA recalls API, 2022 Tesla Model S, api.nhtsa.gov
- InsideEVs: Tesla removes radar from Model S, X, insideevs.com
- Edmunds: 2022 Tesla Model S, edmunds.com
- Tesla support: Wall Connector charging speeds, tesla.com
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