Tire Pressure Monitoring System Fault (Sensor Not Reporting)
The TESLA-UI_A017 (Tesla TPMS / User Interface) EV fault code means: Tire Pressure Monitoring System Fault (Sensor Not Reporting). This is a low severity code.
- Keep driving?
- Yes, but fix soon
- DIY difficulty
- easy
- Estimated cost
- $60-$90 per TPMS sensor including the relearn; $0 if it only needs a relearn after a tire service.
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Common Symptoms
- Touchscreen reports a TPMS system or service fault rather than a specific low tire
- One or more tire-pressure readings show as dashes or unavailable
- Often appears after a tire rotation, tire change, or fitting aftermarket wheels
- TPMS cannot warn you of an actual low tire while this fault is active
Probable Causes (Ranked by Likelihood)
- A TPMS sensor battery has reached end of life (sensors typically last about 7-10 years) Likely
- Sensors were not relearned/paired after a tire or wheel change Likely
- Aftermarket or winter wheels fitted without functioning TPMS sensors Possible
- A damaged sensor or radio-frequency interference Possible
Step-by-Step Diagnostic Procedure
Identify which corner is not reporting on the tire-pressure screen.
If a tire or wheel was recently changed, have the TPMS sensors relearned to the vehicle (a tire shop with a TPMS tool, or Tesla service).
If a sensor battery is dead (common past ~7 years), the sensor must be replaced -- they are not serviceable.
Confirm all four wheels actually have working sensors, especially on aftermarket or winter setups.
Common Fixes by Vehicle
What techs usually find when diagnosing TESLA-UI_A017 on specific platforms — tap a platform for the fix and the exact part:
Tesla Model 3 / Y / S / X with Sentry Mode Easy DIY
UI_a017 (Sentry USB Drive Fault) means the USB drive is missing, full, unwritable, or formatted wrong. Use a high-endurance USB stick (Samsung Endurance, SanDisk High Endurance) -- these are spec'd for continuous write workloads like dashcam. Format as exFAT, create a folder named exactly TeslaCam at the root. Plug into the front USB ports inside the glove box (Model 3/Y) or center console (S/X). If still faulting, the USB port itself can fail -- try a different port. Cheap consumer USB sticks die in weeks under Sentry / Dashcam load.
Labor: 10-15 minFrequently Asked Questions
What does UI_a017 mean?
It is a TPMS system fault: the tire-pressure monitoring system cannot read one or more sensors, so it cannot reliably warn you about a low tire. It usually points to a dead sensor battery or sensors that were not relearned after a tire/wheel change.
Is it safe to drive with UI_a017?
The car drives normally, but with this fault active TPMS will not alert you to a genuinely low tire, so check your pressures manually with a gauge until it is fixed.
Sources
This page is built from documented references. Verify against your own service info before repair work.