Tesla Model S Reliability: What You Need To Know

When Consumer Reports published its 2023 industry reliability study, complete with automaker rankings and analysis of gas-powered versus all-electric vehicle dependability, Tesla fell short. The tech company-cum-automotive manufacturer was founded in 2003 and came out with the Tesla Model S in 2012. Among all of the automakers scored, Tesla ranked below the likes of top electric vehicle competitors like Kia, Porsche, BMW, Hyundai, and Infiniti, despite being the poster-child of electrification to many consumers. As newer Tesla models have hit the electric marketplace over the last 12 years, the Model S’ once soaring sales have slumped.

In 2022, total deliveries for Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles — grouped together by the automaker in data reports — came out to 66,705 copies. In comparison, the newer Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars that first released in 2017 and 2020 respectively, sold a combined 1.3 million vehicles, according to Tesla’s 2022 investor sales report. On top of it all, the Tesla Model S has been deemed one of the least reliable Tesla models consumers can buy. Here’s everything you need to know.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Tesla, J.D. Power, and Consumer Reports.

Tesla Model S Reliability Ratings

Based on consumer responses, J.D. Power scores the Tesla Model S a 79 out of 100 in total. While the performance, driving experience, design, and functionality of the car fit into the “Great” category, along with resale value being categorized as “Good,” the quality and reliability scores for the Model S sit at “Average.”

According to J.D. Power, the quality and reliability scoring system is based on and measures the “level the defects, malfunctions, and design flaws experienced by vehicle owners. Covers the entire vehicle from the engine to the infotainment system. A higher rating means fewer problems.”It also added, “We expect the 2024 Model S will be less reliable than the average new car. This prediction is based on the 2021 and 2022 models, plus the Tesla brand scores.”

How Much You Can Expect To Pay In Maintenance Fees

With consumers spending anywhere between $70,000 and $100,000-plus on a Tesla Model S initially, ensuring maintenance costs won’t stack up is important for protecting your investment.

Repairs And Prices

According to RepairPal, the most common repairs and check-ins range from $80 to over $170.

Tesla Diagnosis Costs

(Data sourced from RepairPal)

Average Repair Costs

While RepairPal recognizes that maintenance fees vary depending on a vehicle’s age, mileage, location, and the specific repair shop, it averages annual repair costs for the Model S at $1,047.

Tesla Model S: How Safe Is It

Despite recent recalls — most recently recalling over 120,000 Model S electric vehicles — the Tesla Model S continues to score high in safety ratings. As recently as earlier this month, Tesla recalled a massive percentage of its fleet of vehicles for warning light visibility issues and, in December, Tesla recalled more than 120,000 Model S and Model X vehicles because of the risk of doors opening during crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also investigated Tesla for a software update impacting electric vehicles released between 2021 and 2023 that the administration said fails to follow federal safety regulations.

NHTSA Recalls And Complaints

According to the NHTSA, as early as 2013, the Tesla Model S had 433 complaints, nine investigations, and nine recalls. In the years that followed — a newer and more tech-savvy Model S released each year — recalls, complaints, and investigations trailed the Tesla Model S around, tainting its image.

In 2014, the NHTSA received 330 complaints that led to 11 investigations and eight recalls. In 2016, the administration counted 338 complaints, conducted 12 investigations, and recalled 10 vehicles. But 2015 was the standout year. In 2015, the NHTSA’s complaints listed amounted to 618 complaints about the 100 percent electric vehicle and resulted in 12 investigations. Despite the lengthy list of consumer concerns, only eight recalls occurred. According to Consumer Reports, the 2023 Tesla Model S has eight recalls currently.

However, when it comes to safety ratings, Tesla Model S vehicles still score high among the NHTSA administrators. The agency only has data on its website for model years ranging from 2013 to 2015. All of those vehicles — despite recalls — score five out of five stars in terms of safety.

According to the NHTSA, the administration measures a vehicle’s safety through several tests. They combine “Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 MPH.” The Tesla Model S also received a five out of five-star safety score from the Euro New Car Assessment Program.

When it comes to recalls, Tesla has received backlash because of the sheer amount of vehicles the company has recently had to update or change safety features in. Tesla has spoken out about the misconceptions around its vehicles and recalls.

“We at Tesla believe that we have a moral obligation to continue improving our already best-in-class safety systems,” Tesla said in a
press release
. “At the same time, we also believe it is morally indefensible not to make these systems available to a wider set of consumers, given the incontrovertible data that shows it is saving lives and preventing injury. Regulators around the globe have a duty to protect consumers, and the Tesla team looks forward to continuing our work with them towards our common goal of eliminating as many deaths and injuries as possible on our roadways.”

It isn’t as rare for vehicles, especially electric, to be recalled as it seems. Lucid, for example, just recalled the Lucid Air over a software issue that cut motive power. The technology behind electric vehicles is still in the early stages and constantly improving year after year.

Tesla Model S: Fuel Efficiency

While electric vehicles boast fuel efficiency numbers vastly greater than their gas-guzzling counterparts, they’ve made big strides in just a handful of years. That is exactly the case for the Tesla Model S.

The 2023 Model Outranks the 2012 Tesla Model S

When the Tesla Model S first came out in 2012, its fuel efficiency ranking was higher than most gas-powered vehicles. However, over the last 12 years, the electric vehicle manufacturer has made significant improvements to how efficient the Tesla is.

In 2012, the Tesla Model S reached a combined city and highway fuel economy of 89 MPGe, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, in 2023, the Model S reached a whopping combined city and highway 120 MPGe. While the 2012 edition was more efficient on the highway, with a fuel economy of 90 MPGe, the 2023 version was curiously more efficient on city streets than highways with 124 MPGe.

Tesla Model S: Starting at $74,990

When shelling out over $70,000, reliability is an important factor in knowing whether you are getting your money’s worth on a sizable investment. With typically higher upfront costs (despite rebates), investing in an electric vehicle can be risky. According to Consumer Reports, electric vehicles have 79 percent more problems than gas vehicles and plug-in hybrids have 146 percent more problems than their gas counterparts. It is no wonder then that hybrids are such a popular option, with 26 percent fewer problems than gas-powered cars.

Investing in a Tesla Model S may not be the best game plan. Here is how the costs — both initial and anticipated maintenance, damage, and recall costs — add up.

How Much A New Tesla Model S Costs

In 2024, Tesla announced a new edition of the Model S, complete with two special trim styles including the Long Range and Plaid versions. The base model, reaching 405 miles in range, ends up costing buyers around $74,990, while the Plaid edition offers a less impressive range at 359 miles but an additional motor with a $89,990 price tag, according to Tesla.

2024 Tesla Model S Pricing

(Data sourced from Tesla)

How Much A Used Tesla Model S Costs

If old-school (as old as 2012 can be) is more your speed, used Tesla Model S vehicles have a wide range of price points. For example, a 2015 Tesla Model S with 63,000 miles starts at $24,900, while a 2013 model with 10,000 more miles drops down to $17,999. More recent models with low mileage, like a used 2022 Tesla Model S Long Range with 11,000 miles to its name, will cost you $69,999, according to Cars.com. That is quite a dip in value compared to a 2022 Long Range Model S vehicle’s starting price of $106,440.

According to J.D. Power, the resale value of the 2022 Model S is categorized as “Great,” scoring 83 out of 100. The auto research site forecasts vehicle depreciation values over the next three years. However, the 2023 and 2024 models dropped down a couple of points in resale value. Models before 2022 are not rated, according to the site.