Best Tesla Model S Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Tesla Model S years to buy are 2012 and 2019 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2013, 2015 and 2016 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Tesla Model S year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | OK |
| 2024 | 38 | 6 | OK |
| 2023 | 108 | 13 | OK |
| 2022 | 136 | 20 | OK |
| 2021 | 175 | 24 | OK |
| 2020 | 80 | 11 | OK |
| 2019 | 32 | 10 | BEST |
| 2018 | 129 | 11 | OK |
| 2017 | 379 | 9 | OK |
| 2016 | 604 | 10 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 647 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 365 | 9 | OK |
| 2013 | 459 | 11 | AVOID |
| 2012 | 59 | 8 | BEST |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Tesla Model S?
2012 and 2019 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Tesla Model S model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Tesla Model S years should I avoid?
2013, 2015 and 2016 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates. The full breakdown is on our Tesla Model S years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Tesla Model S a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 3,217 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Tesla Model S years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Tesla Model S year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Tesla Model S you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).