Tesla Years to Avoid by Model
Tesla years to avoid: the 2023 Model Y (1,089 complaints) and 2022 Model 3 (748 complaints) lead the list. 5 of the 6 Tesla models we track have at least one avoid-rated year; the cleanest records include the 2012 Model S and 2017 Model 3. Based on 12,233 NHTSA owner complaints, rated model year by model year.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, recall campaigns & service bulletins · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
Tesla years to avoid, model by model
| Model | Years to avoid | Best years | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model S | 201320152016 | 20122019 | 3,217 (2012–2025) |
| Tesla Model X | 201620222023 | — | 1,380 (2015–2025) |
| Tesla Model 3 | 2018202120222023 | 2017 | 4,033 (2017–2025) |
| Tesla Model Y | 202120222023 | — | 3,600 (2019–2025) |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 20242025 | 2023 | 0 (2023–2026) |
| Tesla Semi | None rated avoid | — | 3 (2022–2025) |
Verdicts are each model’s own, rated against that model’s history (see the methodology); counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
The worst year for each Tesla model
2023 Tesla Model Y: 1,089 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2021, 2022 and 2023 · Full Model Y breakdown →
2022 Tesla Model 3: 748 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 · Full Model 3 breakdown →
2016 Tesla Model S: 604 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2013, 2015 and 2016 · Full Model S breakdown →
2023 Tesla Model X: 191 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2016, 2022 and 2023 · Full Model X breakdown →
2024 Tesla Cybertruck: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2024 and 2025 · Full Cybertruck breakdown →
Looking for the years to buy instead?
Frequently asked questions
What Tesla years should you avoid?
By model: Model S 2013, 2015 and 2016; Model X 2016, 2022 and 2023; Model 3 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023; Model Y 2021, 2022 and 2023; Cybertruck 2024 and 2025. Each verdict matches that model's own years-to-avoid page, built from NHTSA owner-complaint and recall records.
What are the best Tesla years to buy?
The cleanest federal records by model: Model S 2012 and 2019; Model 3 2017; Cybertruck 2023.
Which Tesla model has the most years to avoid?
The Tesla Model 3, with 4 avoid-rated model years (2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023) across 9 years on record (2017–2025).
How are Tesla years to avoid rated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity, converted to a rate per year on the road, compared with the rest of that model's own history and adjusted for recalls. Models not yet scored that way are ranked by combined NHTSA complaint and manufacturer service-bulletin volume. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
Where does the Tesla data come from?
Federal records: 12,233 NHTSA owner complaints across 6 Tesla models, plus NHTSA recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.