Tesla Model S Years to Avoid
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 3,217 NHTSA complaints, the Tesla Model S years to avoid are 2013, 2015 and 2016 — the worst logged up to 2.2× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate. Updated August 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of August 2026 · How we rate model years
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 59 | 12 | 8 | BEST |
| 2013 | 459 | 153 | 11 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 365 | 136 | 9 | CAUTION |
| 2015 | 647 | 186 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2016 | 604 | 200 | 10 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 379 | 104 | 9 | CAUTION |
| 2018 | 129 | 50 | 11 | SOLID |
| 2019 | 32 | 14 | 10 | BEST |
| 2020 | 80 | 33 | 11 | SOLID |
| 2021 | 175 | 54 | 24 | CAUTION |
| 2022 | 136 | 35 | 20 | CAUTION |
| 2023 | 108 | 30 | 13 | CAUTION |
| 2024 | 38 | 7 | 6 | SOLID |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 2 | N/A |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Tesla Model S. Full methodology.
Why these years stand out
2013 Tesla Model S: 459 owner complaints on federal record, 153 of them severe, plus 11 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Tesla Model S.
2015 Tesla Model S: 647 owner complaints on federal record, 186 of them severe, plus 9 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Tesla Model S.
2016 Tesla Model S: 604 owner complaints on federal record, 200 of them severe, plus 10 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Tesla Model S.
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FAQ
What years of the Tesla Model S should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Tesla Model S years to avoid are 2013, 2015 and 2016 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates. See the year-by-year table for the full picture. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Tesla Model S?
The 2012 and 2019 Tesla Model S show the cleanest federal records among years with enough time on the road to judge — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates for the model.
How is the Tesla Model S verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Tesla Model S's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Tesla Model S before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Tesla Model S reliable?
The Tesla Model S's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 3,217 NHTSA owner complaints, 2013, 2015 and 2016 rate "avoid", while 2012 and 2019 show the cleanest federal records — see the year-by-year verdicts above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Tesla Model S?
Owner complaints for the Tesla Model S are spread across components without a single dominant failure; see the year-by-year table and known-issue cards above for the federal record.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Tesla Model S across every model year on record. Retrieved August 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered; a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Tesla Model S, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verify the flagged years in NHTSA's public database:
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.