Tesla Model S Best and Worst Years (2012–2025)
Tesla Model S years 2014-2017 are rated Avoid, with 2016 the worst (complaint index 100, 92 crashes, 8 deaths). 2012, 2019, 2024 and 2025 rate Best, with complaint indexes of 15, 8, 23 and 0 respectively.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2014Avoid 2015Avoid 2016Avoid 2017Best 2012Best 2019Best 2024Best 2025
- Model years
- 14
- 2012–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 3,387
- Recall campaigns
- 38
- Crashes reported
- 396
- Fires reported
- 62
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Model S Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Tesla Model S problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Best | 15 | 61 | 4 | 1 | 8 | Electrical System | 89 | — |
| 2013 | Caution | 69 | 459 | 41 | 19 | 11 | Electrical System | 94 | 5★ |
| 2014 | Avoid | 77 | 365 | 52 | 9 | 9 | Electrical System | 89 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Avoid | 92 | 667 | 70 | 12 | 9 | Electrical System | 94 | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 100 | 646 | 92 | 12 | 10 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 98 | — |
| 2017 | Avoid | 85 | 424 | 55 | 4 | 9 | Electrical System | 100.5 | — |
| 2018 | Caution | 54 | 168 | 36 | 3 | 11 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 100 | — |
| 2019 | Best | 8 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 10 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 103 | — |
| 2020 | Good | 38 | 80 | 16 | 0 | 11 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 109 | — |
| 2021 | Caution | 62 | 178 | 13 | 2 | 23 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 105.5 | — |
| 2022 | Good | 31 | 138 | 3 | 0 | 20 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 116 | — |
| 2023 | Good | 46 | 113 | 8 | 0 | 13 | Steering | 120 | — |
| 2024 | Best | 23 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 6 | Lane Departure | 107 | — |
| 2025 | Best | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 104 | — |
Model S years to avoid: what went wrong
2016 Tesla Model S Index 100 · 646 complaints · 10 recalls
The 2016 Model S ranks worst overall with a complaint index of 100 across 646 complaints. Suspension, Wheels & Tires problems lead at 33 percent, with a median failure mileage of only 10,000 miles. NHTSA logged 92 crashes, 12 fires, 64 injuries, and 8 deaths, the highest injury and crash counts among all years. Owners describe rear wheels skewing at extreme angles with no visible collision damage and ball joints separating from the suspension. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year.
2016 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2016 electrical system problems →2016 engine problems →
2015 Tesla Model S Index 92 · 667 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2015 Model S has a complaint index of 92, the second-worst in the lineup, from 667 total complaints. Electrical System issues represent 42 percent of complaints with a median failure mileage of 56,511 miles, while Suspension, Wheels & Tires problems hit at a median of just 12,640.5 miles. NHTSA recorded 70 crashes, 12 fires, 29 injuries, and 4 deaths. Owners report suspension arms failing and wheels jamming into the arch, along with fires occurring at low mileage. This year carries 9 recall campaigns.
2015 electrical system problems →2015 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2015 engine problems →
2017 Tesla Model S Index 85 · 424 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2017 Model S has a complaint index of 85 from 424 complaints. Electrical System problems make up 31 percent, failing at a median of 35,250 miles, while Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues fail earlier, at a median of 14,500 miles. NHTSA recorded 55 crashes, 4 fires, and 23 injuries, with no deaths reported for this year. Owners describe front suspension components snapping off with very low mileage and sudden unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for 2017.
2017 electrical system problems →2017 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2017 collision avoidance & cameras problems →
2014 Tesla Model S Index 77 · 365 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2014 Model S carries a complaint index of 77 out of 3,387 total complaints across the model. Electrical System problems make up 39 percent of its 365 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 64,500 miles. Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues account for 25 percent, failing at a median of 24,000 miles. NHTSA recorded 52 crashes, 9 fires, 19 injuries, and 13 deaths for this year. Owners describe suspension links separating and battery fires following crashes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for 2014, including software fixes for seat belt warnings and Autosteer.
2014 electrical system problems →2014 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2014 engine problems →
Most common Tesla Model S problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Electrical System1,101 (33%)
- Other882 (26%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires790 (23%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras404 (12%)
- Steering345 (10%)
- Engine329 (10%)
- Brakes245 (7%)
- Structure & Body207 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers171 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain146 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What year Tesla Model S should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to 2014 through 2017 as the years to avoid, with 2016 the worst at a complaint index of 100 and 92 crashes, 12 fires, and 8 deaths.
- What is the best year for the Tesla Model S?
- 2012, 2019, 2024 and 2025 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 15, 8, 23 and 0 out of the scale used across the 3,387 total complaints for the model.
- Is the 2016 Tesla Model S reliable?
- The 2016 Model S has the highest complaint index (100) of any Model S year, driven largely by Suspension, Wheels & Tires problems that NHTSA owners reported failing at a median of 10,000 miles.
- Does the Tesla Model S have recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 38 recall campaigns across all Model S years, including seat belt warning and Autosteer software fixes that apply to the 2014-2017 model years.
- What is the most common problem area on the Tesla Model S?
- Across all years, Electrical System complaints are most common at 33 percent of 1,101 complaints, followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 23 percent.