Tesla Model S years to avoid
Every Tesla Model S model year on file (2012-2022), ranked worst to best by severity index - the share of owner complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or fatality.
2014
Worst year on file
213.5
Severity index
Electrical System
Most-reported system
2022
Cleanest year on file
Ranked worst to best
| # | Model year | Severity | Complaints | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 Tesla Model S | 213.5 High | 366 | Electrical System |
| 2 | 2013 Tesla Model S | 130.3 High | 461 | Electrical System |
| 3 | 2012 Tesla Model S | 107.5 High | 59 | Electrical System |
| 4 | 2021 Tesla Model S | 73.5 Medium | 179 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 5 | 2022 Tesla Model S | 30.9 Low | 136 | Unknown Or Other |
A high rank here means a larger share of this year's complaints described a crash, fire or injury - not that the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and not a reliability or repair-cost rating. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold.
Tesla Model S complaints and recalls by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crashes | Fires | Severity | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 59 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 107.5 High | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2013 | 461 | 11 | 41 | 19 | 130.3 High | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2014 | 366 | 9 | 52 | 9 | 213.5 High | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2021 | 179 | 24 | 13 | 2 | 73.5 Medium | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE |
| 2022 | 136 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 30.9 Low | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold; a high-volume seller will attract more filings than a rare trim.