Used Tesla Model S 2014-2021 reliability review

What should I look for in a used Tesla Model S?

Bodywork issues

Owners have told us about broken exterior door handles and other bodywork problems, as well as some faults with exterior lights. This is a large car that will have been used in tight urban car parks, so check the bodywork carefully for dents and scuffs; Teslas are expensive to repair. Check the alloy wheels for kerb damage, too.

Electrical issues

Problems have been reported that relate to the climate control, steering and suspension systems. Other problems have involved faulty electric motors that have needed to be replaced, warped brake discs and door handles that fail to pop out as a driver approaches.

Other problems

Other areas cited by Tesla owners are leaking cooling pumps for the battery pack, dead windshield wipers, persistent alignment issues with the wheels, and misaligned latches for the front boot and tailgate. Although all cars were fixed under warranty, some were off the road for more than a week.

Make sure you don't get taken in with all the talk of future self-driving capabilities if you're going to view an older example. A number of important hardware changes have been made over the years, and some cars will not be able to have this feature. For example, anything made before late 2014 won't qualify, because those cars have a brake actuator run by vacuum, rather than an electronically controlled one (as on later cars) that'll allow the various autonomous systems to operate it. Also, you'll need a car made from late 2016 onwards (which has the additional cameras and sensors as standard) in order to be able to activate this feature.

At present, fully autonomous driving isn't allowed, despite the system being called 'Autopilot', and you'll need to pay attention and be in control of the vehicle at all times.

Is a used Tesla Model S reliable?

We don't have any data for the post-facelift, 2023-onwards Model S yet, but the earlier car was not without its issues. The Model S finished last in the electric car class in the most recent one of our reliability surveys it appeared in, 14th out of 14 cars.

Tesla as a brand ranked 15th out of 31 manufacturers in the 2024 reliability survey with an overall score of 91.4%, a good result and a huge improvement on the firm's earlier results. Both the Model 3 and the Model Y scored well.

Tesla Model S reliability rating 78.9%

What went wrong? Bodywork 21%, non-motor electrics 15%, suspension 10%, sat-nav 8%, interior trim 5%, air-con 3%, battery 3%, motor electrics 3%

The Model S has one of the highest fault rates in the last survey it appeared in, with 44% of the cars we were told about going wrong. Problem areas included the bodywork, sat-nav/infotainment system, interior trim, non-motor electrics and suspension. Three-quarters of repairs were done for free, but some owners paid out up to £1500, and 45% of affected cars were out of action for more than a week.

Owner’s view "Build quality and reliability are very poor, and the heater doesn’t always work, which makes it difficult to demist the windscreen"

Used Tesla Model S reliability: the owners' view

As part of our annual Reliability Survey, readers reported a mixed experience with the Tesla Model S. While many owners praised the vehicle’s innovative technology and electric powertrain, reliability concerns were frequently raised.

Issues with the infotainment system were common, with frozen screens and slow responsiveness frequently cited. Electrical faults, including problems with door handles and the power steering system, were also highlighted. Some owners mentioned that faults emerged repeatedly, which lessened their confidence in the car.

Dealership experiences varied widely. While some readers praised Tesla’s mobile servicing for its convenience, others were dissatisfied with lengthy repair times and poor communication during repairs. The availability of spare parts was a particular sticking point, with several owners mentioning delays that kept their cars off the road for weeks.

Overall, readers appreciated the car’s potential but noted reliability and dealer service as significant areas for improvement.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.

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