Used Tesla Model Y 2022-present reliability
Category: Electric SUV
The Tesla Model Y has technology, performance and practicality in spades. Used prices are beginning to look attractive, too.
What should I look for in a used Tesla Model Y estate?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car checklist.
As with all cars, check for bodywork damage and kerbing on the wheels, and inspect the interior for signs of wear and tear. Make sure all of the interior electrics are working correctly. On the test drive, listen out for any squeaks and rattles from the interior and knocking noises from the suspension.
What are the most common problems with a used Tesla Model Y estate?
At the time of writing, the Model Y has seven recalls listed. To check whether a car has been affected, you can contact your local Tesla dealer. You will not need to pay for anything involving the recall.
Reason for recall
The front suspension lateral link may be insufficiently torqued.
How the manufacturer will repair: Inspect the connection of both front suspension lateral links to the sub-frame. Replace any related damaged components and ensure correct torque of fastening bolts.
Number of affected vehicles: 127
Date of recall: 24/12/2021
Reason for recall
On certain vehicles that are running firmware release 2022.8 and that experience a loss of low voltage system support, the audio subsystem may become unavailable, including the use of eCall functionality.
How the manufacturer will repair: Firmware release 2022.12.3 or later reverses the power management process introduced in firmware release 2022.8 and maintains eCall audio functionality.
Number of affected vehicles: 9471
Date of recall: 19/04/2022
Reason for recall
Upon detection of a malfunction with the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), the TPMS tell tale does not persist between drive cycles where the vehicle is off or asleep between the drive cycles. Therefore the driver may not be adequately warned of potential under-inflation of the tyres, increasing the risk of a collision.
How the manufacturer will repair: Install modified software via an over-the-air (OTA) wireless update.
Number of affected vehicles: 16,964
Date of recall: 31/12/2024
Reason for recall
On affected vehicles operating with a software release prior to 2023.38.4, an over-voltage breakdown in the steering rack may stress the motor drive components on the printed circuit board. If the stress condition occurs while the vehicle is driving, steering assistance will not be affected and a visual alert will illuminate. Once the vehicle speed comes to a standstill, a loss of steering assistance may occur and loss of steering assistance will persist when the vehicle is driven again. Manual steering without steering assistance remains available to the driver.
How the manufacturer will repair: Install modified software via an OTA wireless update.
Number of affected vehicles: 66,598
Date of recall: 14/03/2025
Reason for recall
On a small percentage of affected vehicles upon vehicle power up, the car computer board may experience a short, resulting in the loss of rear view camera functionality.
How the manufacturer will repair: An OTA software update or car computer replacement if necessary.
Number of affected vehicles: 5009
Date of recall: 29/03/2025
Reason for recall
On affected vehicles, one or both reverse lamps may fail to switch on when the driver selects reverse gear due to a loss of continuity in the rear lamp circuit.
How the manufacturer will repair: Inspect rear lamp housing and wiring harness and repair or replace the defective components as necessary.
Number of affected vehicles: 2
Date of recall: 16/10/2025
Reason for recall
On affected vehicles, a firmware feature that allowed for high-speed sampling of the right front window motor encoder was not enabled, bringing vehicles out of compliance with the relevant regulations for auto-reversing requirements.
How the manufacturer will repair: Install modified software via an OTA update.
Number of affected vehicles: 5777
Date of recall: 24/09/2025
Is a used Tesla Model Y estate reliable?
The Model Y has a good reliability record, according to the What Car? Reliability Survey. In our most recent survey, it finished in third place out of 27 electric SUVs, with a strong score of 97.1%. That places it above the Audi Q4 e-tron, Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq and VW ID 4, but below the Kia EV3 and Renault Scenic.
In our 2024 survey, the Model Y finished in first place in the electric SUV class, which is very impressive. Tesla has really turned around the reliability of its cars over the past few years and the Model Y is a testament to this.
As a brand, Tesla came seventh out of 30 manufacturers featured, with an overall score of 94.5%. That placed it above Audi, MG, Skoda and Volkswagen, but below BMW and Toyota.
Used Tesla Model Y reliability: the owners' view
In our latest reliability survey, owners said the Tesla Model paints a mixed picture for reliability. While many owners praise the car for its mechanical dependability, reporting very few motor or battery faults, the Model Y is frequently let down by inconsistent build quality. Common complaints involve misaligned panel gaps, poor paint quality and faulty rubber seals that can lead to water ingress in the boot.
Inside, the tech-heavy SUV can suffer from software glitches, including "phantom braking" and unresponsive touchscreens. When issues do arise, owner feedback on the dealer network is polarised. While Tesla’s mobile service – where technicians fix minor faults at your home – is highly rated for convenience, the physical service centres are often described as overbooked. Some readers noted that while repairs under warranty were handled effectively, the initial quality control remains a significant bugbear for such a premium-priced vehicle.
