Tesla Model S: Best and Worst Years by Complaints
Comparing the 12 Tesla Model S model years from 2012 to 2023 that have at least 25 NHTSA complaints, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, 2012, 2019 have the fewest complaints relative to a typical Model S year and 2016, 2021, 2015 have the most. This reflects NHTSA complaint data only.
This comparison uses only NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. It is not a reliability verdict: complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and complaints are unverified consumer reports. An open NHTSA investigation is shown separately; it is not a finding.
Fewer complaints than typical
Score 35 or lower: about 0.7× or less the weighted complaint rate of a typical Model S year.
More complaints than typical
Score 65 or higher: about 1.4× or more the weighted complaint rate of a typical Model S year, counting severe reports, recalls and mileage.
All Model S years compared
Score 0–100, where 50 is a typical Model S year: complaints relative to all vehicles of the same model year (which allows for the era and for time on the road), weighted for crashes, fires, injuries and recalls and for how early the problems appear. Model years 2008 to 2023 with at least 25 complaints are compared; newer years are too new to compare. Methodology
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Median mi | Score (50 = typical) | Compared with other years | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38 | 6 | 3,500 | — | Too new to compare Open investigation | Too new |
| 2023 | 115 | 13 | 83,166 | 41 · Typical | Typical for this model (0.8×) Open investigation | Too new |
| 2022 | 139 | 20 | 6,118 | 60 · Typical | Typical for this model (1.3×) Open investigation | Rising |
| 2021 | 179 | 23 | 6,000 | 78 · More | More complaints than typical for this model (1.9×) Open investigation | Stable |
| 2020 | 80 | 11 | 2,500 | 49 · Typical | Typical for this model (1.0×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2019 | 44 | 10 | 5,100 | 0 · Fewer | Fewer complaints than typical for this model (0.2×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2018 | 170 | 11 | 16,000 | 51 · Typical | Typical for this model (1.0×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2017 | 431 | 9 | 24,236 | 72 · More | More complaints than typical for this model (1.7×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2016 | 650 | 10 | 26,000 | 100 · More | More complaints than typical for this model (3.3×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2015 | 669 | 9 | 49,240 | 76 · More | More complaints than typical for this model (1.8×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2014 | 367 | 9 | 52,425 | 41 · Typical | Typical for this model (0.8×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2013 | 461 | 11 | 70,000 | 42 · Typical | Typical for this model (0.8×) Open investigation | Falling |
| 2012 | 61 | 8 | 68,481 | 0 · Fewer | Fewer complaints than typical for this model (0.0×) Open investigation | Falling |
← All Tesla Model S model years
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.