Buyer Research

2015 Tesla Model S — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $16,000–$26,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.

Deciding between model years? Compare the 13 Tesla Model S years we've written up →

Kestrel Take

A $90,000 car for $20,000 with out-of-warranty repair costs that still assume the original price. Drive units, the MCU memory chip, and the air suspension all have documented failure patterns. A great car and a genuine financial risk in equal measure.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25

NHTSA holds 646 owner complaints for the 2015 Tesla Model S, and 9 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 40% of them are about one thing — electrics and electronics. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

9 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: steering (51 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2015 Tesla Model S

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.

MCU eMMC memory chip failureHigh — wallet impact

The media control unit's flash memory wears out from constant logging, killing the center screen — which controls climate, charging settings, and the backup camera. Tesla offered an MCU2 upgrade path after NHTSA involvement.

Repair cost (estimate): $1,500-$2,800 for the MCU2 upgrade

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (256).

Drive unit (motor) replacementMedium

Early Model S drive units developed a milling noise and were replaced frequently under warranty. Out of warranty, a remanufactured unit is a serious expense.

Repair cost (estimate): $3,000-$7,000 — about 33% of what this car is typically worth

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Air suspension failureHigh — wallet impact

Air struts leak and the compressor fails. Tesla parts pricing applies and third-party options are limited.

Repair cost (estimate): $2,000-$5,000

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the suspension (147).

Battery degradation and pack failureHigh — wallet impact

Packs typically retain 85-90% at this age, but a failed pack out of warranty is the largest single repair in this guide. Check the rated range at 100% against the original figure.

Repair cost (estimate): $12,000-$20,000 — around 95% of what this car is typically worth

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (256).

Door handle and MCU-dependent feature failuresMedium

The retracting door handles fail, and with a dead MCU many functions are simply unavailable.

Repair cost (estimate): $500-$1,200 per handle

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Center screen with a yellow border, lag, or blank periods — eMMC failing
✗Rated range at 100% charge well below 240 miles
✗Any drive unit noise — a hum or whine that tracks speed
✗Salvage or rebuilt title — Tesla can disable Supercharging on these

Good Signs

✓MCU2 upgrade already performed
✓Drive unit replaced under warranty with paperwork
✓Rated range still near original
✓Coil spring suspension rather than air