2015 Tesla Model S — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $16,000–$26,000. There are 4 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
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.
Known Issues for the 2015 Tesla Model S
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
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 range: $1,500-$2,800 for the MCU2 upgrade
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 range: $3,000-$7,000
Air struts leak and the compressor fails. Tesla parts pricing applies and third-party options are limited.
Repair cost range: $2,000-$5,000
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 range: $12,000-$20,000
The retracting door handles fail, and with a dead MCU many functions are simply unavailable.
Repair cost range: $500-$1,200 per handle
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
Found a specific Tesla Model S?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2015 Tesla Model S in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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