Year-by-Year

Tesla Model S — the 13 years we've written up

2012–2024, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 13 of the 13 carry a high-severity issue.

What this page is

These are the 13 Tesla Model S model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Tesla built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.

Tesla Model S by year

6463230

2012–2024

Bar — complaints on file. Colour —3 or more high-severity1–2none foundnot written up yet

How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.

Year by year

2024Typically $45,000–$65,000

Lane departure assist steers the wheel while you are turning off a road — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second

2 known issues, 1 high-severityRead the 2024 →
2023Typically $42,000–$68,000

Hard unrequested braking and odd Autopilot behaviour at highway speed — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second

4 known issues, 1 high-severityRead the 2023 →
2022Typically $33,000–$50,000

Phantom braking — hard, unprompted stops at highway speed — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second

3 known issues, 2 high-severityRead the 2022 →
2021Typically $30,000–$48,000

Phantom braking — the car stops hard on an empty freeway — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second

5 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2021 →
2020Typically $24,000–$36,000

Phantom braking — the car brakes hard for nothing at highway speed — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second

4 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2020 →
2019Typically $18,000–$32,000

Hard braking on Autopilot and adaptive cruise with nothing ahead — Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second

4 known issues, 1 high-severityRead the 2019 →
2018Typically $26,000–$38,000

Air suspension failure — $2,000-$5,000

4 known issues, 1 high-severityRead the 2018 →
2017Typically $13,000–$27,000

Front fore link snaps on full lock, usually while reversing — $1,200–$2,600 for the front links replaced at a Tesla service centre

5 known issues, 4 high-severityRead the 2017 →
2016Typically $11,000–$24,000

Front lower control link can snap and drop the wheel into the arch — $1,200–$2,400 for a pair of front lower links at a Tesla service centre

5 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2016 →
2015Typically $16,000–$26,000

MCU eMMC memory chip failure — $1,500-$2,800 for the MCU2 upgrade

5 known issues, 3 high-severityRead the 2015 →
2014Typically $12,000–$19,000

MCU1 screen fails with its worn-out memory chip, and the display adhesive can leak into the cabin — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,600–$2,800 for an MCU replacement and $900–$1,800 for a screen

7 known issues, 6 high-severityRead the 2014 →
2013Typically $11,000–$18,000

MCU1 touchscreen fails as its flash memory wears out, disabling defrost, camera and signals — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,600–$2,800 for a full MCU replacement outside it

7 known issues, 6 high-severityRead the 2013 →
2012Typically $10,000–$17,000

MCU1 touchscreen dies as its memory chip wears out — camera, defroster, signals and charging go with it — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,600–$2,800 for a full MCU replacement outside it

6 known issues, 4 high-severityRead the 2012 →

Looking at one in particular?

This page covers the Tesla Model S in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.

Known issues 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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