How Reliable is Tesla?

Consumers like you need a way to determine Tesla's reliability. The following resources evaluate variants such as the Model 3 and Model Y to give you the recommendations you need to purchase a vehicle that suits your purpose: 

• Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own
• FuelEconomy.gov’s Fuel Efficiency Ratings
• Safety ratings from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
• J.D. Power’s Dependability Ratings
• RepairPal’s Car Reliability Ratings

These sources consider Tesla’s dependability, 5-year cost of ownership, reliability, fuel efficiency, and safety ratings. Comparing a specific Tesla model across these platforms can assist you in finding the best Tesla that fits your lifestyle. 

For many folks, the question with Tesla isn’t are their car dealerships open on Sundays—it’s where a Tesla dealership is even located. Here are a few of the main factors to support Tesla’s reliability. 

1. Cost of ownership

The Model 3 ranks first in its class among luxury vehicles. According to Kelley Blue Book, the total cost to own a Model 3 is $40,241. The Chevy Bolt EV costs $31,469 to own for five years, while the Nissan LEAF costs $33,988. While these smaller electric vehicles may cost nearly $9,000 less over five years compared to the Model 3, they lack the technological advancements, creature comforts, and footprint of the Tesla affordable sedan. 

2. Fuel efficiency 

It’s no surprise that Tesla does well regarding fuel efficiency. Here are the specifics for Models 3 and Y RWD and AWD Performance models:

2023 Model 3 RWD base model:

• 138 city and 126 highway MPGe with a combined rating of 132 MPGe

2023 Model 3 AWD Performance model:   

• 118 city and 107 highway MPGe with a combined rating of 113 MPGe

2023 Model Y RWD base model: 

• 129 city and 116 highway MPGe with a combined rating of 123 MPGe

2023 Model Y AWD Performance model:  

• 115 city and 106 highway MPGe with a combined rating of 111 MPGe

Given Teslas allow customers to enjoy the benefits of an EV, they are limited in range. However, Tesla continues to install Superchargers nationwide to support customers as they travel.  

3. Safety features and ratings

Though the NHTSA and IIHS have not yet rated the 2023 variants of the Model Y and 3, the 2023 Model 3 currently has 4 recalls, 2 investigations, and 81 complaints. The 2023 Model Y has 6 recalls, 3 investigations, and 257 complaints.  

However, the Model 3 and Model Y ranked “Good” in each IIHS test and earned Top Safety Pick+. Standard safety features incorporate the weight of the battery pack to reduce rollover risk, side sill structures to absorb an impact, strategically placed crumple zones, and advanced airbags. 

4. Dependability 

J.D. Power included Tesla for the first time in its 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM  (VDS). The brand scored 242 PP100, which trumps the highest-ranking models, notably the Toyota C-HR and the Lexus RX. However, because Tesla did not grant J.D. Power permissioned access to owner information, it cannot win any dependability awards. 

5. Average maintenance costs  

RepairPal reports that the average annual maintenance cost of a Tesla is $832. This site does not have enough information on Models 3, X, and Y to accurately reflect yearly maintenance costs. However, the Model S has a yearly maintenance cost average of $1,047. 

Is now a good time to buy an electric vehicle? Tesla has priced the Model 3 monthly payment within reach of most consumers looking for an eco-friendly car, but here are a few things to keep in mind before you jump behind the wheel of a Tesla. 

1. Lack of third-party aftermarket for Tesla components 

Though Tesla has gained a reputation and presence in the larger automotive market, aftermarket and third-party replacement parts remain almost nonexistent. Tesla accessory dealers have sprung up around the internet, but only a select few (if any) offer true mechanical replacement parts. 

2. Brake caliper lubrication requirements 

Car and Driver recently tested a Model 3 and came across a curious expense: a trifecta of brake caliper lubricants that must be applied in areas where the roads are salted during the winter. These lubricants help keep the calipers in working condition, though they usually sit dormant due to the regenerative braking the Tesla employs. These three lubricants total up to about the cost of a gas vehicle’s oil change. 

3. Technological bugs 

An EV poised upon the brink of technology inevitably experiences a few bugs here and there. Tesla has had its fair share of technological issues, from the touchscreen issues that plagued over 130,000 vehicles to the countless Tesla owners still waiting for full access to Autopilot. 

In November of 2022, Tesla issued a recall of 12,000 vehicles for an issue with the emergency braking system. Tesla models would suddenly, without warning or cause, slam on the brakes to avoid an invisible obstacle. Nearly 500,000 Teslas were recalled not a year earlier for faulty rearview cameras that were prone to fail because of a faulty wiring harness. 

4. Build quality  

As luxurious as the Tesla lineup portrays itself, many customers find that some fit and finish elements can be lacking. Body panels may line up incorrectly, door gaps may vary widely, and the attention to detail many customers associate with a luxury, let alone a luxury EV, cannot be found in spades with most Tesla variants.  

5. Electric batteries 

It doesn’t take a picture or video of a Tesla on fire to raise concerns about the batteries that power these EVs. However, Tesla offers an 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty, extending to 120,000 miles for long-range variants. This warranty can help ease Tesla owners’ fears, at least for the first few years of ownership.  

If you’re on the fence about Tesla and considering whether to lease or buy, the jury is still out on how long Teslas really last. The lifespan of a Tesla is primarily determined by how long the battery lasts, with damaged batteries cutting that span short. Until Tesla implements further support for battery exchanges, most Teslas last until their batteries don’t work anymore. According to Tesla's CEO, that’s about 500,000 miles. 

If you’re considering hybrid and electric vehicles and are unsure how to choose the best fit, almost all Teslas can be high maintenance. They require as much attention as a gas-powered vehicle, just in a different way. Replacing the glass on a Tesla can be a headache and a financial drain, and if the technology on your Tesla gives out, you’re stuck.  

The Model 3 and Model S contend for the top spot as the most reliable Tesla. However, the Model S tends to edge out the competition because it has a few more years on the market than the Model 3. Even as the Model S paves the way, so does the Model 3 delight audiences who previously couldn’t afford an expensive Tesla. 

Tesla tends to take the brunt of the reliability argument, especially in the context of EVs. Many customers either enjoy their Tesla experience in full or recognize that comparably priced (and more expensive) luxury brands rival the build quality Tesla puts out. 

The bottom line is that it’s hard to tell the story of the electric vehicle without casting Tesla in a pivotal role. Whether or not it’s a reliable brand remains to be seen.