Electric vehicles are making a stronger statement than ever before. An ever widening market share, even as overall vehicle sales shrunk in America, means EVs are taking sales from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Sales of electric cars nearly doubled last year, to 5.8 percent of all vehicles sold, versus 3.2 percent from the year before. But, reports do indicate that customers are far from happy with the long-term ownership of their new zero-emissions cars.
Updated January 2023: We've updated this article with the latest details on Tesla's reliability woes, including which Tesla models usually show up what kind of issues. All so you can make a better informed decision when it comes to picking your next electric car.
With Tesla’s market share in the U.S. a massive 65 percent in 2022, it dominates the electric car market. And as impressive as the new 2023 Tesla Model S is, if a stress-free ownership experience is your priority, you might want to reconsider. It can be said that Tesla's stupendous market performance is finally catching up to it, as its popularity is on the decline, and with that, its sales are going down too.
One of the fundamental reasons for this decline, aside from Tesla products costing a pretty penny, is their reliability, which has been called into question plenty of times. Moreover, J.D Power and Consumer Reports have Tesla at the bottom of their lists when it comes to reliability, reporting an average of 171 mechanical issues per 100 vehicles, 51 more than the average for other car manufacturers.
But is it prominent in every model, and should this issue be a dealbreaker for you?
Add Headache Medication Costs To Your Tesla’s Price Tag
Considering the high price tag on Tesla cars, you would be excused for thinking that you’re buying a vehicle that will do miles and miles with minimal faults as if you’re buying a car from any other big manufacturer.
That’s not even remotely the case with Teslas, as fires, autopilot malfunction, faulty sensors, heat pump and air conditioning faults, as well as body panels not lining up, are only some of the frequently reported issues with the Model Y and Model 3 since both use many of the same components.
Concerning the Model S, the most commonly reported issues are suspension arm breaking, door handle issues, alarm falsely going off, doors randomly opening and not locking, and the trunk not closing. What’s alarming is that the Model S is Tesla’s newest model, yet such glaring issues are still common.
As for the Model X, the usual misaligned body panel issue and bubbles forming on the touchscreen on top of other design and build flaws exist. However, more severe problems with the Model X are faulty brakes and sudden unintended accelerations resulting in accidents. The latter potentially costing you $8,500 to replace.
Adding to your already painful migraine is that Tesla dealerships and service centers are very sparse, so if you live outside populated areas, you’ll have to plan your visits to the mechanic more carefully. Due to Tesla’s limited number of service centers and the fact that most mechanics can’t or won’t fix these cars, you can expect weeks and months of waiting for repairs.
If You’re In For A Pound, You’re In For Plenty More Pennies
Considering all of these points, it’s easy to understand why, according to RepairPal, Tesla repair costs are 27 percent higher than those of comparable gas-powered vehicles. In addition, the report states that the average annual repair cost for a Tesla vehicle is estimated to be $832, over $200 more than the average vehicle with $652.
Adding to these financial headaches is Tesla’s high cost of body damage repair. Depending on the severity of the crash, the repair could cost you somewhere between $10,000 for a simple rear collision to $23,000 to replace the battery. Considering that a simple windshield replacement for a Tesla Model X could cost around $1,500 without labor, it seems like driving a Tesla can be very anxiety-inducing.
An even more nightmarish scenario for someone who has recently bought a Tesla is finding out that it’s out of warranty. From headlight and electric door handle replacements costing you $1,000 each to the $4,000 and $5,000 replacement cost of the infotainment screen and A/C unit, respectively, it’s evident that you should avoid out-of-warranty Teslas like the plague.
Important Aspects To Consider Before Buying Teslas
Tesla is a very new car manufacturer, especially when you consider that its first model, the Roadster, was introduced only 15 years ago. Keeping that in mind, it’s understandable that it’ll take plenty of time for them to perfect the formula. Moreover, as Tesla cars become more and more common, so will their parts and components, and consequently, their repair and replacement costs will decrease.
Another key point in why Tesla’s reliability hasn’t been the best by any stretch is that Tesla cars are too smart for their own good. Tesla is adamant about having some of the most technologically advanced vehicles possible, and with new tech comes new bugs and faults.
Furthermore, Tesla has been improving their standards and quality year by year, which is evident when comparing models as recent as five years ago with newer models. According to Consumer Reports’ annual reliability surveys, Tesla places 19th out of 24 automakers; obviously, their standards aren’t as high as they should be, but they’re on the right track as they ranked 26th out of 28th last year.
Finally, there’s the double-edged sword of Elon Musk as CEO and his fame and popularity. With such a notable figure at the helm, one who actively reacts to all Tesla-related news on Twitter, both good and bad, you can expect news about Tesla crashes and repair costs to be blown out of proportion. At the same time, Elon Musk is a great salesman and has gained quite a following, many of whom are dedicated fans who are happy to buy Tesla products on Elon’s word alone.
Tesla, no doubt, is a company for the future, but as for right now, there are plenty of better options to go for that will get a lot more bang for your buck.