Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2015 Tesla Model S
NHTSA data on file today
The 2015 Tesla Model S has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 650 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V376000 Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V051000 Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V838000 Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V00B000 Front Trunk Hood May Open Unexpectedly/FMVSS 113 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V035000 Center Display Can Lose Rearview Camera Image NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V002000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V204000 Loss of Power Steering Assist Due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V260000 Parking Brake may not Release or Fully Apply NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V780000 Front Seat Belts may be Incorrectly Secured NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 257 complaints
- Unknown or Other 185 complaints
- Suspension 147 complaints
- Steering 51 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 44 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 40 complaints
Of the 650 complaints on file, 70 report a crash and 11 a fire; across all 650 complaints, owners report 29 injuries and 4 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $9,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2015 Tesla Model S has moderate owner complaints and nine recalls, indicating average reliability. Most complaints involve the electrical system, suspension, and steering, which may lead to repair costs. Recall issues, particularly with the electrical system and airbags, are concerning. However, limited data on some components means full reliability assessment is challenging.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $500–$2,000 | common |
| Suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | common |
| Steering system | 70,000–110,000 miles | $1,000–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Battery check every 12,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Cabin air filter replacement annually
- Full service inspection annually
- Coolant check every 20,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Rattling from suspension
- Unresponsive touchscreen
- Steering wheel vibration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2015 Tesla Model S at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.