Reliability & cost of ownership
Tesla Roadster Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Tesla Roadster? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Tesla Roadster problems by model year
1 recall entry and 2 owner complaints on file across 2 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Roadster | 0 | 1 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2008 Roadster | 1 | 1 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Tesla Roadster, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- vehicle speed control1 complaint
- traction control system1 complaint
- suspension1 complaint