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#BS-2015-TESMOD-49262015 Tesla Model S
Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 9 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 1,000 complaints, 111 crashes, 16 fires, and 9 recalls. Complaint rate is 7.6x the class average.
Top reported problems
door handles didnt pop out
1 complaints • Severity 6/10
touch screen went blank
1 complaints • Severity 6/10
ev charger port fell apart
1 complaints • Severity 6/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
253 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 51K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (250 reports) • Median: 51K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Electrical (253 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2015 Tesla Model S: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2015 Tesla Model S, with 253 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 50,675 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 51K-mile mark.
Suspension Issues
Suspension complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2015 Tesla Model S, with 141 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Steering Issues
Steering complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2015 Tesla Model S, with 44 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Lights Issues
Lights complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2015 Tesla Model S, with 43 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2015 Tesla Model S. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (9 recalls)
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.
PARKING BRAKE
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Model S vehicles. The front trunk latch assembly may be misaligned, preventing the secondary hood latch from engaging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 113, "Hood Latch System."
+ 4 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Tesla Model S is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is electrical.
2015 Tesla Model S vs. Class Average (Large Cars)
This vehicle
1,000
Class avg
131
7.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical large cars vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 9 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Tesla Model S Model Years
View all Tesla Model S years →2015 Tesla Model S: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Tesla Model S?
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Does the 2015 Tesla Model S have any recalls?
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What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.