2015 Tesla Model S reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2015 Tesla Model S — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,053
- 305 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 260 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 9
- see below
- Reported harm
- 114 reported crashes · 41 injuries · 6 deaths · 16 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#358
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Tesla median
+570
median 483 across 33 Tesla records
Vs 2013-2017
+763
median 290 complaints in 624 records
Top component share
25%
Electrical System: 260 complaints
What owners report fails — 2015 Tesla Model S
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 260
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 189
- SUSPENSION 148
- STEERING 51
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 43
9 recalls on record for the 2015 Tesla Model S
- NHTSA 23V838000 · 2024 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operatio
- NHTSA 24V376000 · 2024 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during
- NHTSA 24V051000 · 2024 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PA Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read,
- NHTSA 21V00B000 · 2022 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly,
- NHTSA 21V035000 · 2021 · VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTE The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2015 Tesla Model S
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2015 Tesla Model S units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Tesla Model S reliable?
NHTSA has 1,053 consumer complaints on record for the 2015 Tesla Model S and 9 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (260 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2015 Tesla Model S units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Tesla Model S?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (260), unknown or other (189), suspension (148), steering (51). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2015 Tesla Model S?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.