Last updated on October 4th, 2023 at 11:16 am
The Tesla Model S was introduced in June 2012 by Tesla Inc. and it is Tesla’s flagship.
Tesla Model S is an all-electric five-door liftback with autonomous driving technologies.
Purchasing a new vehicle is a prodigious investment for most people, and there are maintenance fees to pay as well.
But what about electric vehicles? How Long Do Tesla Model S Last? When does a Tesla battery need to be replaced? This article will cover all the different kinds of questions you might have regarding a Tesla.
How Long Does Tesla Model S last?
Model S comes with an 8-year/150,000-mile battery and drives unit warranty.
The Model S will easily surpass 100,000 miles with minimal battery degradation. However, there have been cases where some Model S cars have reached 300,000 to 500,000 miles.
If you drive your Tesla 15,000 miles per year, you can use it for about 20 years.
After 300,000 miles, the batteries will remain 70-80% of their primordial capacity.
Before reaching the 20-year mark, the interior can fall apart much like any vehicle, especially if the car has already gained hundreds of thousands of miles.
How Much Reliable is the Tesla Model S?
Model S is one of the few EVs to have gained hundreds of thousands of miles while belonging to the actual owner.
Even though some complaints were made about the build quality issues, drive units and batteries used in the Model S are pretty reliable.
Despite the reported problems, owner satisfaction for Tesla is pretty high.
Over time, issues such as leaky sunroofs, air suspension errors and touchscreen failures have been reported. If these complications are not fixed within the warranty period, they can be pretty expensive.
Many of the reported issues do not affect the Model S’s drivability. So, the chances of a significant drivetrain failure are meager.
Related Search – How Long Do BMW X3 Last?
How Long Can the Tesla Model S Last Compared to Similar Car Models?
Over the years, more manufacturers have joined to release new EV car models to compete with Tesla.
Let’s look at how Model S compares to other EV models in terms of reliability.
Model S vs. Polestar 2
Volvo and its parent company Greely have come out with a new player in the EV market, the Polestar 2.
Polestar 2 has an estimated range of 270 miles on a single charge, while the
Model S can go for 267 miles with the same charge.
There is insufficient data about the Polestar 2’s reliability, but consumers seem to think it is quite well put together.
Edmunds scored the Polestar a 4 out of 5 stars, while the Model S got 3 stars.
The polestar 2 came out in March of 2020 and since then, there have been two recalls.
Once Polestar solves the issues, it is expected to be just as reliable as the Tesla Model S.
Model S vs. Porsche Taycan
The Taycan has the potential to take the place of Model S when it comes to EV performance numbers.
The Porsche Taycan is estimated to last 225 miles of range, whereas Model S can cover 267 miles with a single charge.
Taycan has been in the showroom since 2020, so there are not many major issues reported about it.
Edmunds gave Taycan 5 out of 5, whereas the Model S only got 3 out of 5.
According to Consumer Reports, Taycan and Model S received 2 out of 5 in terms of Predicted Reliability.
Model S vs. Jaguar I-Pace
The Jaguar I-Pace has been in the market since 2019 and has received fewer complaints due to reliability than the Jaguars that use Internal Combustion Engines (ICE).
Both The Model S and I-Pace have the same price range, so the demand for both cars is the same.
I-Pace can last for 258-292 miles with a single charge and for the Model S, it can last for up to 267 miles.
Some early models of the I-Pace had issues regarding the battery. Still, many owners and reviewers have reported that the vehicle is pretty solid in terms of reliability.
The Model S has been pretty reliable since it came out.
Edmunds have scored the I-Pace a 4 out of 5 stars, while the Model S gets 3 out of 5 stars.
What About Rust on Tesla Model S?
The Model S uses mainly aluminum in its chassis and body parts.
Aluminum is not only lighter but also does not rust. However, it is not prone to oxidization.
Like any vehicle, the Model S is not entirely immune to rust. After a few years, rust will form on suspension, brake components and other metal parts.
Applying for paint protection and rustproofing the vehicle’s underside will help rust keep at bay.
Other factors such as living in a coastal area or a frequent snow region will speed up the rusting process.
The Model S brings along a 12-year body rust limited warranty, but it won’t be of use if your car is already rustproofed.
Best and Worst Years of Performance for the Tesla Model S
Tesla Model S has been around since 2012, so it has its fair share of good and bad years.
Best Years
Older touchscreens were designed to last for only five years, needing constant repair. From 2018 onwards, the models have improved touch screen and Media Control Unit (MCU).
The newer models also have better battery tech and improved drive units to have a better range than the previous models.
Worst Years
According to Car Complaints, the 2013 model has received the most complaints. It had issues regarding the door handles.
In general, the first iteration of the Model s from 2012-2014 should be avoided for the best, as those cars have less range and fewer features than the latest models.
Model Years and Number of Complaints
| Model Year | Number of Complaints |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
Is the Tesla Model S Costly to Maintain?
Based on feedback from users, the maintenance cost for a Tesla Model S is between $250-$500.
Tesla models do not require gas or oil changes, so if there are no build quality issues, Tesla cars are relatively cheap to maintain for an extended period.
Brake system flush costs about $100 to $130, while cabin air filter and wiper blade replacements cost about $50 to $150 and $20 to $50 respectively.
In total, full-service maintenance costs about $500 or higher.
How Long Does the Tesla Model S Batteries Last?
According to Tesla, Model S batteries can last at least 1500 miles charge cycles and run a long way.
As the battery ages, it will hold less of a charge. It may only hold 90% of its original capacity. The battery will continue to lose capacity until it is completely depleted, and you will have to replace it. The best way to determine how long a battery pack will last is to check the warranty period of your model.
The newest Long Range Model S is estimated to run up to 400 miles on a single charge, which means the batteries can cover over 600,000 miles of driving.
In the latest Model S variants, newer battery technologies have been used, which gives better performance than early models.
How Long Does the Transmission last?
You can easily reach almost 500,000 miles in the Model S without major drive unit issues.
Tesla Model S does not use any traditional transmission system and is a single-speed vehicle.
The newer S models should be more efficient and are expected to last much longer.
Model S drive units are covered under the 8-year/150,000-mile warranty, protecting your car from early failures.
In some of the older models, drive units needed to be replaced early on, but it was covered under warranty.
How Long Does Tesla Tires Last on Model S?
On the Model S, tires are supposed to last for around 20,000 to 25,000 miles.
The electric motors used on the EVs deliver instantaneous power, which exerts a lot of force on the tires, wearing them off.
Tire rotation costs about $30 to $120 for a standard tire rotation.
Rotate your tires every 5000 miles or so to make sure they wear evenly, making your set of tires last longer.
Does it Take Long for the Tesla Model S to Charge?
Model S can be charged with a standard 120v or 240 wall socket, a suitable wall connector, or by just using a Tesla Supercharger.
While using a Supercharger, the Tesla Model S gets an extra 150 miles of range every 10-15 minutes. So, this means the battery will be fully charged in under 40 minutes.
Model S’s charging rates according to Tesla:
| Type of Charger | Range Per Hour of Charge | Time It Takes from 0 to 100% |
| 120 volt/15 amps | 3 | 5 to 6 days |
| 240 volt/32 amps | 23 | 17 to 20 hours |
| Using a Wall Connector | 44 | 9 to 10 hours |
Tips to Extend the Life of Your Tesla Model S
- Unless you are preparing for a long trip, avoid charging over 80%
- Try to use a Supercharger as little as possible.
- Draining the battery to 0% is not suitable for battery health.
- Rotate the tires.
- Avoid keeping your car under extreme cold or hot weather.
- Adopt regenerative braking to extend range.
- Tesla vehicles are an excellent investment, and purchasing one is helping the earth to take one step closer to a greener environment.
How long does a tesla battery last when fully charged
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, said that his car’s battery has an 80% retention rate after 500,000 miles and degrades at 4% per 100,000 miles. That’s a pretty impressive figure, but it’s also a bit misleading, considering the average driver drives 13500 to 15,000 miles a year. However, The actual life of a Tesla battery is much longer.
The battery’s capacity decreases with age, and most drivers will not have to charge their Tesla to full every day. However, it’s important to know that the battery will need to be replaced eventually if it hasn’t lost its original capacity.
Final Words
The Tesla Model S boasts a range of up to 370 miles. Its closest electric car competitors, the Jaguar and Chevrolet, have a range of up to 240 miles. While this may sound impressive, the range is short. You could only drive about 120 miles between New York and Washington D.C. and some individual Tesla models reach only 260 miles. By comparison, the range of the other electric cars barely exceeds 200 miles.
The average lifespan of a vehicle in the US is 11.5 years. With this warranty, a Tesla should last up to twenty-one years if you drive 14,000 miles per year. And because Tesla is a pioneer in electric vehicle development, they are continuously developing better batteries, which should last longer and cost less. As a bonus, a Tesla has a warranty that covers the powertrain for eight years.
We hope this article has assisted you with any questions regarding a Tesla Model S.
So, Keep Smiling & Stay Safe …
Read this next – Tesla Model X Reliability: Is Tesla Model X Worth It?