Tesla Motor Forum (2025)

FAQs

What is Tesla's biggest weakness? ›

Limited Manufacturing Experience: Tesla is a relatively new player in the automotive industry and has limited manufacturing experience compared to more established competitors. This could make it difficult for the company to compete on cost and efficiency.

Critics have noted that some Tesla cars have had poor build quality due to rushed testing, leading to a high ratio of flawed vehicles. Others criticized the company's "stealth" vehicle recalls, requiring customers to sign non-disclosure agreements.

The Tesla Owner Club is a community of owners and enthusiasts committed to advancing Tesla's mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.

Find your local Tesla Owners Club to join our growing community of owners and enthusiasts. Club members help advocate for Tesla by educating new and prospective owners and supporting legislative efforts.

An analysis of car recalls from 2014 to 2023 by US automotive research firm iSeeCars shows that Tesla's Model Y was the most recalled car in the US. Between September 2020 and November 2023, Tesla had 24 Model Y recalls, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Issues such as fires in electric cars, accidents related to autonomous driving features, and paint quality problems are frequently associated with Tesla.

In the case of Tesla, independent research has indeed found reliability issues over the years, particularly with early model years of a new model. So, I think it's prudent to keep an eye out for issues. However, it's also the case that most owners won't have many serious issues for years.

How often does a Tesla battery need to be replaced? The frequency of replacing a Tesla battery depends on factors like usage, driving conditions, and model. Typically, Tesla batteries are designed to last at least 8 years or around 100,000 to 150,000 miles, as per the warranty.

However, if you do need to replace the battery and are outside of Tesla's warranty period, here are a few price examples, including labor: Anywhere around $13,000-$20,000 for Models S.

Tesla Tops Consumer Reports 2022 Owner Satisfaction Ratings — But Mustang Mach-E Top EV. Even though the Mustang Mach-E is the most satisfied electric vehicle model in the world, Tesla still managed to come out on top when it came to brand owner happiness, according to Consumer Reports.

Where are most Tesla owners located? ›

Some 97% of the owners also own their own home, according to the study which found the median home value for a Tesla owner was over $500,000. And unsurprisingly, the most popular state for the owners was Tesla's origin state of California.

Tesla Tax Deductions

This credit, specifically designed for electric vehicle owners, rewards the eco-friendly choice of driving a Tesla. Additionally, various states offer their own incentives, such as rebates, tax credits, and reduced vehicle registration fees, enhancing the benefits.

Tesla has an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5, based on over 12,201 reviews left anonymously by employees. 58% of employees would recommend working at Tesla to a friend and 52% have a positive outlook for the business. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months.

There are no Nikola Tesla descendants. He never married or had children.

In the US, Tesla owners mostly live in California. They are majority white, with 87 percent of individuals identifying as Caucasian.

Tesla owners have filed about 260 complaints with NHTSA over suspension and steering problems this year, compared to about 750 for General Motors and 230 for Toyota. That makes Tesla's complaint rate far higher when considering the number of GM and Toyota vehicles on the road.

One of the biggest disadvantages of EVs versus ICEs is the time it takes to get a full charge. In the case of combustion cars, it is a purely mechanical process: pouring a liquid into a tank. In the case of electric vehicles, it is not so simple.

Even though Teslas may not have exhaust pipes, they need electricity, meaning that they will need to use power plants to charge them. Power plants still emit a lot of CO2 into the air, so even though you aren't directly polluting the air when you use a Tesla or charge it, there are still fossil fuels and CO2 involved.