Tesla owners share some of the unexpected headaches of owning the EV
Typically electric car tires wear out between 10,000 to 20,000 miles. Though, Auto Trader editor Brian Moody told Insider speeding and heavy braking accelerate the issue.
The 15 Biggest Problems With Tesla Cars – The Ultimate Guide
From poor build quality to slow customer service, there are plenty of alarming problems with Tesla cars!
Tesla cars are revolutionary cars that are a great alternative to traditional gas-powered vehicles. They’re more environmentally friendly and they can also be driven in reverse to get you out of parking spaces. On top of that, many companies have set up Tesla charging stations all over the country so that Tesla owners can go in and out of their houses.
Its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years and is expected to take over the bigger market within the next few years. It would be safe to say that Tesla is headed in a positive direction, but it’s worth pointing out some flaws.
Tesla cars have a few biggest problems that make them less than perfect. If you’re considering buying one, read on to find out about the 15 major issues Tesla cars have.
1. They have a poor build quality
Tesla cars have a lot of problems with their build quality. The interiors are designed well, but the materials used to make them are often low-quality, which causes a lot of issues down the road. Even some of the exterior parts of Tesla cars wear out after only a few months. If tesla cars were of good quality there would be no issues of bolts rusting off, fuses sticking out, or paint peeling off.
However, not everything on tesla is of poor quality. The roof and the body panels are all made from high-quality materials, and their interiors are nice as well.
2. They are expensive to maintain
The batteries on tesla cars have to be taken care of to keep them running, but the repairs that you have to do can cost you a lot the maintenance costs on tesla cars are more than any car, and they are more expensive than the maintenance costs of other electric cars as well. If you compare it up to other cars that use gas, their cost is still high.
They also have unnecessary repairs needed, like fixing a computer or replacing parts that are not broken. Tesla cars are great when they work, but if you want to get them fixed right away, they can be expensive. The average maintenance cost of a tesla is around $1100 a year, which is much more than most other cars out there.
3. Replacing the batteries is a hassle
There’s a big problem with the batteries in Tesla cars. They have long warranties which say they will last for 8 years, but after that warranty runs out the batteries can cost thousands of dollars to replace. The main issue with replacing the batteries is that you cannot remove them from your car yourself. Additionally, you have to go direct to Tesla to get the right type of battery. The main types of batteries are lithium and nickel-metal hydride. You cannot replace these batteries yourself with a traditional model.
4. Tesla cars have issues with autopilot features
The self-driving features on tesla cars are great. They can steer, accelerate and decelerate without any human assistance, but they also have a lot of driver-related problems. The sensors are supposed to be able to detect pedestrians, signs, and other vehicles, but they can’t do that well all the time.
It is impossible to detect every little thing out there, but tesla cars don’t even register some things that other cars should. When it does work, the autopilot feature is awesome, but it can be dangerous when it does not work.
5. Lacks a towing capacity
If you plan on towing anything with your tesla car. prepare yourself for the worst. Tesla cars do not have a towing capacity of 2,500 pounds like other cars, which makes them much less comfortable to tow with. Many others can tow up to 8,000 pounds without issues, but tesla cannot handle that.
It will limit you on what you can do, as well as how you can use your car. Also, if you want to pull a boat or trailer of any kind, tesla cars are high-tech, and coming off the road for long periods can cause problems.
6. More Rattling in the suspension
Tesla cars have a lot of problems with the suspension system. It is supposed to last a long time, and it could be, but that’s not true for all Tesla cars. There are many different types of vehicles out there, and not all Tesla cars have the same suspensions. It makes it hard for them to handle bumps on the road and decreases their overall lifespan.
Bumps do something that shocks tesla cars more than other cars. The shocks are not made to handle the way tesla cars’ suspension handles bumps, which often ruins their suspension. It can start to rattle and shake in the front of the car and it can be very annoying.
7. The power steer fails occasionally
Tesla cars have an electric power steering system that makes them feel like they are sports cars, but it will fail sometimes. It’s not a problem most days, but if you’re involved in an accident the power steering can make your car feel like it’s going to fall off the road. There are also reports of other drivers seeing the power steer system going in and out of sync while driving which can be dangerous. While turning, you can feel the steering take a few seconds to respond, and it makes driving a little less enjoyable.
8. Frequent wear of tires
This may seem like a problem that many cars have, but it is more of a problem with a Tesla car. They have tires that wear out too fast, and they think that the problem is with the tires themselves. They claim the tires have uneven tread on both sides of the tire, but this isn’t what’s causing the problems. The wheels are not perfectly aligned to their center axis, and it makes the tire wear out much faster than it should.
Also, if you have a tesla car that has a lot of miles on it. The tires will likely wear out. Buying new tires can make your car a lot safer, and it will increase the life of your tesla car.
9. Lacks car dealership support
If you ever have problems with your tesla car, you will be on your own. Tesla cars do not have a traditional dealership support system, and they are all independent of each other. Many people rely on their car dealerships to fix problems and help them choose the right car for their needs.
If your local tesla dealer is the only one around, then you’re out of luck. You can go to other dealerships, but it might be harder for you to find the kind of car you want. If you’re looking at purchasing a traditional car. then you should look into the dealership system and make sure that it works for you.
10. Stereotypical customer service
Tesla cars are pretty much new. so they do not have a traditional customer service system. If you have a problem with your tesla car. you will be on your own. You could go to Tesla’s website, but it’s not like a traditional website where you can get help right away. Many people turn to forums and communities to help them with their problems when they’re having issues with their tesla car or other vehicles. Having decent customer service would be a great addition to their cars, and it would help them earn more customers.
11. Problem with Touch screen Cruise Control Adjustment
The main problem is that it is located on the center touchscreen and can be distracting. If you are paying attention to the road, you could end up in the wrong direction by mistake. The “clicking” sound that causes a lot of distraction also makes it hard to avoid traffic when you’re merging onto a freeway.
12. Buggy updates
Tesla is notorious for releasing new versions of their software, and they constantly release updates that fix bugs and improve the user experience. However. these updates are often buggy and might end up making the car worse than it was before they were installed.
Tesla cars have had problems with their updates. Even though it was fixed in a few days, this kind of problem could happen again in the future.
Besides. there have been cases where the update breaks the car’s connectivity. These types of crashes can be avoided by getting an emergency battery pack.
13. Not good on snow
Tesla cars are not good in the snow, since their tires are generally not good at moving through rough or slippery conditions. Tesla cars fall short when it comes to having enough power to climb steep hills or even to move through heavy snow storms.
Tesla cars may not be as good at driving down icy roads, because they’re designed to be less sensitive to cold weather than other vehicles.
Also, their tires tend to stay much cleaner than those of other cars. The snow tracked by the Tesla car tires is better to meet and keep the car moving safely.
14. Cold Battery Degradation
This is related to the 13th problem. Tesla experts claim that a cold battery can only travel for about 60 miles, which is almost half the distance compared to what it can travel in moderate temperatures. It makes Tesla cars not great for people who live in cold climates.
Although the current produced by a cold battery is smaller, however, it still has a lot of energy in it This energy can be used to facilitate the lifting effect of an electromagnet. Hence, cold batteries are the most suitable for transmitting high voltage electricity through wires, but they do not help provide power to everyday objects like cars or homes due to their low power output and low output current.
15. Unreliable dashboard warning lights
The dashboard warning lights are probably the most necessary feature of a car. It tells you when your oil pressure needs to be checked or when your tire pressure has inflated.
In Tesla’s case, the dashboard warning lights are unreliable. The online community has complained about how their meters go off randomly, which can be confusing for the driver because they don’t know if it is real or fake. This problem creates a lot of unnecessary stress and seriously reduces the safety factor of Tesla cars.
The Bottom Line
Tesla cars are very cool and unique, but they are not the best car to buy. The big problem that Tesla owners have with their cars is the poor build quality, expensive maintenance, and they are no car dealership support for them.
If you are looking to buy a Tesla car, then make sure you keep these problems in mind before you purchase it.
Tesla owners share some of the unexpected headaches of owning the EV
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- Over a dozen Tesla owners told Insider about some of the headaches of switching to the EV.
- Issues they described included dealing with slow Tesla service centers and quality-control fixes.
- Take a look at some of the issues and surprise expenses of owning a Tesla.
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It’s sometimes not easy being an early adopter — especially when it comes to electric cars.
More than a dozen Tesla owners detailed some of the biggest headaches, or surprise expenses they faced, when switching to owning the electric car.
They shared their thoughts in a series of conversations with Insider — including adapting to range anxiety, higher insurance rates, and dealing with issues at Tesla service centers. While many of the issues could apply to any electric car, some of them point to potential challenges with Tesla’s business model.
Here are some of the issues Tesla owners say they’ve faced when they ditched their gas-powered vehicle for an electric one:
The tires on electric cars wear out faster.
Some Tesla owners said they were surprised when they had to replace their tires much sooner than with previous cars.
EVs go through tires about 30% faster than traditional combustion-engine vehicles because they’re heavier due to their massive lithium-ion battery, according to Bridgestone.
Typically electric car tires wear out between 10,000 to 20,000 miles. Though, Auto Trader editor Brian Moody told Insider speeding and heavy braking accelerate the issue.
EV owners can also face higher insurance rates.
Some Tesla owners said they were surprised when their insurance rates climbed after they bought their electric car.
Insider’s Alexa St. John previously reported that EV owners typically face higher insurance bills in part because many electric cars are generally more expensive than gas-powered vehicles.
Insurance companies also must weight the higher costs of potential damages to the vehicle’s pricey lithium-ion battery, as well as the lack of repair shops that are certified to work on the cars.
Earlier this year, The New York Times reported that a Rivian owner was hit with a $42,000 repair bill after a fender bender.
Eventually, the cost of insuring an EV is expected to drop as more people and companies transition to all-electric cars.
Some Tesla owners have horror stories about the company’s service centers.
Over the years, some Tesla owners have complained about issues with the carmaker’s service centers, including long wait times, poor repairs, and exorbitant prices.
Last year, Vox reported that Tesla owners had filed thousands of complaints about the company’s service centers. The complaints varied from concerns about available parts and unresponsive service centers to detailed complaints about Teslas that were returned in worse condition than when they went into the shops for repairs.
More recently, a Model S owner filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Tesla over the issue, claiming she’d suffered from Tesla’s “monopolization” of the repair market for its vehicles. She said Tesla had caused her to “suffer lengthy delays in repairing or maintaining” their electric vehicles, “only to pay supracompetitive prices for those parts and repairs once they are finally provided,” according to the complaint.
A spokesperson for Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Insider regarding concerns about its service centers. Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company is working on improving its service in North America. To date, Tesla has less than 200 service centers in the US. For comparison, GM or Ford owners can choose from thousands of independent repair and maintenance shops.
“That’s one of my biggest complaints with Tesla,” Steve Almassy, a Model S owner since 2014, said, adding he still loves the car. “They’re getting better, but they still haven’t gotten their service model down to a good process. Unfortunately, they have a long way to go on that.”
Tesla door handles can be finicky.
Tesla’s signature sleek door handles can be a hassle at times, several owners told Insider.
From issues with getting the doors to open in freezing temperatures to door handles breaking off — some Tesla owners said the sleek door handles on the EVs can be a source of frustration.
Multiple Tesla owners said the handles broke off in their hands on a few occasions. Robbie Mack, a former Tesla salesman and owner of a Model S said it was a common issue with earlier models of the company’s higher-end Model S vehicle that has since been resolved with the Model 3 and Model Y.
Other owners said they’ve had trouble getting their phone to connect and open the doors using keyless entry.
“It’d be raining, or you’re carrying groceries and you’re having to fiddle with your phone to get it to connect and unlock,” tech YouTuber Austin Evans previously told Insider regarding the keyless entry on his Model Y. “It’s a great feature when it works, but you never know when it’s going to fail you.”
Steven Elek, a Senior Automotive Data Analyst at Consumer Reports, said the publication has received multiple reports from owners regarding phone pairing issues with Teslas.
At-home chargers can add to the initial cost of buying an EV.
Depending on the electrical setup at the house, setting up a fast-charging home charger can cost anywhere from $250 to thousands of dollars — and some Tesla owners said they were surprised by the extra cost of setting up the system.
Most cars come with a Level 1 charging cord which can plug into a 110-volt household outlet and slowly trickles electricity into a car’s battery, but it only adds a few miles an hour to the car’s battery life. Many drivers prefer faster methods.
Setting up faster Level 2 charging requires a certified electrician, as well as a home electrical assessment. Ken Sapp, senior vice president at Qmerit, previously told Insider’s Tim Levin that most of his jobs cost about $1,600.
Some Tesla owners say they’ve noticed quality-control issues over the years.
For Tesla owners, it’s apparently not uncommon for new vehicles to be returned to local service centers for small fixes upon delivery and Tesla owners have reported minor build issues with the EVs over the years, including poor paint jobs and panel alignment.
John Brusniak said when he received his Model S in 2020, one of the doors wouldn’t close properly.
“They’re just minor things and they fixed it all for free, but it just shows a lack of attention to detail that you wouldn’t expect for the money you’ve spent on the car,” he said.
Chris Harto, a senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports, said the publication’s reliability survey for Tesla owners found that “paint and trim,” “noises and leaks,”and “body hardware” are “common trouble spots for Teslas.”
Tesla has long been known to have some issues with quality control, especially when new models are launched. In 2018, engineering consultant Sandy Munro said Tesla’s Model 3 had serious production flaws.
“I can’t imagine how they released this,” Munro said at the time.
In response, Musk admitted that the electric carmaker has had issues with quality control. In an interview with Munro, the Tesla CEO warned it might not be a good idea to buy a Tesla during a new model’s ramp-up period.
A spokesperson for Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the issue ahead of publication.
Tesla owners say they’re disappointed with the company’s Full Self-Driving software.
Some Tesla owners who shelled out about $15,000, or $199 per month, for the Autopilot add-on say they wish they hadn’t.
“FSD is kind of why I bought the car to begin with,” Brusniak told Insider. “I paid extra for it, but I’m too scared to use it now because it has its own way of doing things. It’ll stop 50 yards from a red light or sometimes it’ll even seem to stop at random.”
Tesla first released FSD in 2020 to select drivers, and since then, the software has been added to over 100,000 cars in the US. The feature enables Teslas to automatically change lanes, enter and exit highways, recognize stop signs and traffic lights, and park. The software is still in a beta testing and requires a licensed driver to monitor it at all times.
Tesla drivers have posted YouTube videos of the buggy software in the past — from turning into oncoming traffic to apparently confusing Burger King signs and even the moon with stop signs and stop lights. Still, some beta testers say the software has improved over the years.
Spokespeople for the company have not commented directly on concerns about FSD. Though, Musk has said feedback on the software is “welcome” and has encouraged users to report bugs in the program.
Teslas have been known to have apparent issues with phantom braking.
Some Tesla owners said their car has braked at random.
Kala Taylor, a former Model S owner, said there were multiple instances when her vehicle would stop, seemingly at random — and it once tried to stop in the middle of a freeway while she was using Autopilot.
“It was very scary and I never felt quite safe again driving it after that,” Taylor said.
Last year, over 750 Tesla drivers reported instances of phantom braking and many of them said the issued typically occurred while using Tesla’s Autopilot driver assist feature, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
On the other hand, some FSD enthusiasts say they wish the carmaker would allow FSD transfers.
“Tesla gives you zero credit for FSD on a trade-in and doesn’t even let you transfer it over to you next Tesla,” said Nelson Jackson, a Model S owner and FSD user. “That’s a major flaw and huge deterrent when it comes to trading in the vehicle.”
Musk temporarily addressed the gripe during the company’s earnings call on Wednesday. The billionaire said he would allow FSD users to transfer the software over for a limited time in next three months.
“This is a one-time amnesty, so you need to take advantage of it in Q3,” he said.
When you buy a Tesla, you might actually want to read the instruction manual, owners say.
There’s a learning curve when it comes to owning a Tesla, especially when it comes to the high-tech features in the car, several owners told Insider.
“Most people with an ICE vehicle don’t look at a manual because everything is pretty much the same across the board,” Almassy said, referring to a gas-powered car. “With a Tesla, you basically have a computer on wheels that you have to figure out. So you need to take the time to sit down and go through all the things on the infotainment system and read up on all the new features or you’ll be missing out.”
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