Photo: original photo by autoevolution
Less than two weeks ago, an American automotive publication published a long-term test, exposing the good and the bad sides of owning a Tesla Model S. As with any other hi-tech gizmo, the Model S is a very complex piece of kit that's not bulletproof in terms of reliability. Only recently, Consumer Reports declared that it has "more than its share of problems."
We have test-driven the Tesla Model S in its most powerful flavor yet and awarded it an overall 75 out of 100 points. We were impressed by the P85's way of gliding over asphaltic imperfections, the straight line performance, handling characteristics and all the gadgets onboard, but a long-term test adds a new perspective to reviewing a recently launched vehicle.
That new perspective is represented by what the car is like on the long run. Consumer Reports highlights a number of nasty things that happened to the $89,650 Tesla Model S the publication bought in January last year. "Our car has now been driven at some length by many staff members, many of whom aren’t involved in car testing." During the previously mentioned period, the car clocked 15,734 miles (25,321 clicks).
One of the biggest faults that came up is a blank center screen that virtually eliminates access to pretty much every vital function of the Tesla Model S. The service department also identified a creak coming from the side roof-pillar area, a fault that has been fixed under warranty as well. Moreover, warranty covered the replacement of a sticky third-row safety belt buckle, front bumper carrier hardware, the HVAC filter housing, 12V battery and the battery's coolant pump. That's quite a lot, to be frank.
Near the end of the long-term test, at the 15,700-mile mark, Consumer Reports tells that the front trunk lid and the adapter for non-Tesla chargers went wrong. During this particular visit at the service department, the Tesla boys fixed the faults under warranty, but also updated the car to firmware 5.12.
"Given the number of bits and pieces Tesla has replaced on our car, it might be tempting to guess that its reliability score will go down [this year]," the publication concludes its Tesla Model S long-term experience.
That new perspective is represented by what the car is like on the long run. Consumer Reports highlights a number of nasty things that happened to the $89,650 Tesla Model S the publication bought in January last year. "Our car has now been driven at some length by many staff members, many of whom aren’t involved in car testing." During the previously mentioned period, the car clocked 15,734 miles (25,321 clicks).
One of the biggest faults that came up is a blank center screen that virtually eliminates access to pretty much every vital function of the Tesla Model S. The service department also identified a creak coming from the side roof-pillar area, a fault that has been fixed under warranty as well. Moreover, warranty covered the replacement of a sticky third-row safety belt buckle, front bumper carrier hardware, the HVAC filter housing, 12V battery and the battery's coolant pump. That's quite a lot, to be frank.
Near the end of the long-term test, at the 15,700-mile mark, Consumer Reports tells that the front trunk lid and the adapter for non-Tesla chargers went wrong. During this particular visit at the service department, the Tesla boys fixed the faults under warranty, but also updated the car to firmware 5.12.
"Given the number of bits and pieces Tesla has replaced on our car, it might be tempting to guess that its reliability score will go down [this year]," the publication concludes its Tesla Model S long-term experience.
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