10 Things Tesla Owners Keep Quiet About

There’s no denying that Tesla sits at the very top of the

EV throne in the U.S. market
. It benefits from a strong market share in some international regions as well, while making an equally impressive mark in China, where more established domestic brands like BYD continue to dominate. In fact, Tesla is the only brand that is truly taking the fight to Chinese EV makers, who many believe to be a threat to the global market. Tesla is one of the oldest EV-only brands in existence today, which means it benefits from more experience and time to build a solid reputation.

While the brand has enjoyed abundant success over the years, its current line of products is not entirely problem-free. Tesla owners are well-known to defend their favorite brand to the death, but there are some factors that aren’t often discussed. Of course, we have to specify that every brand comes with its fair share of problems and that this feature merely aims to disclose some factors you may want to be aware of before considering a Tesla EV ownership experience.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Tesla’s websites and other authoritative sources, Car and Driver, the EPA, and Cox Automotive.

1

Teslas Has Known Quality Issues

Tesla has opted for a very

simple and minimalist design
consisting of fewer parts, both inside and out. The benefit of this is that they are much cheaper to manufacture. However, this has resulted in some concerning quality control issues. Many owners have documented evidence of poor panel construction, with inconsistent gaps and fitments throughout the exterior.

Some of the most concerning issues have been experienced within the cabin, where owners have noted problems with bubbling and mold from the vegan leather interior. Panels, fittings, and trimmings also struggle with poor fitments that detach and degrade even after moderate use. Teslas also tend to struggle with technical glitches, but thankfully these are resolved via convenient over-the-air updates. We do have to point out that newer Tesla models are substantially better than those produced half a decade ago, thanks to the brand’s strategy of timely integrating upgrades to its entire catalog.

2

Full Self-Driving Isn’t Completely Autonomous

Despite Tesla calling its advanced driver assist system

Full Self-Driving
, the system still requires a level of human intervention. Even so, the system has come under fire in previous years for many inconsistencies that have resulted in some collisions and accidents, very few of which have resulted in fatalities. This is largely because the users don’t completely understand the technology and place too much faith in it.

FSD remains one of the better ADAS systems available today, justifying its exorbitant $8,000 price tag, and Tesla includes very clear disclaimers regarding it not being a fully autonomous system. This isn’t really a fault on Tesla’s part, but it remains a problem that owners don’t discuss frequently enough. FSD is now available on all derivatives, including the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck.

3

Tesla’s Plaid 0-60 MPH Times Aren’t Completely Honest

Tesla claims that the

Model S Plaid
can cover a 0-60 MPH sprint in 1.99 seconds, but the fine print states that it subtracts a one-foot rollout. To be fair, Lucid does the

same thing with its Sapphire’s 1.89-second claimed time
. Subtracting the first foot is a standard procedure when drag racing, but it doesn’t reflect the model’s real-world abilities from a standing start.

Tesla Plaid Performance Figures

It’s also worth noting that the Plaid can only achieve this time under very specific conditions. This includes preconditioning the powertrain, ensuring that the battery has sufficient charge, and waiting 15 minutes in between each launch event. These are very strict conditions that some of the brand’s rivals don’t struggle with, but it is in the best interest of protecting the drivetrain system in the long run.

4

Tesla’s Aren’t Repair-Friendly

Mechanically speaking, Teslas can easily be repaired by trained and accredited professionals, but when it comes to exterior repairs to the body panels, things start to get very complicated and a bit annoying. This goes back to Tesla’s decision to use lighter and cheaper materials and production methods, which includes its gigacasting process.

The use of aluminum gigacasting means that you cannot beat some of the exterior panels, rendering your Tesla irreparable in some extreme cases. Tesla does offer approved body repair support that ensures the

functionality, safety, and longevity of your Tesla
, but you need to be prepared for some of the most expensive quotes that you’ve ever seen in your life. This is because you have to completely replace the panels with new factory parts.

5

Tesla’s EPA Range Estimates Are Hard To Achieve

Teslas benefit from some of the

best EPA-estimated range and efficiency figures
, but many reviewers note that these results are very difficult to achieve in real-world conditions. EPA results are never truly accurate, but Tesla’s variance between the estimation and real-world results is a noteworthy difference.

Tesla Model Y Range And Charging Times

The Tesla Model S Dual Motor currently benefits from the best EPA range estimate at 402 miles on a single charge, thanks to its 99.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Real-world tests indicate that you’re going to squeeze around 326 miles out of the battery, even with conservative driving. This is still a very impressive result, but quite a long way off from the estimated figure.

6

Teslas Struggle With Depreciation

Being an EV, you should be aware that Tesla’s cars depreciate at a much more aggressive rate compared to its ICE and HEV counterparts. The

Tesla Model X
holds its value the best, but calculation and appraisal tools indicate that you can expect to lose $48,032 of its $77,990 starting MSRP within five years.

Tesla Model X Predicted Depreciation Rate

There are several factors that contribute to this. EVs remain uncharted territory for a lot of consumers, so they’re

hesitant to consider used options
. They’re also somewhat impractical if you plan to cover long distances, as the national charging infrastructure still requires comprehensive developments. Tesla’s drastic price cuts in recent years have also affected previous model year used values.

7

Teslas Are Not As Affordable Anymore

With the recent introduction of the

Tesla Model 3 Highland
update and the removal of the Model Y rear-wheel drive’s standard battery pack, you can no longer purchase a Tesla for under $40,000. When considering inflation over the last decade, new Tesla models are relatively more affordable than their predecessors, but in the current financial climate, they have to be considered more premium options.

How The Inflation Reduction Act Works

• The Inflation Reduction Act offers up to $7,500 in tax rebates for new electric vehicle purchases.
• To qualify, EVs must meet specific criteria including North American assembly and the use of critical minerals from U.S. trade partners.
• The tax credit applies only to vehicles priced below $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs, trucks, and vans.
• Income caps apply; individuals earning more than $150,000 or couples earning more than $300,000 do not qualify.
• A separate rebate of up to $4,000 is available for used EVs priced below $25,000.
• The law also incentivizes automakers to establish domestic supply chains for EV components like batteries.

Thankfully, most Tesla models benefit from three $7,500

Inflation Reduction Act
tax rebate, which makes them much cheaper alternatives to their main rivals. This is thanks to Tesla’s decision to keep the bulk of its production and supply chain within the U.S. The IRA rebate only applies to specific Tesla models.

The upcoming Cybercab
is said to be an affordable option and one that will be available for sale (not just a robotaxi, essentially), but it is still some time away.

8

The Tesla Supercharging Network Gets Congested

Tesla benefits from one of the most comprehensive public charging networks in the U.S. The DC Level Three Supercharger is a noteworthy drawing card for a lot of potential Tesla owners that plan to cover extensive distances away from home. The problem that a lot of Tesla owners are facing today, however, is that they are constantly being subjected to long queues at key public charging stations.

In recent years, Tesla has been gradually opening its Supercharger network to EV users from other brands, albeit at a higher premium. This results in you

having to wait even longer for a full recharge
and being subjected to higher rates, as the network increases prices during heavy usage. This is a noteworthy problem during the festive seasons, when you’re more likely to be traveling.

9

Tesla’s Rivals Are Catching Up

Tesla enjoys a substantial market share over the domestic EV market, thanks to some core strategic decisions, but the rise of new EV start-ups and heavy investments from more established manufacturers has affected this. Brands like Rivian and Ford are showing that local consumers value diversity, as

products like the R1S
and Mustang Mach-E slowly claw away at the Model Y and 3’s outstanding dominance.

Best-Selling EVs Of Q3 2024

These brands still have a long way to go until they

make a noticeable impact on Tesla’s success
, but the way things are going, we are more likely to see Tesla’s market share decline as time passes. The brand may counter this with a cheaper Model 2 alternative, but we are yet to see any evidence of such a product being introduced to the market, despite rumors suggesting it’ll arrive in 2026.

10

Elon Musk’s Statements May Enrage Some Fans

While there are many people

who adore Elon Musk
and his tendency to freely say whatever is on his mind, there are others who express great concern and distaste. There’s evidence to suggest that this has impacted the brand’s quarterly sales figures, resulting in a relatively unstable stock performance.

Despite this, Musk sticks by his guns and continues to express his conservative and sometimes controversial opinions. This has become especially true ever since he

took over operations at Twitter
, which he has since rebranded as X.