Tesla Model Y 2021-2024 Reliability & Common Problems

Is the Tesla Model Y reliable?

So far the Model Y has proven itself extremely reliable. In the latest WhatCar? reliability survey it scored 99.3%, meaning it rarely went wrong, and when it did repairs were quick to be fixed. All were done under warranty.

Nevertheless, there are some things to look out for:

Battery: Degradation is unavoidable with any lithium-ion battery, but Tesla says on average its packs retain 85% capacity after 200,000 miles. Charge to 80% to increase battery longevity and avoid EVs that have been sitting with a flat battery, as this can damage the cells. Battery replacement will cost between £10k and £15k.

Charging: Slow or intermittent charging and failure to charge are common problems typically caused by issues with the charging port.

Interior: Poor-quality rubber seals and panel gaps can lead to water ingress in the boot. New seals are likely to be covered under warranty. A loose regulator can cause the rear window to wobble and rattle; replace both it and the window seal to resolve the issue.

Body: Tesla's paint is known for its poor quality. The clear coat is susceptible to stone chips, swirl marks and scratches. Protection film is therefore recommended. Interrogate the bodywork for any large panel gaps. The carbonfibre rear spoiler on the Performance model can come loose, because it's only held down with double-sided sticky tape. The windscreen washer jets can clog up.

An owner's view

David Jones: "I'm a lifelong car enthusiast and I've been completely won over by the Model Y, despite its firm ride. Running costs are extremely low. I had four new Michelin tyres fitted at 35,000 miles, which cost £1000, plus an end-of-warranty check and service at £300 after three years of ownership. Aside from electricity, these were the only additional costs over the last three and a half years of ownership. We've just replaced it with another new Model Y."

Also worth knowing:

A new set of OEM-spec tyres will cost between £800 and £1200.

Stones and other bits of road debris get thrown up onto the rear doors, causing paint chips and scratches. You can fit OEM-spec mudflaps to protect the paint from damage.

Early UK-market Model Ys were built in China, and there are some differences to the newer German-built cars, which have more comfortable seats with better side bolstering and improved hip support. They also feature more soft-touch materials, such as on the rear door inserts.

Sam Phillips

Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website.

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport.

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.

Illya Verpraet

Title: Road Tester

As a road tester, Illya drives everything from superminis to supercars, and writes reviews and comparison tests, while also managing the magazine’s Drives section. Much of his time is spent wrangling the data logger and wielding the tape measure to gather the data for Autocar’s in-depth instrumented road tests.

He loves cars that are fun and usable on the road – whether piston-powered or electric – or just cars that are very fit for purpose. When not in test cars, he drives an R53-generation Mini Cooper S.