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Roadster reliability

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caunyd

New Member
Aug 28, 2012
3
0
Hi guys. I'm interested the reliability of the roadster and Tesla in general since I'm considering a Model S. Hopefully you owners can share some insight.

1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?


Thanks guy!
 
1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
Yes.

2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
Aggressive on weekends. Commuter during the week.

3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
304km on a standard charge. I don't charge often enough in range mode to know the full range.

4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
Depends on SOC and what I'm plugged into. In practice I don't notice the charge time since I charge at home overnight.

5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
No change since I bought the car a year ago.

6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
Never.

7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
Roughly $600 on the annual check-up.

8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
$5-$10 a month

9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
None.

10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?
Absolutely!
 
Hi guys. I'm interested the reliability of the roadster and Tesla in general since I'm considering a Model S. Hopefully you owners can share some insight.

1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver? - Yes
2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc Depends on the mood of the day
3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge? 178 standard miles
4/ how long does it take to charge your battery? Normally 30 minutes, but always full by next morning
5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time? No measurable change
6/ how often does the car break down or require service? Never
7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car - The $600 Tesla charges for annual service.
8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill? $17/month
9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster - Some trim problems
10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster? YES


Thanks guy!

If I were you I would poke around in the Roadster forum as many of these questions are discussed in length.
 
dhrivnak, thanks for the tip. I have been looking at threads in detail. Even so, some of my questions remain un-answered. And I would like to see everything consolidated in one thread, and if people need further detail, then they can dig deeper. Hopefully it can serve as a guide for prospective buyers. Thanks again.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for the response djp!
 
1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?

Yes.

2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc

All of the above!

3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?

It depends on how I am driving. On long range trips I can get the "Ideal" range in mild temperatures (i.e. not near freezing) and driving about 90 kph.

4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?

I can fully charge in 3.5 hours in my garage if I need to, but rarely do that. I'm just topping it up nightly, and I don't do it at full power (more efficient). 1-2 hours usually.

5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?

After 2 years and 28,000 km my range is down about three percent.

6/ how often does the car break down or require service?

Haven't really had a "breakdown" per se. I've had minor issues pop up - mostly with the Lotus components.

7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car

Replace rear tires pretty frequently - results from my driving style + incredible acceleration capabilities. $600 annual service + ranger fees. Everything else to date covered under warranty.

8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?

$30 - $40 per month, depending on usage.

9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster

Little stuff. Tire pressure monitoring system sometimes "loses" the tires. Odd rattle. Once had a bad key fob. That sort of thing.

10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?

Hell yeah!
 
Hi guys. I'm interested the reliability of the roadster and Tesla in general since I'm considering a Model S. Hopefully you owners can share some insight.

1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
Yes
2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
Everyday commuter
3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
Normal charge is 191 miles, full charge is 244-47 but I have only charged it completely full a couple of times.
4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
Not sure exactly as it is recharged by morning
5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
Not over my first year/13,000 miles
6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
It was required warranty service a couple of times. Both times handled electively (eg, the car did not strand me and I could keep driving it until it was convenient for me to give it up for the repair)
7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
So far nothing other than new tires for the rear at about $400 I believe
8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
I have had my Roadster for a year in June. Comparing the first 12 months to the 12 months prior, my bill went up $2/month
9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
It gets dirty faster than I want it to (I live off a dirt road). Seriously, the air intakes for the car are apparently unfiltered (Tesla told me this), so the inside gets dusty faster than I am used to in a car.
10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?
No doubt about it—yes!



Thanks guy!

Can't wait to get it back from the Tesla annual service it is at now!
 
Hi guys. I'm interested the reliability of the roadster and Tesla in general since I'm considering a Model S. Hopefully you owners can share some insight.

1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
Yes

2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
Mostly aggressive unless I'm travelling long distance

3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
Standard mode 188-194 and range mode 240-250

4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
No idea. 99% of my charging is overnight; the other 1% is topping up just to avoid range anxiety

5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
Not in 16 months

6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
Apart from the Annual Service I only had one problem which prevented me charging (was fixed in 24 hrs)

7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
$600

8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
Zero, I'm all solar powered

9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
HVAC diversion from the cabin to cool the powertrain. This only happens at long traffic light stops and is related to local climate here. Model S does not have this problem.

10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?
Yes!!! :biggrin:
 
1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
Yes, but alternate with my current Lexus when space for more people or things is needed (to be replaced by my Model S hopefully soon)

2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
Depends on the day and the roads I'm driving on.

3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
Full range charge about 230, standard charge about 183

4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
About 30 seconds... that's how long it takes to plug in the cable. The rest happens at 2am when I'm sleeping.

5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
With 3 years and 14K miles on the car the standard charge had dropped about 1-2 miles

6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
I've had one must be towed to the repair center issue in three years. It was for a failed 400V converter that wouldn't allow the A/C to turn on. They didn't want me to charge the car or drive it in the hot weather for fear of overheating something. One other time the car wouldn't start with some criptic charge error. Resetting everything fixed that problem. Other issues have been various minor problems with TPS sensors and various squeaks and rattles. Everything has been covered under warranty.

7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
$600 for the regular service + tires as needed.

8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
About $5 a month because I have solar.

9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
Random rattles and squeaks

10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?
Of course!
 
1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?

1. Yes
2. Commuter, with the very occasional bout of aggressiveness, but I do 'enjoy' hills
3. ~300km standard mode
4. About 45 mins, daily
5. No
6. Lots in first six months, no significant problems in the past year
7. About US$500 + tires
8. About US$400-500 a year - less than 1/4 of the petrol price I was paying on my Prius
9. Rattles and things coming loose
10. Absolutely, Yes
 
1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?
1. Yes (although I don't drive everyday)
2. Many trips are 200 to 300 miles which often requires some discipline. That said, I always arrive home empty.
3. ~175 standard, ~220 range (note the UK algorithms are different than US and give us lower range estimates)
4. No idea... normally charges during day or overnight
5. Yes but hard to know by how much given firmware changes
6. Every few months... usually minor issues
7. About 500 GBP + tyres
8. We get ~2000 miles a month from our Solar PV
9. Leaks and things coming loose
10. Yes (assuming it's still the best EV sports car for the money)
 
Hi guys. I'm interested the reliability of the roadster and Tesla in general since I'm considering a Model S. Hopefully you owners can share some insight.

1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?


Thanks guy!

1. Yes
2. depends on situation and need - long distance drives are economic style - short more like races.
3. If necessary i can still do 400km. my personal record was 419.7km with around 40km left as reserve (did with 30.000km). Usually i do 300-320km.
4. 6-8h if near empty at 32A in my garage, could do in 2-3h if the roadster would charge at 3-phase. But Model S comes with 3-phase charging
5. i lost around 10-15% after 100.000km
6. hat problems with the blowers in the beginning, now more with hot PEM but have new solution to clean the PEM between inspections. does not happen Models S because being liquid cooled.
7. 3x€500 + spare parts + new rear tires every 10-15.000km + €1.200 insurance
8. charging its mostly free but at home €50/month
9. the window wiper are loud and rattle. replaced with special swiss blades
10. best car ever hat. will keep it, even when i get my Model S sig perf.
 
this will get boring caunyd ; ))

1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
Yes, 95% of my yearly driving

2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
depends of the mood and distance, love to leave the Porsches, BMW's etc behind at red lights, (priceless)

3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
304km standard mode 380-400km range mode depending on the amps i charge with

4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
45 sec's, charging done overnight

5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
approx. 2% after 3 years

6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
never / standard check once a year (once there was a battery problem signaled, the rangers called me before i could do it, problem solved at TM expense within 2 days)

7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
CHF 600.-, + change of tires once every 8'000km ah i forgot, + windscreen wiper liquid ; )

8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
if calculated at the normal suppliers cost: 200 CHF / year, for 12'000km/year, but really zero, because of my solar array

9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
replaced the windscreenwiper blades and the brake pads, breaking is not top notch, due to the weight distribution and tire dimensions, rattles, wind noise on A pillar (which is common for a real Roadster)

10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?

over and over again, this is the best car i've ever had, with the fewest problems ever.
 
Caunyd,

As a previous posted stated - look at some of the previous threads if you want information regarding "reliability". No disrespect to the people that posted here - but - what is posted makes it sound like everything is fine in Disneyland. Some people seem to have put Elon on a pedestal - here at work we call it "drinking the kool-aid (think Jim Jones and Jonestown). In my opinion, the Roadster has had more problems than probably any car in the last 10 years (I've been pretty lucky compared to some people). Granted, it is a limited production, first model, new company - all the BS. We are all early adapters and with that comes putting up with issues that the general public never would. I've said it before and I'll say it again - IF Consumer Reports could purchase an early Model S (maybe they are/have) they are going to OBJECTIVELY compare it to the competition, they will not have the rose colored glasses on, don't believe Elon is "god like" and will rip it apart.

Would I buy the Roadster again knowing everything I know today??? Hell Yes, it is a riot to drive.
 
I personally haven't had any issues with my Roadster, no rattles and nothing broken as well. My rattles came from the sun visors. I moved them a little and the rattle went away, the car is very solid. I've only had my roadster for about 4 months, but I've put 6,000 miles on it in that time and its been perfect to me. The records before that showed no issues for the 3,800 original miles and three years of time it was used. When I contemplated on purchasing this roadster I did my research on this forum and found the majority of people did not have major issues at all, I found some who had issues such as PEM, Blowers, AC condensers and Lotus specific things like knobs, etc. that these issues were corrected and fixed by Tesla right away and the owners satisfied. This is new technology, ran in small production numbers, and customer base small at the moment. You just don't get a large sample coverage nor the time of decades to revisit or expand on your design to make it better until time and learning factors are met. Compare the failures and breakdowns of an ICE vehicle that's made in the very high production numbers and look at the Tesla Roadster. Drive a VW and start counting all the things that break and fall apart on those rattle traps. Granted I love VW engineering but I do believe they purposely make things to break and annoy you... I don't understand how can't they get this right since the 70s and such a jump on learning cycle? Its not new technology at all and ICE engines had over a century to evolve and redesign. Granted today's ice engines are far better and reliable than the ones up to the '80's and '90s but still thats allot of time to learn and innovate. The number is very small for things going wrong on the Roadster when you look at quantities and time. I have strong confidence in Tesla and from what I've seen they did and do learn from past issues and do make an effort to fix and make it even better in the next production cycle. As for me I'm very happy for my problem free Roadster, that was one of the reason's why I love EVs... their simplicity.
 
Last edited:
C No disrespect to the people that posted here - but - what is posted makes it sound like everything is fine in Disneyland. Some people seem to have put Elon on a pedestal - here at work we call it "drinking the kool-aid (think Jim Jones and Jonestown). In my opinion, the Roadster has had more problems than probably any car in the last 10 years (I've been pretty lucky compared to some people).

That's a bit harsh. I've had cars with WAY more problems than the Roadster (looking at you, Ford). I've had cars that have had zero issues, then as soon as the four-year warranty was up everything came apart (looking at you, Toyota). I've also had cars that were totally reliable for four or five years and then had a few things crop up (Nissan). But I've never owned a car that was perfect.

The Roadster is not perfect, but the problems I have encountered have been minor and were corrected under warranty.
 
That's a bit harsh. I've had cars with WAY more problems than the Roadster (looking at you, Ford). I've had cars that have had zero issues, then as soon as the four-year warranty was up everything came apart (looking at you, Toyota). I've also had cars that were totally reliable for four or five years and then had a few things crop up (Nissan). But I've never owned a car that was perfect.

The Roadster is not perfect, but the problems I have encountered have been minor and were corrected under warranty.

After the warranty expires, the Roadster will be a very expensive car.
 
>After the warranty expires, the Roadster will be a very expensive car.

Compare apples with apples. Any car of that class costs $$ to maintain.

Here's a clip from a Lamborghini forum on maintenance costs. Note we DON'T need oil changes, we don't need clutches, we don't need all the maintenance that ICE vehicles require:


If I'm not mistaken, my dealer charges $125 and hour. An oil change cost aroung $400. Major service at 15k mile interval is around $4k. Clutch could be than around $5k. Other than those, the car is pretty much bulletproof. Of course, I'm talking about the Diablo, Murci and the G-car could be similar.
 
Hi guys. I'm interested the reliability of the roadster and Tesla in general since I'm considering a Model S. Hopefully you owners can share some insight.

1/ Do you use your car as a daily driver?
2/ What is your driving style: aggressive, or as an everyday commuter car, etc
3/ What is the range you usually get from a full battery charge?
4/ how long does it take to charge your battery?
5/ has your battery performance/range changed over time?
6/ how often does the car break down or require service?
7/ how much money do you spend a year on maintainance and servicing of the car
8/ how much does charging the car add to your electricity bill?
9/ what are common problems that you have experienced with the roadster
10/ if you had to do it all over again, would you still get the Roadster?


Thanks guy!

I think these questions are only mildly relevant to the Model S. As has been stated above the Roadster was built by Lotus to Tesla's specs (shipped here as a roller). Lotus is famous for questionable build quality (pre-Tesla cars often smelled of cigarettes) and Tesla actually brought up the fit and finish with each generation of Roadster and has made Lotus a better build company.

Arguably battery questions are valid since there are no other cars to compare to, but with 6 years and tons more engineers and money, even that technology has improved. Do searches for each of your questions. Each has been covered ad-nauseam individually.

Tesla had 10,000,000 miles of Roadster data to start from a clean sheet for the Model S design and build. Not much use to compare.
 
>After the warranty expires, the Roadster will be a very expensive car.

Compare apples with apples. Any car of that class costs $$ to maintain.

Here's a clip from a Lamborghini forum on maintenance costs. Note we DON'T need oil changes, we don't need clutches, we don't need all the maintenance that ICE vehicles require:


If I'm not mistaken, my dealer charges $125 and hour. An oil change cost aroung $400. Major service at 15k mile interval is around $4k. Clutch could be than around $5k. Other than those, the car is pretty much bulletproof. Of course, I'm talking about the Diablo, Murci and the G-car could be similar.

The Roadster is in the Mercedes SL, Porsche 911, Jaguar XK class; not really the Lambo, Ferrari class. If you amortize the battery replacement cost and add that to the yearly maintenance costs of the Roadster; what do your adjusted figures look like? Direct maintenance costs should be taken with a grain of salt; with an electric car there are also indirect maintenance costs, these could be far more significant than an ICE vehicle.