The Lemon Index
128Lemon Index (100 = average car)
67complaints per 100,000 sold
47without driver-assist complaints
44,642sold in the U.S., 2021-2024 (small sample)
Year by year
| Model year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 1.2× fewer complaints than average | 5 | 14,239 |
| 2022 | 116 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 8 | 12,025 |
| 2023 | 341 | 3.4× the average car's complaints | 14 | 7,152 |
| 2024 | 47 | 2.1× fewer complaints than average | 3 | 11,226 |
Top problems
- automatic emergency braking: 23% of complaints
- electrical: 20% of complaints
- brakes: 20% of complaints
- cruise and speed control: 20% of complaints
Fire complaints: 0 (0.0 per 100,000 sold; all EVs average 0.8). EV fires vs gas →
Range and yearly cost
| EPA range (2025) | 149–212 miles |
| Electricity use | 30–31 kWh per 100 miles |
| Yearly charging cost (EPA) | $700 |
| Nissan Sentra, yearly gas cost | $1,900 |
| Saves per year | about $1,200 |
EPA estimate: 15,000 miles a year at national average prices. Every EV's cost →
Recalls
5 recalls for model years 2021-2024, 1 mentioning fire. The newest:
- electrical Oct 2025
The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging. Fire risk. NHTSA 25V655000 - back over prevention Feb 2024
Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. NHTSA 24V071000 - speed control Jul 2023
The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control. NHTSA 23V494000 - brakes May 2023
The right-hand brake tubes may have been damaged during production and could corrode, possibly causing a hole in the brake line and a brake fluid leak. NHTSA 23V362000 - equipment Feb 2023
The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. NHTSA 23V048000
Complaints filed with NHTSA by the end of the year after the model year. Sales are Kelley Blue Book estimates for every brand (Tesla doesn't report U.S. sales by model). These scores use a shorter window than the main Lemon Index (complaints filed by the end of the year after the model year), so brand-new EVs like the Cybertruck get a fair, complete window. That's why a Tesla's score here differs a little from its main car page. Sales source: Kelley Blue Book EV sales reports (estimates).