The Lemon Index
875Lemon Index (100 = average car)
477complaints per 100,000 sold
357without driver-assist complaints
92,063sold in the U.S., 2021-2024
Year by year
| Model year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1019 | 10.2× the average car's complaints | 73 | 16,742 |
| 2022 | 418 | 4.2× the average car's complaints | 49 | 20,511 |
| 2023 | 1281 | 12.8× the average car's complaints | 278 | 37,789 |
| 2024 | 407 | 4.1× the average car's complaints | 39 | 17,021 |
Top problems
- electrical: 49% of complaints
- automatic emergency braking: 16% of complaints
- cruise and speed control: 11% of complaints
- body structure: 10% of complaints
Fire complaints: 3 (3.3 per 100,000 sold; all EVs average 0.8). EV fires vs gas →
Range and yearly cost
| EPA range (2025) | 206–291 miles |
| Electricity use | 30–33 kWh per 100 miles |
| Yearly charging cost (EPA) | $650–$750 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan, yearly gas cost | $2,300–$2,550 |
| Saves per year | about $1,725 |
EPA estimate: 15,000 miles a year at national average prices. Every EV's cost →
Recalls
25 recalls for model years 2021-2024, 6 mentioning fire. The newest:
- electrical Oct 2026
The high voltage battery may fail and lead to a vehicle fire. Fire risk. NHTSA 26V630000 - electrical Jan 2026
The high voltage (HV) battery cell modules may contain misaligned electrodes that can result in a battery fire. Fire risk. NHTSA 26V028000 - electrical Jan 2026
The high-voltage battery may overheat. Fire risk. NHTSA 26V030000 - electrical Dec 2025
The high voltage (HV) battery cell modules may contain misaligned electrodes that can result in a battery fire. Fire risk. NHTSA 25V836000 - brakes Jun 2025
Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tighte… NHTSA 25V434000 - electrical Feb 2025
The on-board charger (OCDC) may fail and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power. NHTSA 25V125000 - transmission & drivetrain Feb 2025
The instrument panel may not properly display the transmission gear lever indicator. NHTSA 25V120000 - back over prevention Nov 2024
The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse or when the park function is manually activated. NHTSA 24V875000
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).