FaultScore

Tesla Model S vs Chevrolet Tahoe

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Tesla Model S Chevrolet Tahoe
Complaints on file 5,283 12,903
Model years covered 2012–2026 1988–2026
Worst model year 2016 2002
Best model year 2024 1993
Crashes reported 659 593
Fires reported 94 170
Injuries reported 207 462
Deaths reported 35 26
Most complained-about part Electrical System Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 18.8% 9.7%

Tesla Model S by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Electrical System 1,001 18.9%
Suspension 730 13.8%
Steering 344 6.5%
Brakes 208 3.9%
Lights 195 3.7%

Chevrolet Tahoe by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Brakes 2,045 15.8%
Airbags 1,556 12.1%
Electrical System 1,512 11.7%
Other & Unspecified 1,343 10.4%
Engine & Cooling 1,028 8.0%
Body & Structure 900 7.0%