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2016 Tesla Model S 60
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
604 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2014–2018 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict, worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2016 Tesla Model S 60.
Why caution?
97 complaints involve a crash, fire, injury, or death. Read them before deciding.
Suspension problems dominate (34% of complaints, typically reported near 50k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#515 of 576Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Tesla Model S 60 ranks #515, scoring higher than 9% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Tesla Model S 60 5 HB RWD Early Release
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 6%
7 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Tesla Model S 60, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Steering (81) · Speed control (74) · Brakes (52) · Lights (49)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Suspension
34%204 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 6 in the last 2 years
“I was backing out of a parking space and the front driver side fore link broke. Internet search reveals this is a known issue associated with Tesla Model S during the …”
Electrical system
23%137 complaints · typically near 49k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“My driver's side of the vehicle looks like it's melting. I was informed by the service advisor at Tesla that this is a common issue, and the computer needs to be repla…”
Steering
13%81 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Power steering failed suddenly and without any alert on the dashboard. I called Tesla support & they said this is a known problem for which the immediate but only shor…”
Speed control
12%74 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“My car slams on the brakes consistently at green lights when FSD is activated. This is version 12.5.4.2 of FSD. Tesla is not responding to my inquiries.”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 604 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 97 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Tesla before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report suspension problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 50k miles). Has this car shown any suspension symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 49k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Tesla MODEL S 60 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Model S 60 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Tesla Model S 60 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.