# Two-thirds of Tesla S Drivetrains Failing by 60K? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078 "2015-12-29T00:14:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/1 "2015-12-29T00:14:53Z")
That is a lot of power from a small package: > **[Two-Thirds of Earliest Tesla Drivetrains To Need Replacement In 60,000 Miles,...](https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101153_two-thirds-of-earliest-tesla-drive-trains-to-fail-in-60000-miles-owner-data-suggests)** > > With almost 100,000 on the world's roads, the Tesla Model S electric car is a remarkable achievement. It remains the longest-range electric car in volume production more than three years after it launched. But reliability issues with electric... ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/2 "2015-12-29T02:12:03Z")
On a positive note, one third of Tesla owners could expect to get more than 60K out of their drive train! It is not like they paid a hole lot for the car anyway, right šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/3 "2015-12-29T02:23:05Z")
Iā€™ll probably never own a Tesla but my sympathy goes out to those that may have one of the failing machines. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/4 "2015-12-29T02:38:11Z")
I actually drive past that Tesla dealer . . . the Los Angeles dealer, pictured in the article . . . about once a week But since Iā€™m poverty-stricken, thereā€™s no real reason to drop in and look at the merchandise Thereā€™s a high-roller at my motherā€™s church, he drives a Tesla S. Seems like a pretty nice person, actually ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/5 "2015-12-29T02:57:55Z")
Making the car twice as reliable means that 30% of the owners will still have drive line failure at 60,000 miles. That is still not acceptable, but it is moving in the right direction. If Tesla replaces the drive train for all failures up to 60,000 miles, that should keep the owners happy. Or at least a lot happier than if they were hung out to dry. We had a similar experience with our 2003 Silhouette. The transmission went out at 58,000 miles. Fortunately, Olds had a free 60/60 warranty for all vehicles sold after they announced their demise, and our transmission was replaced with a new one at no cost to us. We still think fondly of the van with over 150,000 miles on it. I can understand how the Tesla owners could still be happy if they only lose the car for a week or so, even though we pail less than one fifth of what a new Tesla S costs. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/6 "2015-12-29T03:21:18Z")
Iā€™m just hoping that the replacement drivetrain is greatly improved, and more reliable, versus the one that failed It would be pretty pathetic if the replacement also failed within 60k ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/7 "2015-12-29T05:52:28Z")
Werenā€™t electric cars touted as being MORE reliable than gas or diesel vehicles? Maybe I misread that. To read the article, it sounds like bearing failures - i.e. ā€œReplacement when they start to make noiseā€ ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/8 "2015-12-29T06:26:36Z")
This is proof positive that itā€™s best to let somebody else be an early adopter šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/9 "2015-12-29T06:44:08Z")
I think db is right, this isnā€™t an inherent problem with electric cars, just what youā€™d expect when a new technology is first introduced on a large scale. And Tesla cars are a bit over the top on their acceleration specs, which Iā€™d guess the owners are testing out, which canā€™t be good for reliability. Iā€™ve noticed when thereā€™s a Model S in the front row of the traffic light Iā€™m in, that Model 6 is way ahead of all the other cars seconds after the light turns green. Of course I usually mosey up next to the waiting Model 6 at the next light in my Corolla ā€¦ lol ā€¦ I did notice that Consumer Reports is now flagging some Tesla models as a reliability problems. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 7:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/10 "2015-12-29T07:46:36Z")
Electric motors arenā€™t a new technology. But itā€™s true, Tesla has gone for flashy performance instead of useful practical cars. They are repeating that mistake with the Model X, the ā€œSUVā€ with articulated/automated rear doors and other complicated features that push prices over $100k. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/11 "2015-12-29T20:10:45Z")
Tesla cars cost over $100K because they have $60,000 batteries in $50,000 cars! Thatā€™s why Tesla is working so hard to produce cheaper batteries, to earn a profit on the cars they sell instead of the carbon credits carrying the freight. ---
**Author:** ![DrRocket](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/drrocket/32/2603_2.png) [@DrRocket](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DrRocket)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/12 "2015-12-30T04:04:12Z")
People who have money are more fun to deal with than people who donā€™t. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 5:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/13 "2015-12-30T05:19:55Z")
@DrRocket Not sure I entirely agree with you Sure, when youā€™re running a business, you donā€™t want customers who canā€™t pay their bills But over the years, some of my best friends have pretty much been penniless paupers ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/14 "2015-12-30T05:44:05Z")
Maybe the drivetrain problems have something to do with driving the cars in quarter mile intervals too often. They are incredibly quick, and it seems like the temptation to wring them out would be great. Well, it would be a big temptation for me, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 6:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/15 "2015-12-30T06:19:09Z")
> > But over the years, some of my best friends have pretty much been penniless paupers Let me add that is true for me, too. Except I would add: and who cannot afford a car, but do ride burros. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/16 "2015-12-30T06:21:53Z")
@irlandes šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![kmccune](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/kmccune/32/1237_2.png) [@kmccune](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kmccune)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/17 "2015-12-31T03:41:04Z")
@JT,yep. thats a lot of torque to play with,big brother(deceased) used to tell me,ā€œPeople who drive with the throttle to the firewall,create a lot of problems for themselvesā€ ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/18 "2015-12-31T04:38:37Z")
**ā€œPeople who drive with the throttle to the firewall, create a lot of problems for themselvesā€** Yup! Over the past few decades, I have known a few people whose driving mode isā€¦pedal to the metalā€¦and that includes both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal. When all that somebody knows is full-throttle accelerationā€“followed inevitably by very hard brakingā€“no vehicle is going to be very durable or very reliable for very long. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 6:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/two-thirds-of-tesla-s-drivetrains-failing-by-60k/92078/19 "2015-12-31T06:45:04Z")
As a young adult, leaving my teenage years behind, one of the biggest eye openers I got was just how reliable and long lived a little bitty Honda CB175 motorcycle becomes when you drive like a grownup instead of constantly having to prove how fast you can go and how many wheelies you can do.