Tesla models we see most
| Model | US model years | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Roadster | 2008-2012 | Tesla's first car; production ended in January 2012, months before the Model S arrived. |
| Model S | 2012-present | 2012-2018 cars are in touchscreen memory recall 21V035000; 2012-2016 cars in steering bolt corrosion recall 18V204000. |
| Model X | 2016-present | 2016-2018 Model X SUVs share the Model S touchscreen memory recall, 21V035000. |
| Model 3 | 2017-present | Tesla's smaller sedan, normally opened and started with a phone key or key card instead of a traditional key. |
| Model Y | 2020-present | The crossover built on Model 3 underpinnings; its phone key and key cards should be removed or handed over at sale. |
| Cybertruck | 2024-present | A pickup with a stainless steel body, which makes body repair very different from a painted steel truck. |
Known Tesla problems that end up at the scrapyard
Touchscreen memory failure on 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X
Recall 21V035000 covers Model S and Model X cars whose center display uses an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC flash chip. When the chip reaches the end of its wear life, the system can no longer keep its file system intact and center display functions fail, including the rearview camera image and defrost controls. On an out-of-warranty car with other damage, a dead screen can tip the decision. source
Corroding power steering bolts on 2012-2016 Model S
Tesla recalled 2012-2016 Model S cars with Bosch steering racks because the aluminum bolts attaching the power steering assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture (18V204000). If they break, steering assist is reduced or lost entirely, which is most noticeable at low speeds. Corrosion like this is a bigger concern for cars driven through salted winters. source
Stranded energy and reignition in damaged battery packs
NTSB's 2020 safety report on electric vehicle battery fires found that energy left in a damaged high-voltage battery creates shock risk and can cause thermal runaway and reignition. In one case an SUV reignited while being loaded onto a tow truck. The report also notes a recommended 50-foot clear area for storing such vehicles is often impractical at tow yards. source
Why Teslas end up with a junk buyer
A junk Tesla is often a fairly new car: one that’s been in a crash, sat in floodwater, or developed a fault that’s expensive once the warranty ends. On the older Model S and Model X, the center touchscreen’s memory chip can wear out completely, which Tesla addressed with recall 21V035000. Early Model S cars also had a recall for aluminum steering motor bolts that can corrode and break, something worth checking on any Tesla that has lived through Chicago’s salted winters.
When an insurer declares one a total loss, you may be offered the chance to keep it. Our guide to what to do with a totaled car in Illinois covers that choice and the salvage title rules.
A damaged Tesla needs careful handling
High-voltage batteries change how a wrecked car must be treated. NTSB’s 2020 report found that a damaged pack holds “stranded energy” that can reignite a fire long after the first one is out, and in one investigation the vehicle caught fire again while being loaded onto a flatbed. If your Tesla was hit underneath, smells of smoke or has been underwater, keep it outside and away from your house or garage, and tell us before pickup.
What helps the offer: how much of the car is undamaged, whether the battery pack is intact, the model and its year, and whether it still powers on. If it does, note any battery or charging alerts on the screen and the charge level, and leave the mobile charging cable with the car if you have it.
Clearing your Tesla account first
Follow Tesla’s order. First perform a factory reset from the touchscreen (Controls, then Service, then Factory Reset) while the car is still in your account. Then remove it in the Tesla app under My Products. Removing it ends paid subscriptions and clears Bluetooth devices and driver profiles. Hand over every key card and delete your phone key. Other makes we buy are on our brands page.
Selling a junk Tesla: questions
Will you buy a Tesla that was in a crash and won't power on?
Yes. Tell us where the damage is, especially anything under the car near the battery pack, whether any warnings showed before it died, and whether it was in water. That tells us how to load and store it safely.
How do I remove my Tesla from my account before selling?
Tesla's manual says to do a factory reset first, under Controls, Service, Factory Reset, because you can't reset once the car leaves your account. Then in the app go to My Products and choose Remove or Transfer Ownership. Removing it ends paid subscriptions.