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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | EV |
| Base Price | $60,792–$71,404 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2016 Tesla Model S is a ev that earns a Carivo score of 7.2/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Technology at 9.0/10, while Reliability at 5.5/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional ev — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 5.5/10 for reliability, this ev trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 8.1/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Few rivals match it for performance: 8.5/10. Expect handling and power delivery that make this one of the more entertaining evs to actually drive. On technology it rates 9.0/10: a modern, well-integrated suite that compares favorably with anything at this price point.
Priced from $60,792–$71,404, 120 MPG, seating 5, the Tesla Model S sits in the premium tier of the ev category. The value score of 5.9/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 10 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2016 Tesla Model S sits in the middle of the field. Until its value and reliability scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2016 Tesla Model S ranks #218 of 268 evs in the Carivo database — better than 19% of the segment. Its 7.2/10 overall score is 0.4 points below the segment average of 7.6/10. Its $60,792 starting price is about 15% above the segment's median of $52,750.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full EV ranking →
Across the Model S model years we've scored, the 2016 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.7/10 | $82,389 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.7/10 | $82,389 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.7/10 | $79,990 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.6/10 | $77,590 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.5/10 | $75,190 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.5/10 | $72,790 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.5/10 | $70,391 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.4/10 | $67,991 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.4/10 | $65,591 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.4/10 | $63,192 | Read review → |
| 2016 (this review) | 7.2/10 | $60,792 | |
| 2015 | 7.2/10 | $58,392 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 07/01/2019 · 19V002000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2014-2016 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating… |
|---|---|
| Steering / Electric power assist system 29/03/2018 · 18V204000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete… |
| Parking brake 19/04/2017 · 17V260000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release. |
| Electrical system / Adas / Autonomous/self driving / Software 27/01/2022 · 22V037000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through… |
| Back over prevention / Software 29/01/2021 · 21V035000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the… |
Showing 5 of 10 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
We rate the 2016 Tesla Model S's reliability 5.5/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
10 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.2/10 overall, ranking #218 of 268 evs in our database (better than 19% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2016 Tesla Model S starts at $60,792 and ranges up to $71,404 across trims (MSRP when new). At 120 MPG, expect roughly $438/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Tesla models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.