Vehicle report

2012 Tesla Model S

Fair price, market signal, reviews, and common issues — all in one place. Tuned to ZIP 43215 (from your location).

Fair price range

$4,400

$3,800 — $4,950

low confidence

Est. out-the-door

$5,369

$4,726 — $5,959

in Ohio (7.25% tax + fees)

What's shaping this price

  • Age (14 yrs)−$24,015

    13%/yr for midsize

  • Mileage (40,000)+$408

    128,000 under expected

Local market signal · 432xx

Avg days on market

35

from 12 comparable listings

30-day price trend

↓ 5.6%

cooling

Prices for this trim in 432xx are trending down — a buyer's edge right now.

Price over its life

2012 → 2026
$11k$17.7k$24.3k$30.9k$4.4k201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

Anchored on today's Marketcheck typical price, traced back through segment depreciation to estimate what it cost new.

Next 5 years (forecast)

2026 → 2031
$2.5k$3.1k$3.8k$4.4k$1.9k202620272028202920302031

Projected from today's typical price using the segment's annual depreciation rate, with a small penalty for accumulated mileage. Rough forecast — actual resale value swings with the used-car market.

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Affordability72-month loan · Ohio · 1,000 mi/mo

Potential monthly cost of ownership

Loan + insurance + gas — the three big monthly line items.

Estimated monthly total

Loan + insurance + gas

$215/mo

  • Auto loan

    72 months · 10% down · 7.5% APR (national avg)

    $68/mo

  • Insurance

    Full coverage · Ohio average for midsize cars

    $90/mo

  • Gas

    89 mpg combined · $5.04/gal · 1,000 mi/mo

    $57/mo

Estimated payments — actual rates depend on credit, coverage, and driving.

Long-term ownership costsDepreciation + maintenance over 5 years, assuming 12,000 mi/yr

$6,707over 5 yrs

~$1,341/yr

  • Depreciation

    $2,207

    Segment: midsize

  • Maintenance

    $4,500

    segment ballpark

Depreciation projected from segment averages against today’s typical price; maintenance is an AAA-derived segment ballpark. Loan, insurance, and gas are covered in the Affordability section above.

Safety ratingsOfficial NHTSA crash-test scores + owner complaint volume20 NHTSA complaints

No NHTSA crash-test ratings on record for this year / model.

Safety recallsOfficial NHTSA campaigns for this year / make / model8 total
  • PARKING BRAKE

    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.

    17V260000 ·

  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2012 Model S vehicles. These vehicles are 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 deployment of the frontal air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    17V023000 · Oct 1, 2017

  • STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

    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 loss of power steering assist.

    18V204000 ·

  • SEAT BELTS:FRONT

    Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner.

    15V780000 ·

  • BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

    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 center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.

    21V035000 ·

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE

    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

    23V838000 · Dec 12, 2023

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    24V051000 ·

  • SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES

    Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    24V376000 ·

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Ownership economics

Real market data

  • 5-year total cost of ownership — depreciation + fuel + insurance + maintenance, itemized
  • EPA fuel economy — real MPG + annual fuel cost for this trim
  • Safety ratings + recalls — official NHTSA scores and every open campaign

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