The Tesla Roadster is a vehicle built from 2008 to 2012. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Roadster is
The Tesla Roadster is a vehicle that Tesla built from 2008 to 2012 — 5 model years. Its closest siblings in the Tesla range: Model Y, Cybertruck, Model 3.
Tesla Roadster tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Roadster owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Tesla Roadster have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The Roadster by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Tesla Roadster. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Roadster | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 2 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Tesla Roadster?
The Roadster is a vehicle, built from 2008 to 2012.
What is the Tesla Roadster warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 8 years / 100,000–150,000 miles (battery & drive unit) on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Roadster reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Roadster?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Tesla
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 2020–2026 | 100 | 138 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 2024–2026 | 16 | 82 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 2017–2026 | 142 | 142 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Tesla Model X | 2016–2026 | 124 | 105 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Tesla Model S | 2012–2026 | 164 | 124 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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