The most-reported Roadster run is 5YJRE11B381 (2008 builds) with 1 complaints, 1× the typical run. Vehicle speed control problems make up 33% of reports; NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for Roadster model years 2008–2008.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Tesla Roadster has 2 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 100% of every Roadster complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5YJRE11B381•••••• | 2008 | — | — | |
| 5YJRE1A19A1•••••• | 2011 | — | — |
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 33% of everything Tesla Roadster owners report: Vehicle Speed Control, 1 of 2 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | — | — | |
| Suspension | — | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 1 recall campaign on the Tesla Roadster; the 1 below cover build years 2008 to 2008. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 09V178000 | Wheels:hub | 2008 |
09V178000 was opened in 2009 on cars built from 2008: 1 year on the road before the recall.
How serious were they
| Outcome | Tesla Roadster | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 2 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 0 (0%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 0 (0%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 100% below the all-vehicle rate.
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Tesla Roadster share of that is 2 complaints over 2 runs, 0% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Tesla Roadster VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 2 NHTSA complaints from 2 Roadster runs and 1 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Roadster production run has the most complaints?
5YJRE11B381, a 2008 build, with 1 complaints. The typical Roadster run has 1.
How many Roadster complaints involve a crash?
0% of 2 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 0 involved a fire.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.