2008 Tesla Roadster Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Roadster years
- Not enough data 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2008 Tesla Roadster. That is the most of any Roadster model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is traction control system (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 1,800 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 1owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Tesla Roadster problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traction Control System | 1 | 100% | 1,800 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 100% | 1,800 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2008 Tesla Roadster recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Wheels:hub
Problem: Tesla motors, inc. Is recalling 345 my 2008 tesla roadster vehicles manufactured between march 2008 and april 22, 2009. The rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles may be under-torqued and may become loose. A loose hub could lead to degradation in vehicle handling, and a rubbing noise from the rear of the vehicle.
Risk: If the problem is not addressed promptly, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could lead to a crash.
Fix: Tesla will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 28, 2009. Owners may contact tesla toll-free at 1-877-888-3752.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle is prone to 'sudden acceleration' problems where the driver loses control of the vehicle when the traction control system engages and forces the regenerative engine breaking system to disengage. The tesla roadster uses very aggressive engine regenerative breaking so, when it is…
Other Tesla Roadster years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Roadster | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 Roadster | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 Roadster | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 1 |
See all Tesla Roadster problems by year, every Tesla model, or the Tesla VIN decoder.
Similar Tesla models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Tesla Roadster?
Owners most often report traction control system, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, traction control system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Tesla Roadster?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Tesla Roadster a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Roadster model years, the 2008 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.