Original Tesla Model S 2012–2016

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Sought after: Free unlimited Supercharging All years

Cars of this era came with free Supercharging for life. It can pass to a new owner, but Tesla has taken it away from some cars when they were traded in, and it is hard to verify. Confirm it before paying for it.^1,2
Avoid: No Autopilot hardware Built before September 2014 Less sought after One source so far

InsideEVs says cars from 2012 and 2013 cannot have Autopilot, which arrived in 2014.¹
Avoid: Slow first touchscreen computer All years Less sought after One source so far

In one Tesla Motors Club thread from 2021, two owners call the original touchscreen computer too slow, and four posters suggest Tesla's paid upgrade to the newer one. One other owner says the original is fine for basic use.²

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.