2008 Tesla Roadster problems
The Tesla Roadster is a battery electric sports car, based on the Lotus Elise chassis, produced by Tesla Motors (now Tesla, Inc.) from 2008 to 2012. The Roadster was the first highway legal, serial production, all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells, and the first production all-electric car to travel more than 244 miles (393 km) per charge. It is also the first production car to be launched into deep space, carried by a Falcon Heavy rocket in a test flight on February 6, 2018.
Tesla sold about 2,450 Roadsters in over 30 countries, and most of the last Roadsters were sold in Europe and Asia during the fourth quarter of 2012. Tesla produced right-hand-drive Roadsters from early 2010. The Roadster qualified for government incentives in several nations.
According to the U.S. EPA, the Roadster can travel 244 miles (393 km) on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery pack. The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 3.7 or 3.9 seconds depending on the model. It has a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h). The Roadster's efficiency, as of September 2008, was reported as 120 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (28 kW⋅h/100 mi) (2.0 L/100 km). It uses 21.7 kWh/100 mi (135 Wh/km) battery-to-wheel, and has an efficiency of 88% on average.
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Common 2008 Tesla Roadster problems
The Tesla Roadster, first produced in 2008, was a pioneering vehicle in the electric sports car market. However, it was not without its share of problems, many of which were related to its status as a first-generation electric vehicle. Some of the most common issues reported by owners include:
- Suspension and Braking Systems: The Tesla Roadster's suspension and braking systems were also problematic. The entire suspension and braking systems had to be redesigned for the Tesla, which was a significant engineering challenge. This redesign led to issues with the car's handling and braking performance, which were reported by some owners.
- Crash Testing and Safety Issues: The Tesla Roadster's crash test results could not be applied to the modified design, necessitating expensive crash testing.
- Limited Range and Charging Infrastructure: The Tesla Roadster had a limited range, which was a significant challenge for many owners. The car could only travel around 245 miles on a single charge, which was significantly less than the range of many gasoline-powered sports cars. Additionally, the charging infrastructure was limited, which made it difficult for owners to recharge their cars when they were away from home.
- High Maintenance Costs: The Tesla Roadster was a high-performance electric vehicle, which meant that it required more maintenance than many other cars. The car's complex electrical systems and high-performance components required specialized maintenance and repair, which could be quite expensive for many owners.
In summary, the Tesla Roadster was a groundbreaking vehicle, but it was not without its share of problems. Many of these issues were related to the car's status as a first-generation electric vehicle, and they have been largely addressed in subsequent models. However, for early adopters of the Tesla Roadster, these issues could be quite challenging and expensive to address.
What was the problem with the Tesla Roadster?
Early Tesla Roadster owners reported battery failures, a demon-possessed tire pressure monitor system, water intrusion in the headlamps and a lot of road noise. Despite being the first highway legal lithium-ion battery-powered production car, the original Tesla itself felt pretty crude for the huge price tag.
Was the 2008 Tesla Roadster successful?
But it was successful for Tesla because it achieved its main objectives. The Roadster changed people's perception of what electric cars can be, and it helped launch or accelerate several more electric vehicle programs.
How many 2008 Tesla Roadsters are left?
The Roadster was Tesla's first car. And with only 2,450 made and an estimated 1,500 left, it's an endangered species.
Why did they stop making Tesla Roadster?
There are a number of reasons Tesla stopped making the Roadster. First, from the start, the Roadster was designed as a proof of concept. Second, Lotus produced the Roadsters for Tesla. Third, Tesla wants to focus on their core products and future.
2008 Tesla Roadster car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Tesla Roadster problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Traction control system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2008 Tesla Roadster vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2008 Tesla Roadster complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2008 Tesla Roadster.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2009-07-15
- VIN: 5YJRE11B381
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
- Summary: 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 DISENGAGED, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY AND FASTER THAN THE DRIVER CAN REACT BY ENGAGING THE BREAKS. THIS MOST COMMONLY HAPPENS WHEN I DRIVE DOWN A HILL OR AROUND A CORNER AT 20 MPH USING ENGINE REGENERATIVE BREAKING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THAT ENGAGES THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY DOUBLE SPEED (40 MPH) FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS AS THE ENGINE REGENERATIVE BREAKING ON THIS VEHICLE DISENGAGES... FASTER THAN I CAN COMPENSATE BY BREAKING. IN EFFECT, THE CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LURCHES FORWARD WHEN THE TCS KICKS IN. I PROBABLY SEE THIS BEHAVIOR AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK ON ONE PARTICULAR STRETCH OF NEARLY EMPTY ROAD, BUT HAVE HAD TWO NEAR COLLISIONS RECENTLY, ONE ON THAT STRETCH OF ROAD FOLLOWING A TRUCK AT A DISTANCE AND ONE ON A DIFFERENT STRETCH OF ROAD MAKING A CORNER WHERE THE CAR NEARLY ACCELERATED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. GIVEN HOW FEW OF THESE CARS ARE ON THE ROAD, HOW AGGRESSIVE THE ENGINE REGENERATIVE BREAKING IS, AND HOW LITTLE MOST OTHER OWNERS DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES RELATIVE TO MY DAILY COMMUTES, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL LEAD TO MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED TO TESLA MOTORS, BUT THEY'VE INDICATED THAT THIS IS STANDARD BEHAVIOR FOR ALL VEHICLES USING ENGINE REGENERATIVE BREAKING AND SHOULD BE EXPECTED. I DON'T COMPLETELY BELIEVE THAT -- OR NECESSARILY BELIEVE THAT OTHER CARS ARE AS AGGRESSIVE WITH THEIR REGEN BREAKING AS THE TESLA IS -- BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS CREATIVES A VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION THAT CONCERNS ME AND SHOULD CONCERN ALL OTHER TESLA ROADSTER DRIVERS. *TR
2008 Tesla Roadster recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2008 Tesla Roadster.
- Manufacturer: TESLA MOTORS
- Components: WHEELS:HUB
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED PROMPTLY, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
- Remedy: 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.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2008 Tesla Roadster problems:
Roadster PEM failure | Tesla Motors Club
Mar 25, 2017 ... The most common problem we are seeing with Tesla Roadster Power Electronics Modules (PEM) noted in a Tech Tip we generated and reported a ...
Elon Musk Admits Tesla Roadster Was a Disaster - All of the ...
Jun 1, 2016 ... The Tesla Motors CEO recounted all the ways that the company's first car was a complete failure. By Bob Sorokanich Published: Jun 01, 2016 11:18 ...
Roadster | Tesla
An all-electric vehicle, the Tesla Roadster is the quickest car in the world, with record-setting acceleration, range and performance. Reserve yours today.
How many % of range did the first 2008 Tesla Roadster batteries ...
Mar 17, 2017 ... The first Tesla was the 2008 Roadster. Are there any reports how much the batteries have degraded during the last 9 years? How many miles could ...
Tesla vs. Top Gear | Tesla
Mar 29, 2011 ... ... Roadster's performance, behaviour and reliability. Tesla reluctantly took legal action after its repeated attempts to contact the BBC, over ...
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