Tesla vehicles have been gaining popularity in recent years. But are they safe? Tesla is known for their advanced safety features, but there are still many questions surrounding the safety of these cars. Let’s take a look at the facts and see if Tesla vehicles really measure up to their reputation.

Tesla’s Autopilot Feature
One of the most talked-about safety features in Teslas is their Autopilot feature. This feature allows drivers to let the car do some of the driving for them. It can steer, accelerate, and brake automatically under certain conditions, such as highway driving or parking. The Autopilot system also has sensors that detect obstacles on the road and can even come to a complete stop if necessary. While this feature has been praised by some drivers for making driving safer, it has also been criticized for giving drivers a false sense of security and putting them in potentially dangerous situations.

Crash Test Results
Tesla vehicles have generally performed well in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fact, several models have received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, indicating that they offer superior protection compared to other cars on the market. The NHTSA also noted that Tesla models are equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which can help prevent crashes before they happen by warning drivers when they’re not paying attention or when they’re driving too fast or aggressively.

Safety Recalls
Despite their impressive crash test results and advanced ADAS systems, Tesla vehicles have had several recalls due to safety issues over the years. These recalls range from faulty brakes to potential fire hazards—all of which could put drivers at risk if left unchecked. However, it’s important to note that most recall issues are resolved quickly once reported and don’t pose a serious threat to drivers’ safety.  Additionally, Teslas come with an eight-year battery warranty that covers any potential fire hazards related to its batteries during that time period.

Tesla’s Safety Score

Tesla debuted its Safety Score in 2021 and used it as a way to incentivize safe driving. Your Safety Score is an assessment of driving behaviors that can affect your insurance rates. The Safety Score is an estimate of various factors that can determine the likelihood of an accident. An aggregated Safety Score helps drivers learn how they can also be safer on the roads, and they are graded from 0 to 100.

Tesla released the third version of the Safety Score on March 24, 2023. Called Safety Score 2.0, it is designed with new factors that will make your driving score more accurate, making insurance rates more aligned with driving behaviors.

Tesla said the new update features two new Safety Factors and updates how driving behaviors are measured. Key changes are listed below:

• Added Excessive Speeding as a new Safety Factor. More time spent driving over 85 mph will lead to a lower Safety Score.
• Added Unbuckled Driving as a new Safety Factor. Time spent driving over 10 mph without buckling the driver’s seatbelt will lead to a lower Safety Score.
• Updated Late Night Driving to be risk weighted based on when you are driving from 10 PM – 4 AM. The impact of late-night driving on your Safety Score will depend on the proportion of time spent driving in each hour from 10 PM – 4 AM. The impact on your Safety Score is now reduced earlier in the night and increased later in the night.
• Updated Hard Braking Safety Factor to exclude braking events that occur when the vehicle detects a yellow traffic light.

The previous release of Safety Score featured visualizations of how specific events during a trip impacted your grade. Late Night Driving was also added as a safety factor, but the new 2.0 update shows there were additional improvements made in an attempt to refine it further. There were also changes made to Autopilot disengagements, hard braking, and Forward Collision Warnings and how they affect the Safety Score.

Weigh the Pros & Cons

When considering whether or not a Tesla vehicle is safe enough for you, it’s important to weigh both its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to safety features and performance in crash tests. While Teslas may have some issues with recalls from time to time, overall they offer superior protection compared to other cars on the market today thanks to their advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and other innovative features like Autopilot mode. Ultimately, it’s up to you as a consumer—and potential used car buyer—to decide whether or not a Tesla vehicle is right for you based on your own research into its various safety features and performance records.

No matter what make and model, at Car Credit, all cars on the lot are checked for safe operating features. You can drive your car home with confidence that you and your loved ones will enjoy safe, reliable transportation.