The best Tesla Model Y is the 2025 Long Range (Juniper): NHTSA lists 106 complaints and 3 recall campaigns, the cleanest record of any year, though KBB shows only a new-car price of $43,100. For a used price the best buy is the 2024 Long Range at $36,700 with 328 complaints and 5 recalls, and the 2020 starts at $27,100. The 2023 ranks last with 1,186 complaints. The Model Y has seven US model years, so this list ranks year and version, not ten separate years. NHTSA lists an over-the-air software update as the remedy for most Tesla recalls.
Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $34,200 for the Performance (originally $56,130)
Buyers who want the quickest used 2023 at $34,200
Pick by what you want
Best overall
2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range (Juniper)
Best used buy
2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range
Cheapest 2024
2024 Tesla Model Y Standard
Cheapest low-complaint year
2020 Tesla Model Y Long Range
The ranking
1
2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range (Juniper)
Photo: Damian B Oh / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe fewest confirmed complaints and recalls, but no used price.
Price: Kelley Blue Book new-car Fair Purchase Price $43,100 for the Long Range (MSRP $46,880); KBB lists new-car pricing for 2025, not a used priceNHTSA recalls: 3 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model Y, 2 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 106 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 277-337 miles of range across the 2025 line and a 12 hour charge on a 240V charger; the all-wheel-drive car does 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds (KBB)
The 2025 Long Range is the first Juniper year: NHTSA lists 106 complaints and 3 recall campaigns, 2 of them with an over-the-air update. KBB lists new-car pricing, not a used price: $43,100 for the Long Range against an MSRP of $46,880, with a 4.8 second 0-60 mph time on the all-wheel-drive car. A short record can reflect fewer cars on the road.
Go ifBuyers who want the Juniper refresh with the lowest complaint count on the list, 106
Skip ifYou want a published used price; KBB shows only new-car pricing
Why #1 over #2: It lists 106 complaints versus 328 for the 2024, and 3 recalls versus 5.
2
2025 Tesla Model Y Performance (Juniper)
Photo: Alexander Migl / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictSame clean record, at a higher price.
Price: Kelley Blue Book new-car Fair Purchase Price $49,100 for the Performance (MSRP $53,380); KBB lists new-car pricing for 2025, not a used priceNHTSA recalls: 3 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model Y, 2 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 106 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 277-337 miles of range across the 2025 line and 0-60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds across the Model Y range (KBB)
The 2025 Performance shares the 2025 record of 106 complaints and 3 recall campaigns. KBB lists a new-car price of $49,100 against an MSRP of $53,380, and no used price. It is the quickest Model Y on this list, though KBB gives 0-60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds across the range, not for this trim alone.
Go ifBuyers who want the fastest Juniper with the same 106 complaints and 3 recalls
Skip ifYou want a used price or to spend under $49,100
Why #2 over #3: It lists 106 complaints versus 328 for the 2024 Long Range, and 3 recalls versus 5.
3
2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range
Photo: BuickRiviera99 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe best used buy with a published KBB price.
Price: Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $36,700 for the Long Range (originally $49,630)NHTSA recalls: 5 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2024 Tesla Model Y, 4 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 328 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2024 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: Up to 310 miles of range and 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds (KBB)
The 2024 Long Range is the best used buy with a published price: $36,700 against $49,630 originally. NHTSA lists 328 complaints and 5 recall campaigns, 4 with over-the-air updates, and KBB gives up to 310 miles of range and 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Go ifBuyers who want the best-documented pre-Juniper year at $36,700
Skip ifYou want the Juniper face or a price under $36,000
Why #3 over #4: It lists 5 recalls versus 24 for the 2020, though the 2020 has fewer complaints, 282 versus 328.
4
2024 Tesla Model Y Standard
Photo: LuvsMG481 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe cheapest 2024, with the shortest range.
Price: Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $33,700 for the Standard single-motor (originally $44,630)NHTSA recalls: 5 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2024 Tesla Model Y, 4 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 328 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2024 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 260 miles of range for the base model and a 6.6 second 0-60 mph time for the single-motor car (KBB)
The 2024 Standard is the cheapest 2024 at $33,700 against $44,630 originally, with the same 328 complaints and 5 recall campaigns as the Long Range. KBB gives 260 miles of range for the base model and 6.6 seconds to 60 mph for the single-motor car.
Go ifBuyers who want the cheapest 2024 from $33,700
Skip ifYou want all-wheel drive or more than 260 miles of range
Why #4 over #5: It lists 5 recalls versus 24 for the 2020, and costs $33,700 versus $36,700 for the 2024 Long Range.
5
2020 Tesla Model Y Long Range
Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe cheapest of the low-complaint years.
Price: Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $27,100 for the Long Range (originally $54,190)NHTSA recalls: 24 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2020 Tesla Model Y, 17 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 282 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 316 miles of range, 121 combined MPGe and 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds (KBB)
The 2020 Long Range is the first Model Y year, at $27,100 against $54,190 originally. NHTSA lists 282 complaints, fewer than any year but the 2025, with 24 recall campaigns, 17 of them with over-the-air updates. KBB gives 316 miles of range and 121 combined MPGe.
Go ifBuyers who want the first Model Y year at $27,100, with fewer complaints than 2021 to 2023
Skip ifYou want fewer than 24 recall campaigns
Why #5 over #6: It lists 282 complaints versus 874 for the 2022, and 24 recalls versus 20.
6
2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range (Juniper)
Photo: HJUdall / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe newest year, with a record that is too thin to trust.
Price: Kelley Blue Book new-car Fair Purchase Price $46,200 for the Long Range (MSRP $46,630); KBB lists new-car pricing for 2026, not a used priceNHTSA recalls: 8 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2026 Tesla Model Y; the over-the-air count could not be confirmedNHTSA complaints: Only 1 complaint is listed by NHTSA for the 2026 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers), too few to rank on, so the 2026 complaint record could not be fully confirmedOwner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 294-327 miles of range across the 2026 line and 8-12.2 hours on a 240V charger (KBB)
The 2026 Long Range is the newest Model Y, a carry-over of the 2025 Juniper. KBB lists a new-car price of $46,200 against an MSRP of $46,630. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns but only 1 complaint, too few to rank on, so we rank it on recalls and do not call it the cleanest year. Its over-the-air count could not be confirmed.
Go ifBuyers who want the newest Model Y, a carry-over of the 2025 Juniper
Skip ifYou want a ranking backed by a full complaint record
Why #6 over #7: It lists 8 recalls versus 20 for the 2022, but its complaint record could not be fully confirmed.
7
2022 Tesla Model Y Long Range
Photo: Calreyn88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe longest range of the early years.
Price: Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $29,900 for the Long Range (originally $64,190)NHTSA recalls: 20 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2022 Tesla Model Y, 16 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 874 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2022 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 330 miles of range and 125 combined MPGe (KBB)
The 2022 Long Range costs $29,900 against $64,190 originally and has 330 miles of range with 125 combined MPGe. NHTSA lists 874 complaints and 20 recall campaigns, 16 with over-the-air updates.
Go ifBuyers who want 330 miles of range from $29,900
Skip ifYou want fewer than 874 complaints
Why #7 over #8: It lists 874 complaints versus 1,091 for the 2021, and 20 recalls versus 23.
8
2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range
Photo: HJUdall / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA lower price, with more complaints and recalls.
Price: Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $28,100 for the Long Range (originally $51,190); the 2021 Standard Range is $25,700NHTSA recalls: 23 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2021 Tesla Model Y, 16 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 1091 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 326 miles of range and 125 combined MPGe (KBB)
The 2021 Long Range costs $28,100 against $51,190 originally, and the Standard Range is $25,700. NHTSA lists 1,091 complaints and 23 recall campaigns, 16 with over-the-air updates, and KBB gives 326 miles of range.
Go ifBuyers who want a lower price, with the Standard Range from $25,700
Skip ifYou want fewer than 1,091 complaints
Why #8 over #9: It lists 1,091 complaints versus 1,186 for the 2023, and starts at $25,700 versus $32,900.
9
2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range
Photo: HJUdall / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe most complaints of any year.
Price: Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $32,900 for the Long Range (originally $52,130)NHTSA recalls: 17 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, 11 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 1186 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 330 miles of range and 127 MPGe city, 117 highway (KBB)
The 2023 Long Range costs $32,900 against $52,130 originally, with 330 miles of range. NHTSA lists 1,186 complaints, the most on the list, and 17 recall campaigns, 11 with over-the-air updates.
Go ifBuyers who want the last pre-refresh Long Range at $32,900
Skip ifYou want fewer than 1,186 complaints
Why #9 over #10: It costs $32,900 versus $34,200 for the 2023 Performance, with the same 1,186 complaints.
10
2023 Tesla Model Y Performance
Photo: Ethan Llamas / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFast, but it shares the 2023 complaint record.
Price: Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $34,200 for the Performance (originally $56,130)NHTSA recalls: 17 recall campaigns listed by NHTSA for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, 11 of them with an over-the-air software update in the remedy textNHTSA complaints: 1186 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Tesla Model Y (unique ODI numbers)Owner reliability: KBB owners rate the first-generation Model Y 4.3 out of 5 for reliability; KBB gives one rating for every yearRange and economy: 303 miles of range and 115 MPGe city, 106 highway (KBB)
The 2023 Performance costs $34,200 against $56,130 originally, with 303 miles of range. It shares the 2023 record of 1,186 complaints, the most on the list, and 17 recall campaigns.
Go ifBuyers who want the quickest used 2023 at $34,200
Skip ifYou want to avoid the year with 1,186 complaints
How we ranked these
The Model Y has only seven US model years, 2020 to 2026, so we ranked year and version rather than ten separate years. NHTSA files complaints and recalls by model year, so versions of the same year share one record; we put the cheaper or longer-range version first and separate them with KBB prices and range. NHTSA complaint counts come first, then recall campaigns, with Kelley Blue Book prices and owner reliability alongside. Counts were read from the NHTSA API and prices from KBB when we checked, and prices change weekly. NHTSA files the Model Y under several names (MODEL Y, MODEL Y 5-SEAT, MODEL Y 7-SEAT, MODEL Y (ALL VARIANTS) and MODEL Y BEV), so complaint counts are unique ODI numbers under the name that returned them and may undercount a year, and recall counts are unique campaign numbers. The 2026 complaint record could not be fully confirmed, so we do not rank it first on it. KBB shows new-car prices only for 2025 and 2026. KBB gives one reliability rating of 4.3 out of 5 for the whole first generation. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and mileage matters as much as year. See our Best Tesla Model 3 Model Years at /cars/best-tesla-model-3-model-years-2027/, our Best Tesla Models at /cars/best-tesla-models-2027/ and our Best Affordable EVs at /cars/best-affordable-evs-2027/. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best Tesla Model Y year to buy?
On NHTSA data the 2025 Juniper leads with 106 complaints and 3 recall campaigns, but KBB shows only a new-car price of $43,100 for the Long Range. For a used price, the 2024 Long Range is $36,700 with 328 complaints and 5 recalls, and the 2020 is $27,100.
Which Model Y years are the cleanest on NHTSA data?
The 2025 has 106 complaints and 3 recall campaigns, and the 2024 has 328 complaints and 5. The 2023 has the most complaints, 1,186, followed by the 2021 with 1,091 and the 2022 with 874.
Why is the list built from years and versions?
The Model Y has only seven US model years, 2020 to 2026, so a ten-year list is not possible. Complaints and recalls are filed by year, so versions of the same year share one record, and we separate them by KBB price and range.
Do Tesla recalls require a trip to the shop?
Often not. NHTSA remedy text lists an over-the-air software update for 17 of the 24 recall campaigns on the 2020 Model Y and 4 of the 5 on the 2024, though some recalls need a service visit.
KBB Fair Purchase Price on the cited page (USD; 2025 and 2026 are new-car prices, not used) at a glance
2020 Tesla Model Y Long Range$27,100
2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range$28,100
2022 Tesla Model Y Long Range$29,900
2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range$32,900
2024 Tesla Model Y Standard$33,700
2023 Tesla Model Y Performance$34,200
2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range$36,700
2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range (Juniper)$43,100
2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range (Juniper)$46,200
2025 Tesla Model Y Performance (Juniper)$49,100
KBB Fair Purchase Price on the cited page (USD; 2025 and 2026 are new-car prices, not used), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
