One of the prevailing selling points Tesla die-hards tout for their vehicles are minimized maintenance costs. After all, EVs tend to break down around half as much as cars with internal combustion engines. Which makes sense, given the fact that there are fewer moving parts in an electric motor than their ICE counterparts.

However, are they as maintenance-free as some claim they are? A Tesla Model Y owner gave an honest breakdown of the expenditures they had to shell out over a 5-year plan. They posted their assessments on TikTok and whether or not they regret purchasing one. The first recurring cost is one that would be associated with any type of car. He says that he regularly spends $11 every six months to top off his vehicle’s windshield washer fluid reserves.

Teslas: Low Maintenance?

Next, he mentions that he performs his own Amazon cabin filter changes. Since he’s performing this procedure himself, it costs around $21 every year. However, it’s worth noting that these swaps are a bit more involved in Teslas compared to other vehicles. Typically, replacing a cabin air filter involves cracking open the glovebox. From there, drivers remove the glovebox cubby and pop off a plastic strip in the car’s dash. Following this, they can access the old filter and put in their new unit, reverse the process, and be on their way.

But in watching Tesla’s own How-To video, cabin air filters require more disassembling, unscrewing, and contorting to complete the change. Although, as the TikToker says, this was completed annually. Which means drivers shouldn’t be removing/snapping panels back in on the regular. According to him, these are the only maintenance expenditures he pays for regularly.

He even went on to give a helpful tip for those looking to get out of paying for their own tire rotations. The Model Y owner says he gets these done at America’s Tires for free. But afterwards, he began to list some other issues that occurred with his vehicle. After stating that his brakes started squeaking, he referenced servicing his own brakes by accessing Tesla’s “secret service menu.” If you’re wondering how to do that, there are online references like a YouTube video that outlines the process.

Other Tesla Model Y Issues

Furthermore, he mentioned that replacing the Tesla’s 12-volt battery unit cost him $143. Depending on the type of Tesla you have, this replacement could be more time consuming than on an ICE vehicle. One YouTuber shows that the front passenger seat on a Model 3 requires disassembly. So just popping up the hood and sliding in a new battery won’t do the trick.

The Model Y owner didn’t replace the battery himself, however. He cited the ease in having this swap performed by Tesla’s mobile service team. A van showed up at his car and changed out the battery, and the TikTok user seemed happy with how the procedure played out. Furthermore, he added that even with this labor, it ended up costing the same as if he were to purchase the battery and perform it himself.

Additionally, he opined on the frustrations he endured after road debris cracked one of his headlights. This also necessitated a Tesla service charge. The cost he was quoted to upgrade to the LED projector headlamps culminated in a $1,516 bill. He says this could be considered a “silver lining” due to the upgrade.

Another problem he endured was with his Model Y’s panoramic glass roof. This fixture is considered one of the more iconic and luxurious aspect of Tesla vehicles. However, his video indicates that they aren’t rock-proof. While camping, a jagged stone hit the top of his car, which ended up being an “expensive” fix, he says. During his video, he flashes an image of the bill, which came out to a $1,844.26 total.

“No Oil Changes”

Following this, he does state how happy he was to not have to worry about changing the oil on his Model Y. That’s because there’s no oil to change, or any other fluid swaps for that matter. This includes expenditures for fueling up his vehicle.

The Model Y owner says that because he doesn’t drive that often he hasn’t needed to supercharge his Tesla too much. Moreover, he has a Level 2 home charger installed in his home. This allows him to juice up his ride at a massive discount. To further demonstrate how much he’s spent to power his commutes, he brought up a screenshot of his Tesla’s energy usage.

According to the analytics presented to viewers, the Tesla Model Y owner has only spent $236 between September 2024 and August 2025 in charging. Also, the Tesla application projects that he spent over $1,000 in gas expenditures he would’ve otherwise spent in that timeframe.

As for insurance costs, he says that through State Farm, his six-month premium amounts to a little over $1,400.

Mileage Degradation

Another sticking point he did mention is that the overall mileage capacity of his Model Y did seem to dwindle over time. While making the same road trip over the course of five years, he says he needs to stop and supercharge twice in more recent excursions. Previously, he only needed to stop to supercharge once during this ride.

Further testing via the car’s secret service menu he referenced indicated that the Model Y’s battery pack is at 87% retention. “I just hope that it doesn’t get worse and the miles stay around that 273 mark,” he indicates in his video.

Ultimately, despite the annoyances he endured, the TikToker seems to not regret buying his EV. In another video broaching the same subject, he remarks how impressed he is with the brand’s software updates. In the end, he relays that the car still feels new thanks to these updates. However, he does want to see how the vehicle will perform once it hits the 100,000 mile mark.

MotorBiscuit reached out to @user9334491296829 via TikTok comment.