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Lincoln vs Tesla Reliability

Tesla leads on our inspections: 73/100 average condition vs 61/100 for Lincoln, from 116 real pre-purchase inspections. The average car we check scores 61/100.

vs
Head to head
LincolnTesla
Cars inspected3680
Average condition61/10073/100
In good shape (60+/100)56%81%
Repainted or replaced panel78%65%
Structural repair found3%3%

Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.

How they score
Excellent 28% Good 28% Mediocre 22% Poor 22%
Excellent 38% Good 43% Mediocre 19% Poor 1%
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Lincoln▬ Tesla▬ all cars
0 25 50 75 100 Lincoln, 40–60k mi: 73%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Lincoln, 60–80k mi: 75%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Lincoln, 100–120k mi: 45%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Lincoln, 120–140k mi: 34%, drawn from the nearby bands (7 cars in this band) Tesla, 0–20k mi: 89%, drawn from the nearby bands (16 cars in this band)Tesla, 20–40k mi: 73% in good shape (22 cars)Tesla, 40–60k mi: 76%, drawn from the nearby bands (12 cars in this band)Tesla, 60–80k mi: 74%, drawn from the nearby bands (10 cars in this band)Tesla, 80–100k mi: 70%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Tesla, 100–120k mi: 65%, drawn from the nearby bands (6 cars in this band)Tesla, 120–140k mi: 55%, drawn from the nearby bands (6 cars in this band) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it
Good cars by age
▬ Lincoln▬ Tesla▬ all cars
0 25 50 75 100 Tesla, 1 years old: 84%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars this age)Tesla, 2 years old: 87%, drawn from the nearby bands (16 cars this age)Tesla, 3 years old: 81% in good shape (21 cars)Tesla, 4 years old: 76%, drawn from the nearby bands (7 cars this age)Tesla, 5 years old: 74%, drawn from the nearby bands (7 cars this age)Tesla, 6 years old: 68%, drawn from the nearby bands (9 cars this age)Tesla, 7 years old: 63%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars this age) 2y 4y 6y 8y 10y 12y 14y 16y vehicle age when we inspected it

Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; a band under 20 cars follows the nearby bands, so a run above the all-cars line stays above it, and a band of 20 or more uses the rate we measured; where a band has too few cars, the line follows the trend between the bands on either side; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.

Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
64%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
33%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
33%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
28%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
22%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
35%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
18%
Vibration · Drivetrain
10%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
9%
Steering pull · Suspension
8%
FAQ
?
Which is more reliable, Lincoln or Tesla?
Tesla leads on our inspections: 73/100 average condition vs 61/100 for Lincoln, from 116 real pre-purchase inspections.
?
What are the most common problems with used Lincolns and Teslas?
On Lincolns we flag oil leaks (64%), fuel trim out of range (33%), active error codes (33%). On Teslas: tires condition & wear (35%), active error codes (18%), vibration (10%).
?
How many Lincoln and Tesla vehicles have you inspected?
36 Lincolns and 80 Teslas — 116 real pre-purchase inspections. Updated Oct 27, 2026.
?
Should I still get a pre-purchase inspection?
Yes. Badge averages don't sort the good car from the tired one. We still find repainted panels on 78% of Lincolns and 65% of Teslas.
Buying a used Lincoln or Tesla? Get a pre-purchase inspection before you pay.
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Based on 116 inspections · updated Oct 27, 2026