2013 Tesla MODEL S

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Tesla MODEL S has 674 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 8.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: i took delivery of my model s on monday, july 1, 2013. i took the car for a fast drive and i smelled something burning. it was coming through the vents. the smell made me dizzy along with my family members to a point where we had to stop and get out of the car for air and walk it off. why hasn't the. ⚠️ 26 fire reports filed.

26 fire reports 43 crash reports 35 injuries

674

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

8.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

194 complaints

29%

• I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY MODEL S ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A FAST DRIVE AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. IT WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE SMELL MADE ME DIZZY ALONG WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS TO A POINT WHERE WE HAD TO STOP AND GET OUT OF THE CAR FOR AIR AND WALK IT OFF. WHY HASN'T THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHARGING CORD BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND THE CONTACT WAS BURNED AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CORD. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CORD HAD ALSO MELTED. THE CHARGING CORD WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE
• ALLEGEDLY A TESLA OWNER HAD A CHARGE PLUG AND ADAPTER OVERHEAT AND MELT, THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FULL BLOWN FIRE. I FIND THIS CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF A RECENT TESLA GARAGE FIRE, THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RULED THE TESLA CHARGING CIRCUIT AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE. MELTED CHARGING ADAPTER/CO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 14 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY MODEL S ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A FAST DRIVE AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. IT WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE SMELL MADE ME DIZZY ALONG WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS TO A POINT WHERE WE HAD TO STOP AND GET OUT OF THE CAR FOR AIR AND WALK IT OFF. WHY HASN'T THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

129 complaints

19%

• AN INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS THAT WHEN HE CHARGES AT A LOWER RATE, THAT IF THE NEW SOFTWARE DETECTS A PROBLEM IT INCREASES THE CHARGE RATE RATHER THAN REDUCING IT. IF IT IS TRUE, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THE UPDATE CAN INCREASE THE CHANCE OF AN OVERLOAD AND FIRE. IT SEEMS IN SOME CASES THAT THE TESLA SAFETY
• DESPITE THE 14V006000 RECALL BEING ISSUED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION, SO THEY HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THE FIRE HAZARDS AND ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ONLINE AFTER THEIR CHARGE CONNECTORS FAILED AFTER THE RECALL. ALLEGEDLY ON JANUARY 9, 20
• BEFORE DEFECTIVE NEMA-1450 COULD BE REPLACED, I HAD A MELT-DOWN OF THE DEVICE WHILE CHARGING THE CAR. THE REASON FOR WRITING: LETTER RECEIVED TODAY (LETTER DATED 6/27/14) FROM TESLA SAYS THEY HAD DEVELOPED A SOFT-WARE UPDATE TO PREVENT THIS (AS WELL AS REPLACING THE PART). MY INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“AN INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS THAT WHEN HE CHARGES AT A LOWER RATE, THAT IF THE NEW SOFTWARE DETECTS A PROBLEM IT INCREASES THE CHARGE RATE RATHER THAN REDUCING IT. IF IT IS TRUE, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THE UPDATE CAN INCREASE THE CHANCE OF AN OVERLOAD AND FIRE. IT SEEMS IN SOME CASES THAT THE TESLA SAFETY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

91 complaints

14%

• WAS REPLACING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND NOTED AN ODD "NOTCH" IN THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION ALUMINUM UPPER CONTROL ARM. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS PARTIALLY SEVERED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF THE LOWER PORTION CROSS SECTION, AND 1/3 TO 1/4 OF THE UPPER PORTION CROSS SECTI
• LEFT REAR SUSPENSION INTEGRAL LINK COMPLETELY BROKE AND THE ATTACHED PIECE LODGED IN THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE RIM CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE TIRE RIM. *TR
• MY FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE FROM THE UPPER CONTROL ARM CAUSING A LOSE OF STEERING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 11 crashes

“WAS REPLACING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND NOTED AN ODD "NOTCH" IN THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION ALUMINUM UPPER CONTROL ARM. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS PARTIALLY SEVERED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF THE LOWER PORTION CROSS SECTION, AND 1/3 TO 1/4 OF THE UPPER PORTION CROSS SECTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

34 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA S 985. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE VARIOUS SHIFTING ISSUES WHEN USING REVERSE. IN ADDITION, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN A
• ON 4/15 2016 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A ONE LANE ROAD AND THE "POWER PLANT" FAILED (PER THE TESLA SERVICE INVOICE) AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER. THE CARE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER IN ROCKLIN CALIFORNIA. THERE TEST RESULTS STATES "CONFIRMED REAR DRIVE UNIT WILL NEED REPLACEME
• I WAS DRIVING MY TESLA MODEL S EARLY IN THE MORNING IN A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING TO FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN INTERSECTION BY GRADUALLY STEP ON THE BRAKE. AT THE VERY BEGINNING, I CAN FEEL THE CAR DECELERATED, SUDDENLY THERE WAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION THAT I FELT. THERE WAS A JERK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA S 985. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE VARIOUS SHIFTING ISSUES WHEN USING REVERSE. IN ADDITION, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

28 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL ABNORMALLY TIGHTENED AS IT EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CRACKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE SHAM AND RACKING PINION NU
• SOME TESLA OWNERS ARE ALLEGING THAT THERE ARE TESLA SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MODIFICATIONS ON TESLA'S THAT ARE BEING KEPT SECRET. IE: SOME TESLA OWNERS ARE REPORTING OCCASIONAL POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. MANY TESLA OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT BRAKE DISCS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS EASI
• MY FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE FROM THE UPPER CONTROL ARM CAUSING A LOSE OF STEERING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL ABNORMALLY TIGHTENED AS IT EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CRACKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE SHAM AND RACKING PINION NU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 674 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY MODEL S ON MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A FAST DRIVE AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. IT WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE SMELL MADE ME DIZZY ALONG WITH MY FAMILY MEMBERS TO A POINT WHERE WE HAD TO STOP AND GET OUT OF THE CAR FOR AIR AND WALK IT OFF. WHY HASN'T THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: AN INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS THAT WHEN HE CHARGES AT A LOWER RATE, THAT IF THE NEW SOFTWARE DETECTS A PROBLEM IT INCREASES THE CHARGE RATE RATHER THAN REDUCING IT. IF IT IS TRUE, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THE UPDATE CAN INCREASE THE CHANCE OF AN OVERLOAD AND FIRE. IT SEEMS IN SOME CASES THAT THE TESLA SAFETY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: WAS REPLACING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND NOTED AN ODD "NOTCH" IN THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION ALUMINUM UPPER CONTROL ARM. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS PARTIALLY SEVERED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF THE LOWER PORTION CROSS SECTION, AND 1/3 TO 1/4 OF THE UPPER PORTION CROSS SECTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA S 985. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE VARIOUS SHIFTING ISSUES WHEN USING REVERSE. IN ADDITION, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)