2013 Tesla MODEL S problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
459 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 291 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 190 of 459 complaints (41.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 73 | 15.9% |
| Braking behavior | 45 | 9.8% |
| Steering behavior | 41 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 1.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 190 |
| Unknown Or Other | 122 |
| Suspension | 91 |
| Power Train | 33 |
| Steering | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 25 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 24 |
| Engine | 21 |
Electrical System: 190; Unknown Or Other: 122; Suspension: 91; Power Train: 33; Steering: 29; Vehicle Speed Control: 25; Fuel/Propulsion System: 24; Engine: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 50 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 51 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 57 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 55 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 67 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 50; 25,000 to 49,999: 51; 50,000 to 74,999: 57; 75,000 to 99,999: 55; 100,000 to 149,999: 67; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (67). 168 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 33 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2020 | 158 |
| 2021 | 56 |
| 2022 | 48 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 9 |
2013: 12; 2014: 16; 2015: 7; 2016: 33; 2017: 32; 2018: 16; 2019: 31; 2020: 158; 2021: 56; 2022: 48; 2023: 23; 2024: 7; 2025: 11; 2026: 9
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 73 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10557627 · 2013-12-29 (December 29, 2013)
ALLEGEDLY: A TESLA OWNER AWOKE TO THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL. SHE CALLED 911. A FIRE FIGHTER WAS INJURED RESPONDING TO THE GARAGE FIRE. FIRE INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS THE WALL SOCKET OR THE TESLA UNIVERSAL MOBILE CONNECTOR FROM THE TESLA CHARGING SYSTEM PLUGGED INTO THE WALL OUTLET. I'VE SEEN EVIDENCE OF MANY OF TESLA'S CHARGING CONNECTIONS FAIL. EVEN IF THE CONNECTION FAILED AT THE WALL SOCKET, I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THE TESLA DESIGN AS A CAUSE OR A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE DESIGN OF THE TYPICAL TESLA CHARGING CON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10557627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561491 · 2014-01-25 (January 25, 2014)
IT IS MY OPINION THAT, TESLA IS FRAUDULENTLY MISREPRESENTING STATISTICS AND THE SAFETY OF ITS VEHICLES. IT IS MY OPINION, IT IS FALSE ADVERTISING AGAIN. AFTER THE FIRST TESLA BATTERY FIRE ON OCTOBER 1, 2013: ON OCTOBER 4, 2013 ELON MUSK & TESLA MOTORS CLAIMED "YOU ARE 5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A FIRE IN A CONVENTIONAL GASOLINE CAR THAN A TESLA!" AFTER THE THIRD TESLA BATTERY FIRE ON NOVEMBER 19, 2013: ON DECEMBER 23, 2013 TESLA MOTORS CLAIMED "TESLA VEHICLE IS OVER FIVE TIMES LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A FIRE THAN THE AVERAGE GASO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10561491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10545230 · 2013-09-24 (September 24, 2013)
THE CAR WAS GOING AT ABOUT 5 MPH GOING DOWN A SHORT RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. BRAKE WAS CONSTANTLY APPLIED. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT HIT A CURB AND THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE CAR LANDED ON A 4.5 FT HIGH VERTICAL RETAINING WALL. THE WALL IS ONE FOOT AWAY FROM THE CURB. THE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR WAS HANGING UP IN THE AIR. THE CAR WAS AT ABOUT 45 DEGREE UP AND ABOUT 20 DEGREE TILTED TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE. AN ENGINEER FROM TESLA SAID THE RECORD SHOWED THE ACCELERATING PEDAL WAS STEPPED ON AND IT ACCELERATED FROM 18% TO 100% IN SPLIT SECOND. H…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10545488 · 2013-09-26 (September 26, 2013)
I WAS AT A FULL STOP WAITING TO TURN LEFT INTO THE PARKING GARAGE. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR ME TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN, I RELEASED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR INSTANTLY SURGED FORWARD VERY FAST AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE. THIS ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY THAT I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO AVOID THE IMPACT. THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE WAS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AT ABOUT 6PM PST. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 10000 MILES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE CAR AND UNDERSTAND THE TORQUE THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534139 · 2013-08-07 (August 7, 2013)
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 NUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610088 · 2014-07-12 (July 12, 2014)
THE FIRST REPORTED TESLA CRASH IN CHINA, IT APPEARS THAT THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE CHINA IS NOT IN THE JURISDICTION OF NHTSA, THE INFORMATION CAN BE USED PROACTIVELY FOR SAFETY IN THE US, INSTEAD OF BEING REACTIVE. HTTP://WWW.CARNEWSCHINA.COM/2014/07/11/FIRST-TESLA-CRASHES-IN-CHINA/......UPDATED 07/15/14 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10610088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11180431 · 2019-02-15 (February 15, 2019)
IT WAS A 2HR45MIN DRIVE INTO WORK ON AN ICY BLIZZARDY MORNING, DRIVING MY 2013 MODEL S RWD P85 WITH 90,000MI. HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 YRS. MADE IT TO WORK SAFELY AND THE LAST 6 FEET IN THE PARKING GARAGE, GOING ABOUT 3 MPH PULLING AT A RIGHT ANGLE INTO A PARKING STALL. HAD BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, SHIFTED MY FOOT TO TAP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCH FORWARD AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, CAR IS ACCELERATING FULL THROTTLE INTO A CEMENT WALL. CRASHED HEAD ON AND AIRBAG DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOY. SAT FOR A MOMENT TO CATCH MY BREATH AND TRY TO PROCESS WHAT HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271662 · 2019-10-28 (October 28, 2019)
RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP19005 - INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE UPDATES AFTER MOST RECENT FIRMWARE UPDATE (EXACT DATE UNKNOWN -- SOMETIME LATE THIS SUMMER)-- SUPERCHARGING SPEED APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN LIMITED. IT NOW TAKES 2-3X THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO CHARGE WHEN TRAVELING. I TESTED MULTIPLE SUPERCHARGERS FOR MY TRIP WHICH OCCURRED ON DURING THE WEEKEND OF 9/2. I AM FULLY AWARE OF CONDITIONS THAT CAN SLOW THE SPEED (STALL SHARING, HIGH SOC, LOW/HIGH BATTERY TEMP, ETC). NONE OF THESE CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT -- YET MY CH…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,611 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10562266 · 2014-01-30 (January 30, 2014)
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 AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 04-16-14 *BF UPDATED 04/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11700490 · 2025-11-20 (November 20, 2025)
November 20, 2025 To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation Subject: Safety Defect Complaint – Tesla Model S I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious and dangerous safety defect involving my Tesla Model S. Safety Defect Summary: • After the high-voltage battery failed, the vehicle would not enter Neutral. • I had to use Tow Mode in the middle of a street on a hill to avoid blocking traffic. • Once in Tow Mode, the car could not enter Park and the emergency/parking…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11700490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11082114 · 2018-03-30 (March 30, 2018)
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION TESLA. I DROVE MY TESLA FROM WORK, DRIVING OVER 35MILES DURING RUSH HOUR OF THE BAY AREA. WHEN I ENTERED MY SUBDIVISION, I WAS DRIVING AT 10 MPH, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY MADE 90 DEGREES TURN AT 5 MPH, APPLIED THE BRAKES. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, CAR SPED UP AT EXTREMELY HIGH ACCELERATION. IT DROVE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR, HIT MASERATI PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND A MOTORCYCLE PARKED NEXT TO IT. THE MASERATI TRUNK WAS PUSHED IN APPROX 3 FEET, IT SLID SIDEWAYS, HIT THE PILLAR, SMASHING DRIVER DOOR AND WINDOW, SLID TO THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11082114 at NHTSA ↗