2013 Tesla Model SUNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

677 federal complaints · 11 recall campaigns on file · 12 federal investigations
See all 15 model years of the Tesla Model S →
Fuel
Electricity
Drive
RWD
EPA economy
93 city / 96 hwy
Federal complaints
677
Recall campaigns
11

Fault profile

Every federal complaint on this vehicle, grouped by component family.

Electrical system
195
Other
122
Suspension
91
Power train
35
Steering
29
Speed control
25
Fuel system
24
Glass & wipers
22
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

Known issues

The largest complaint clusters, with common replacement parts for each.

Electrical system

195 complaints14 fire reports7 crash reports
"JUST HAD AN MCU -1 FAILURE CAUSING MY CAR TO BRICK. IS NOW UNDRIVABLE. CAR WAS IN MOTION IN CITY STREETS WHEN THE SCREEN FAILED...."- from a federal complaint filed against this model
Common replacement parts
Engine Control Module
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.
Mass Air Flow Sensor
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.
MAP Sensor
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.

Suspension

91 complaints6 fire reports11 crash reports
"REAR PASSANGER CONTROL ARM CRACKED AND BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE...."- from a federal complaint filed against this model
Common replacement parts
Front Struts
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.
Rear Shocks
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.
Strut Mount
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.

Power train

35 complaints
"MCU-1 DIED, AS IN TOUCH SCREEN DID NOT WORK, THEREFORE MOST OF THE CAR DOES NOT WORK. IT DIED OVERNIGHT, GOT IN THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND THE CAR WAS OFF, COULD NOT TURN IT ON..."- from a federal complaint filed against this model
Common replacement parts
Transmission Oil Cooler
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.
Automatic Transmission Assembly
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.
Manual Transmission Assembly
Buy it now on eBay
Opens a live eBay search for this vehicle.

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
RQ24009
opened Apr 2024
OPENElectrical SystemRecall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report (Recall 23V838) applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any vers
DP23002
opened Jun 2023
OPENVehicle Speed ControlSudden Unintended Acceleration
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12VDC systems may have caused some or all of the incident
DP23001
opened Apr 2023
closed Mar 2026Unknown Or OtherDefect Petition Interlock Request
On March 21, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting a “recall of all Tesla cars” produced from 2013 to the date on which the petition was filed due to what Petitioner considers to be the increased likelihood of pedal
DP22005
opened Jan 2023
closed Aug 2023Electrical SystemPedestrian alert sounds - led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 114
EA22002
opened Jun 2022
closed Apr 2024Electrical SystemAutopilot System Driver Controls - led to recall 23V838
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded PE21020 to EA22002 on June 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the PE21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how Tesla’s Autopi
EA21002
opened Sep 2021
OPENAir BagsDesiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators
PE20020
opened Nov 2020
closed Aug 2024SuspensionFore Link Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on forty-three complaints alleging failure of the left or right front suspension fore links in Tesla model year (MY) 2015 through 2017 Model S and MY 2016 through 2017 Model X v
EA20003
opened Nov 2020
closed May 2024VisibilityLoss of rearview camera - led to recall 21V035
On November 20, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) 20-003 to investigate incidents of media control unit (MCU) failures resulting in loss of rearview camera in model year (MY) 2012-18 Tesla Model S and model year (
PE20010
opened Jun 2020
closed Nov 2020Electrical SystemLoss of rearview camera
On June 22, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE20-010 to investigate incidents of media control unit (MCU) failures resulting in loss of rearview camera in model year (MY) 2012-2015 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped
DP20001
opened Jan 2020
closed Jan 2021Vehicle Speed ControlSudden Unintended Acceleration
On December 19, 2019, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Brian Sparks requesting that the Agency recall all [Tesla] Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles produced from 2013 to the present due to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA). In his petition and follow
DP19005
opened Oct 2019
closed Sep 2021Electrical SystemBattery Management Software Updates
In a letter dated September 17, 2019, Mr. Edward Chen petitioned the NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation of certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that received revised battery management software in one or more over-the-air (OTA) updates from Tesla,
PE13037
opened Nov 2013
closed Mar 2014Electrical SystemFire - Propulsion Battery - Road Debris
The subject vehicles (SV), model years 2012-2013 Tesla Model S, are emerging technology electric vehicles using a high voltage battery (HVB) to provide propulsion energy. The HVB uses lithium-ion cells combined in 60 or 85 kWh capacities, and a control system

Recall campaigns

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at any franchised dealer.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
24V376000Seat BeltsTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not Free at dealer
24V153000Forward Collision AvoidanceTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehFree at dealer
24V051000Electrical SystemTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the BrakeFree at dealer
23V838000Electrical SystemTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedFree at dealer
21V035000VisibilityTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NFree at dealer
18V204000SteeringTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fractuFree at dealer
18V031000Air BagsTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2013 Model S vehicles equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the evFree at dealer
17V260000Parking BrakeTesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during Free at dealer
15V780000Seat BeltsTesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that mayFree at dealer
14V006000EquipmentTesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2013 Model S vehicles equipped for, and delivered with, certain NEMA 14-50 (240 volt) Universal Mobile Connector (UMC) adapters. During charging, the adapter, coFree at dealer
13V249000SeatsTesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2013 Model S electric vehicles manufactured May 10, 2013, through June 8, 2013. An improper method for aligning the left hand seat back striker to the bracket maFree at dealer

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
  2. Find the roughest road nearby.Clunks over bumps, a droning hum that changes when the car leans, or a corner that sits low are this vehicle's suspension complaints. Wheel bearings and control arm bushings lead the parts list.
  3. Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 11 recall campaigns on file. Every one is a free repair at a franchised dealer, but only if it has been done; an unrepaired recall is a bargaining chip, not a deal-breaker.
  5. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where this vehicle fails. A history with repeated repairs in exactly those systems tells you the car had the problem; a history with none of them tells you it may not have been fixed yet.

Every part on this vehicle

Filtered to this vehicle's configuration. Each link opens a live eBay search.

Brakes
Front Brake PadsBuy it now on eBay
Rear Brake PadsRear discs; economy cars may use drums/shoes insteadBuy it now on eBay
Brake ShoesRear drum brake vehicles onlyBuy it now on eBay
Front Brake RotorsBuy it now on eBay
Rear Brake RotorsBuy it now on eBay
Brake DrumsRear drum brake vehicles onlyBuy it now on eBay
Front Brake CaliperBuy it now on eBay
Rear Brake CaliperBuy it now on eBay
Brake Master CylinderBuy it now on eBay
Brake HoseBuy it now on eBay
Brake Hardware KitBuy it now on eBay
ABS Control ModuleABS became widespread early 1990s; standard by 2012Buy it now on eBay
ABS Wheel Speed SensorBuy it now on eBay
Parking Brake CableElectronic parking brakes replace cables on most vehicles after ~2015Buy it now on eBay
Brake Fluid ReservoirBuy it now on eBay
Brake Pedal PadMostly universal fitmentBuy it now on eBay
Suspension
Front StrutsBuy it now on eBay
Rear ShocksBuy it now on eBay
Strut MountBuy it now on eBay
Coil SpringsBuy it now on eBay
Leaf SpringsTrucks and older RWD vehiclesBuy it now on eBay
Upper Control ArmBuy it now on eBay
Lower Control ArmBuy it now on eBay
Control Arm BushingsBuy it now on eBay
Ball JointBuy it now on eBay
Sway Bar LinksBuy it now on eBay
Sway Bar BushingsBuy it now on eBay
Sway BarBuy it now on eBay
Front Wheel Hub Bearing AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Rear Wheel Hub Bearing AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Trailing ArmBuy it now on eBay
Air Suspension CompressorLuxury/SUV trims onlyBuy it now on eBay
Air Suspension SpringLuxury/SUV trims onlyBuy it now on eBay
Camber Alignment KitBuy it now on eBay
Coilover KitAftermarket performance upgrade rather than OE replacementBuy it now on eBay
Steering
Steering Rack and PinionBuy it now on eBay
Electric Power Steering MotorEPS-equipped vehiclesBuy it now on eBay
Inner Tie RodBuy it now on eBay
Outer Tie Rod EndBuy it now on eBay
Steering ColumnBuy it now on eBay
Steering WheelBuy it now on eBay
Clock SpringAirbag-era vehicles; spiral cable behind wheelBuy it now on eBay
Engine
Engine MountEVs have motor mounts; keyword still worksBuy it now on eBay
Engine Splash ShieldBuy it now on eBay
Engine Management
Vehicle Speed SensorBuy it now on eBay
Ignition
Push Button Start SwitchBuy it now on eBay
Cooling
Coolant ReservoirEVs have coolant loops for battery/electronicsBuy it now on eBay
Radiator SupportBuy it now on eBay
Drivetrain
Front CV AxleBuy it now on eBay
Rear CV AxleAWD/RWD independent-rear vehiclesBuy it now on eBay
CV Boot KitBuy it now on eBay
Differential AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Wheel StudsBuy it now on eBay
Electrical
Battery CableBuy it now on eBay
Fuse BoxBuy it now on eBay
RelayStandardized ISO relaysBuy it now on eBay
Body Control ModuleBuy it now on eBay
Instrument ClusterMileage-programmed; note on pageBuy it now on eBay
HornLargely universalBuy it now on eBay
Power Window MotorBuy it now on eBay
Power Window SwitchBuy it now on eBay
Door Lock ActuatorBuy it now on eBay
Key Fob RemoteBuy it now on eBay
Backup CameraMandatory on new US vehicles from May 2018Buy it now on eBay
Parking Assist SensorBuy it now on eBay
12V Power OutletBuy it now on eBay
Ground StrapBuy it now on eBay
Trailer Wiring HarnessBuy it now on eBay
HVAC
AC CompressorBuy it now on eBay
AC CondenserBuy it now on eBay
AC EvaporatorBuy it now on eBay
AC Expansion ValveBuy it now on eBay
AC Receiver DrierBuy it now on eBay
AC Hose AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Blower MotorBuy it now on eBay
Blower Motor ResistorBuy it now on eBay
Climate Control ModuleBuy it now on eBay
Cabin Air FilterRare before late 1990sBuy it now on eBay
AC Pressure SwitchBuy it now on eBay
Lighting
Headlight AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Headlight BulbsBulb size specific; model keyword still standard searchBuy it now on eBay
Tail Light AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Fog Light AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Turn Signal AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Side Marker LightBuy it now on eBay
Third Brake LightMandatory on US cars from 1986Buy it now on eBay
License Plate LightBuy it now on eBay
Dome Light AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Headlight SwitchBuy it now on eBay
Body
HoodBuy it now on eBay
Front FenderBuy it now on eBay
Front Bumper CoverBuy it now on eBay
Rear Bumper CoverBuy it now on eBay
Bumper Reinforcement BarBuy it now on eBay
GrilleBuy it now on eBay
Side MirrorBuy it now on eBay
Mirror GlassBuy it now on eBay
Exterior Door HandleBuy it now on eBay
Door HingeBuy it now on eBay
Hood LatchBuy it now on eBay
Hood Lift StrutsBuy it now on eBay
Trunk LidBuy it now on eBay
LiftgateSUVs/hatchbacksBuy it now on eBay
Liftgate StrutsBuy it now on eBay
Fender LinerBuy it now on eBay
Mud FlapsBuy it now on eBay
Running BoardsTrucks/SUVsBuy it now on eBay
Roof Rack Cross BarsBuy it now on eBay
Rear SpoilerBuy it now on eBay
Emblem SetBuy it now on eBay
AntennaBuy it now on eBay
Rocker PanelRust repair staple for older vehiclesBuy it now on eBay
Quarter PanelBuy it now on eBay
Cowl Panel GrilleBuy it now on eBay
Door Weatherstrip SealBuy it now on eBay
Glass
WindshieldFreight-heavy; local install more common but glass sells on eBayBuy it now on eBay
Rear Window GlassBuy it now on eBay
Door Window GlassBuy it now on eBay
Window RegulatorBuy it now on eBay
Wiper BladesSize-specific but model search is the standard patternBuy it now on eBay
Wiper ArmBuy it now on eBay
Windshield Wiper MotorBuy it now on eBay
Windshield Washer PumpBuy it now on eBay
Washer Fluid ReservoirBuy it now on eBay
Interior
Front SeatBuy it now on eBay
Seat Cover SetBuy it now on eBay
Seat BeltBuy it now on eBay
Seat Belt BuckleBuy it now on eBay
Floor MatsBuy it now on eBay
Carpet SetBuy it now on eBay
DashboardBuy it now on eBay
Dash CoverBuy it now on eBay
Glove BoxBuy it now on eBay
Center ConsoleBuy it now on eBay
Console Lid ArmrestBuy it now on eBay
Door PanelBuy it now on eBay
HeadlinerBuy it now on eBay
Sun VisorBuy it now on eBay
Rearview MirrorBuy it now on eBay
Radio Head UnitOE replacement; aftermarket DIN units are their own worldBuy it now on eBay
Car SpeakersSized by diameter more than vehicleBuy it now on eBay
Steering Wheel CoverUniversal sizingBuy it now on eBay
Wheels
Wheel RimBuy it now on eBay
HubcapsBuy it now on eBay
Wheel Center CapsBuy it now on eBay
TPMS SensorUS-mandated on all new vehicles from Sept 2007Buy it now on eBay
Valve StemsBuy it now on eBay
Spare Tire KitBuy it now on eBay
Jack KitBuy it now on eBay
Lug NutsThread/seat specificBuy it now on eBay
Wheel SpacersBolt-pattern specificBuy it now on eBay
TiresSearched by tire size not vehicle; link the size from vehicle specsBuy it now on eBay
Hybrid & EV
EV Battery ModuleBuy it now on eBay
Charge Port AssemblyPlug-in vehiclesBuy it now on eBay
Onboard ChargerPlug-in vehiclesBuy it now on eBay
DC to DC ConverterBuy it now on eBay
Inverter AssemblyBuy it now on eBay
Electric Drive MotorBuy it now on eBay
EV Charging CableJ1772/NACS standard; not vehicle specificBuy it now on eBay
Battery Cooling PumpBuy it now on eBay
High Voltage CableBuy it now on eBay
Battery ContactorBuy it now on eBay