2013 Tesla Model S

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2013 Tesla Model S
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2013: 459 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2012	61
2013	459
2014	364
2015	665
2016	639
2017	420
2018	168
2019	43
2020	80
2021	175
2022	135
2023	108
2024	38
2025	6
2026	3

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 41%

41% of complaints: electrical system — 190 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20131223

SUSPENSION 20%

20% of complaints: suspension — 91 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

POWER TRAIN 7%

7% of complaints: power train — 33 distinct reports on file.

STEERING 6%

6% of complaints: steering — 29 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5%

5% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 25 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180326

DRIVER STOPPED CAR WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE WITH REAR WHEELS ON DRIVEWAY SLOPING DOWN AND AWAY FROM GARAGE AND FRONT WHEELS JUST INSIDE GARAGE. VEHICLE CREEP MODE IN OFF POSITION. CAR AT REST.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180126

I WAS AT A FULL STOP WAITING TO TURN LEFT INTO THE PARKING GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130926

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2013 — complaint volume: 459

R 20130619 — seats

Tesla 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 stri

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will inspect the left hand second row strikers. Tesla will add additional mounting hardware to ensure a proper joint between the bracket and the fr

Campaign 13V249000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20131115 — PE (closed 20140326)

Fire - Propulsion Battery - Road Debris

R 20140314 — electrical system, equipment

Tesla 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.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners and provide an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Some owners have already received this update.

Campaign 14V006000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20151214 — seat belts

Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Model S vehicles manufactured May 31, 2012, to November 12, 2015.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belts, correcting their connection, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015.

Campaign 15V780000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180228 — air bags

Tesla, 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.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.

Campaign 18V031000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180306 — parking brake

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.

Campaign 17V260000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190507 — steering

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks.

Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts and add a corrosion-preventative sealer, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.

Campaign 18V204000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20191001 — DP (closed 20210928)

Battery Management Software Updates

I 20200113 — DP (closed 20210108)

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

I 20200622 — PE (closed 20201122)

Loss of rearview camera

I 20201112 — EA (closed 20240502)

Loss of rearview camera

I 20201122 — PE (closed 20240812)

Fore Link Failure

R 20210329 — back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility

Tesla, 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.

Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear.

Campaign 21V035000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20220608 — EA (closed 20240425)

Autopilot System Driver Controls

I 20230127 — DP (closed 20230807)

Pedestrian alert sounds

I 20230407 — DP (closed 20260318)

Defect Petition Interlock Request

I 20230629 — DP (open)

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

R 20240210 — electrical system

Tesla, 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 remedy.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.

Campaign 23V838000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20240221 — electrical system

Tesla, 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.

Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.

Campaign 24V051000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20240425 — RQ (open)

Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

R 20240427 — electrical system, forward collision avoidance

Tesla, 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.

Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.

Campaign 24V153000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20240726 — seat belts

Tesla, 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 activate as intended.

Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.

Campaign 24V376000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2013 Tesla Model S — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for electrical system issues (190 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for suspension issues (91 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for power train issues (33 reports on file for this year).
Verify recall 13V249000 (seats) has been completed.
Verify recall 14V006000 (electrical system, equipment) has been completed.
Verify recall 15V780000 (seat belts) has been completed.
Verify recall 18V031000 (air bags) has been completed.
Verify recall 17V260000 (parking brake) has been completed.
Verify recall 18V204000 (steering) has been completed.
Verify recall 21V035000 (back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility) has been completed.
Verify recall 23V838000 (electrical system) has been completed.
Verify recall 24V051000 (electrical system) has been completed.
Verify recall 24V153000 (electrical system, forward collision avoidance) has been completed.
Verify recall 24V376000 (seat belts) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 2019 ▲ 2012

WORST YEARS

■ 2015 ■ 2016 ■ 2017

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2013 Tesla Model S reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2013 Tesla Model S is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Tesla Model S?

The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 41% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2013 Tesla Model S have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.