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 42% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2013 Tesla Model S have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

2013 Tesla Model S

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2013 Tesla Model S
BUILT 2026-10-10

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: 460
Recalls: 11
Investigations: 12
Top problem: Electrical system

Complaints per year

2013: 460 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2012	61
2013	460
2014	365
2015	668
2016	647
2017	425
2018	169
2019	44
2020	80
2021	179
2022	139
2023	113
2024	38
2025	6
2026	6

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

42% · 195 reports

Most commonly citing 12v/24v/48v battery and software.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

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, 2013-12-23

Suspension

20% · 91 reports

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Power train

8% · 35 reports

Most commonly citing driveshaft.

Steering

6% · 29 reports

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Vehicle speed control

5% · 25 reports

CRASHINJURY

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, 2018-03-26

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, 2018-01-26

I was at a full stop waiting to turn left into the parking garage.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-09-26

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 12 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

▮
2013Complaint volume 460 complaints filed for this model year.
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2013-06-19Seats13V249000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2013-11-15Preliminary evaluationClosed 2014-03-26 Fire - Propulsion Battery - Road Debris
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2014-03-14Electrical system, equipment14V006000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2015-12-14Seat belts15V780000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2018-02-28Air bags18V031000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2018-03-06Parking brake17V260000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2019-05-07Steering18V204000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2019-10-01Defect petitionClosed 2021-09-28 Battery Management Software Updates
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2020-01-13Defect petitionClosed 2021-01-08 Sudden Unintended Acceleration
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2020-06-22Preliminary evaluationClosed 2020-11-22 Loss of rearview camera
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2020-11-12Engineering analysisClosed 2024-05-02 Loss of rearview camera
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2020-11-22Preliminary evaluationClosed 2024-08-12 Fore Link Failure
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2021-03-29Back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility21V035000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
I
2022-06-08Engineering analysisClosed 2024-04-25 Autopilot System Driver Controls
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2023-01-27Defect petitionClosed 2023-08-07 Pedestrian alert sounds
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2023-04-07Defect petitionClosed 2026-03-18 Defect Petition Interlock Request
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2023-06-29Defect petitionOpen Sudden Unintended Acceleration
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2023-12-12Electrical system23V838000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2024-02-21Electrical system24V051000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2024-04-25Recall queryOpen Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
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2024-04-27Electrical system, forward collision avoidance24V153000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
R

2024-07-26Seat belts24V376000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2013 Tesla Model S — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Electrical system: 195 reports on file for this year.
Suspension: 91 reports on file for this year.
Power train: 35 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 13V249000 · Seats
Recall 14V006000 · Electrical system, equipment
Recall 15V780000 · Seat belts
Recall 18V031000 · Air bags
Recall 17V260000 · Parking brake
Recall 18V204000 · Steering
Recall 21V035000 · Back over prevention, exterior lighting, visibility
Recall 23V838000 · Electrical system
Recall 24V051000 · Electrical system
Recall 24V153000 · Electrical system, forward collision avoidance
Recall 24V376000 · Seat belts

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

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 42% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2013 Tesla Model S have?: 11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.

2013 Tesla Model S

Complaints per year

Known problem areas

Electrical system

Suspension

Power train

Steering

Vehicle speed control

Safety timeline

Buy-smart checklist

Inspect

Verify these recalls were completed

Other years of this model

▲Best years3 years

■Worst years3 years

FAQ

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years