2013 TESLA MODEL S Complaints

View complaints related to 2013 TESLA MODEL S. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 450 complaints submitted for the 2013 TESLA MODEL S. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - PALM BEACH, FL

    11 DAYS AGO, THE DOORS AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING ON MY TESLA MODEL S. THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND WHEN I CLICKED ON THE "OPEN" BUTTON TO CAUSE THE DOOR HANDLES TO EXTEND, I DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE HANDLE NO LONGER OPENED. IN FACT, 3 OF THE 4 DOORS NO LONGER OPENED. IN ADDITION, AFTER CRAWLING IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOWS NO LONGER OPENED EITHER. IN ADDITION TO BEING A NUISANCE, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT, EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. SECOND, IF A DRIVER IS APPROACHED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANOTHER PERSON, HE/SHE CANNOT OPEN THE WINDOW TO COMMUNICATE. IN FACT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, A DRIVER PERISHED IN A FIERY TESLA CRASH. THE POLICE WERE UNABLE TO RESCUE HIM, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT OPEN HIS DOOR. SEE HTTPS://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/2019/02/25/FATAL-TESLA-MODEL-S-CRASH-FIRE/. "ACCORDING TO REPORTS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND ONLOOKERS SAY THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESCUE THE DRIVER. THE AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOYING DOOR HANDLES ON THE OUTSIDE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE DEPLOYED." APPARENTLY THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF TESLA CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. SEE HTTPS://FORUMS.TESLA.COM/FORUM/FORUMS/DOOR-HANDLE-NOT-FUNCTIONING FOR A SNAPSHOT. FOR AN EXAMPLE, SEE HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=L4J3BEB5NOG. I CONTACTED AT LEAST 7 DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT TESLA, BUT NONE OF THEM SEEMED TO VIEW THIS AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY WERE MORE FOCUSED ON CHARGING ME FOR WHAT THEY CALL AN "OUT-OF-WARRANTY" EVENT, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE WINDOWS AND DOORS HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. IN FACT, I HAVE DOCUMENTED A LONG LIST OF SERVICE FAILURES WITH THIS TESLA MODEL S. I HAVE OVER 100 EMAILS OUTLINING THESE PROBLEMS, RANGING FROM DEFECTIVE DOORS/WINDOWS TO A BATTERY MALFUNCTION TO MORE. I CAN SHARE THESE UPON REQUEST.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - TAMPA, FL

    DURING ALL ELECTRICAL FAULT FAILURES THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I'VE HAD 6 SERVICE VISITS RELATED TO ELECTRICAL FAULTS CAUSING MECHANICAL FAILURES. THE STEERING RACK FAILURE WAS THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM. TESLA REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK. THE TESLA OWNER'S FORUM AND TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM OWNERS SAY THEY'VE REPLACED ONLY THE STEERING MOTOR AND THAT 1 PART FIXES THE POWER STEERING FAULT. THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING PORT FAILED BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL FAULTS. THE 12-VOLT BATTERY HAS FAILED TWICE DURING THE LAST YEAR. 5 DOOR REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE FRONT 2 SEATS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULTS. 3 WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULTS. THE POWER STEERING FAILED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAULT. I'VE PAID $6,500 FOR ELECTRICAL FAULTS DURING THE LAST YEAR. THE TIRES I BUY ARE RATED TO 55,000 MILES, BUT THEY KEEP WEARING OUT UNEVENLY, AND OFTEN BLOWING OUT, AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. THE SERVICE CENTER CANNOT TELL ME WHY THE TIRES ARE CONTINUALLY BLOWING OUT AND WEARING OUT UNEVENLY AFTER MINIMAL USE. I WENT TO A TESLA SERVICE CENTER FOR HELP RESETTING MY TOUCHSCREEN AND INSTALLING A FIRMWARE UPDATE WHEN I WAS THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HOME. THE SERVICE CENTER FORCED ME TO GET NEARLY $2,000 OF NEW REGULATORS. PARTS WERE INCORRECTLY REPLACED THAT WERE NOT MALFUNCTIONING. PARTS THAT MALFUNCTIONED ONCE OR TWICE WERE REPLACED. PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED THE PREVIOUS MONTH, AND WERE COVERED UNDER THE TESLA PARTS WARRANTY, WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE BATTERY PACK THAT POWERS THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY LOST 50-MILES OF RANGE, 16% OF TOTAL AVAILABLE RANGE AFTER VISITING A SERVICE CENTER. DURING 5.6-YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, I LOST LESS THAN 7% OF TOTAL AVAILABLE RANGE. I PAID A $10,000 UPGRADE FOR RANGE. I'M CONCERNED IT'S A FAULT OR THAT MY VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED OR THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A DEFECTIVE BATTERY WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - PHOENIX, MD

    TESLA PUSHED A SILENT SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE CAR. THE UPDATE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MAIN COMPUTER FROZE LEADING TO THE MAIN DISPLAY SCREEN GOING BLACK. RESETTING THE COMPUTER VIA THE TWO SCROLL WHEEL RESET PROCEDURE WAS INEFFECTIVE. THE ONLY OTHER PERSON I KNOW WITH A 2013 MODEL S EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THE PREVIOUS DAY. SCENARIO - WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR TO LEAVE IT WAS SLOW TO START, RECEIVED THE MESSAGE PLEASE WAIT WHILE SYSTEMS START UP. AFTER 20 SECONDS THE CAR WAS DRIVE-ABLE AND I PULLED OUT. THE STREAMING MUSIC SERVICE WAS NOT WORKING SO I SWITCHED TO A USB DEVICE PLUGGED INTO THE CAR. I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND PARKED. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR I RETURNED TO THE CAR TO RETURN HOME. THERE WAS A SMALL DELAY IN THE SYSTEMS STARTING UP BUT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHIN 15 SECONDS. I TURNED ON THE AC AND BEGAN HEADING HOME. WHILE DRIVING THE MAIN SCREEN WENT BLANK - THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE NO ABILITY TO CONTROL MOST OF THE CARS FUNCTIONS. I STOPPED TO GET A COFFEE AND HOPED THAT LETTING IT "REST" WOULD ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO RESET AT THE NEXT STARTUP. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS COOL. THE AC NEVER TURNED OFF WHILE PARKED DUE TO THE COMPUTER BEING HUNG. I DROVE HOME WITH NO SYSTEM CONTROLS. I CONTACTED TESLA ROADSIDE SUPPORT AND SPENT HALF AN HOUR TRYING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN UPDATE PUSHED TO MY CAR THAT FAILED AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO GO TO THE SERVICE CENTER TO GET "A JUMP" THE BELIEVE BEING THAT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE 12V BATTERY AND THE SERVICE CENTER WOULD BE ABLE TO QUICKLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER WAITING AT THE SERVICE CENTER FOR 45 MINUTES I WAS GIVEN A LOANER WHILE THEY CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE. 23 HOURS LATER I AM BEING TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW COMPUTER FOR $3,000. THEIR UPDATE WAS NOT BACKWARD COMPATIBLE AND BROKE MY COMPUTER

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - FREMONT, CA

    DOOR HANDLE PROBLEMS THE HANDLE FAILS EVERY 6MONTHS SHOULD BE A RECALL DRIVE TRAIN ISSUES

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - MANTECA, CA

    TAKATA RECALL : I HAVE MY USED 2013 TESLA MODEL S 85 SINCE LAST YEAR. AND SINCE LAST YEAR I'M HAVING A BIG ISSUE WITH THE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BREAK PEDAL. EVERYTIME I USE MY BREAK THERE IS A ABNORMAL VIBRATIONS AND THIS ISSUE WAS NOT FIX. TESLA DUBLIN PERFORMED THE FIRST SERVICE THE VIBRATION FROM THE BREAK PEDAL ISSUE. AFTER A WEEK FROM THE SERVICE THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. THE ISSUE IS STILL ON GOING PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. TESLA DUBLIN PERFORMED FOUR SERVICE TO FIX THE VIBRATION FROM THE BREAK PEDAL ISSUE. I HAVE THE INVOICE FOR THOSE SERVICE. LAST MONTH APRIL 2019 I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THE AVAILABLE DATE AND TIME FOR ME IS MAY 17,2019 THIS MONTH AT 2PM. I WENT THERE TO TELL THEM THAT THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. I SPOKE TO THEIR MANAGER AT TESLA DUBLIN SHE AND THEIR MECHANIC DENIED THE VIBRATION ISSUE. THEY BOTH SAID THE VIBRATION FROM THE BREAK PEDAL IS NORMAL BECAUSE OF THE AGES OF MY CAR. BUT I TOLD THEM THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE TO DO THE SERVICE WITH THE SAME ISSUE WAS FEBRUARY 2019. I NEED HELP TO GET A FAIR ANSWER FROM TESLA. I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURE ATTACHED BELOW.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

    INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST IMMOBILE, AND VERY HAZARDOUS DRIVING UNDER THE WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER AN OVER-THE-AIR SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM TESLA. CAR HAS 33K MILES ON IT. TESLA SERVICE SAYS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, PLEASE HAVE IT TOWED HERE (90 MILES) AND PAY US TO LOOK AT IT. POWER STEERING RACK ITSELF FAILED ONE YEAR AGO AND WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - SAN DIEGO, CA

    THE CAR DOOR HANDLE WILL MALFUNCTION AND POP THE DOOR OPEN WHEN ITS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE. THE AUTO PRESENT HANDLES WILL PRESENT THEMSELVES AND THE DOOR WILL POP OPEN WHICH IT SHOULDNT. MY DOOR HAS ACTUALLY OPENED IM THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC BEFORE AND ITS NOT SAFE. YOUR BELONGINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE IN A CAR AND LOCKED YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO BE OPEN AND SOMETIMES DOES IT AS YOURE WALKING AWAY.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA

    THE DOORS OPEN BY THEMSELVES!! THIS CAN HAPPEN AT A VARIETY OF TIMES, BUT THE MOST CONCERNING TO ME IS WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR, RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENS BY ITSELF. IF I DON'T NOTICE, I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD W/ THAT DOOR OPEN, MULTIPLE TIMES IT HAS BEEN LITERALLY SWINGING OPEN AS I GO AROUND A CORNER!!! MY CHILDREN RIDE IN MY CAR IN THE BACK AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL FALL OUT OF THE CAR!! NOTE, THIS ISSUE HAS AFFECTED MANY MANY MANY OF THE TESLA MODEL S OWNERS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE BY REFERENCING THE DIFFERENT FORUMS. IN FACT, IT APPEARS THAT OWNERS THAT HAVEN'T EXPERIENCE IT ARE HUGELY IN THE MINORITY.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - CASTLE ROCK, CO

    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 HAPPENED. SENT "BUG REPORT" ON TO TESLA CENTRAL FROM THE CAR. THE DASHBOARD HAD PRND LIT UP IN RED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY LIMP. ZERO RESISTANCE. THANKFULLY, NO OTHER CAR WAS AROUND ME. CALLED TESLA SERVICE AND THEY TOLD US TO REBOOT THE CAR. WE DID, BUT ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. HAD TO PUSH OUT OF THE 5 STORY GARAGE AND TOW IT TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP. FILED POLICE REPORT. REPORTED TO LOCAL TESLA SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. A FEW DAYS LATER, WE HEARD BACK FROM THE TESLA REP THAT SAID THAT REPORT SHOWED NO MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO TESLA ACCELERATOR WENT FROM 0% TO 88% SUDDENLY, IMPLYING "DRIVER ERROR." YET THEY ALSO SAID THE BRAKE WAS TAPPED AND THEN RELEASED PRIOR TO IMPACT. THIS DOES NOT JIVE, WHY WE A PERSON ACCELERATE, TAP THE BRAKE THEN RELEASE? SKID MARKS FROM REAR TIRES LEFT ON GARAGE FLOOR. TESLA WON'T RELEASE DATA. WE DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THIS REPORT AND THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE CRASH. TODAY THE AUTO BODY SHOP INFORMED US THAT THEY WERE CURIOUS WHY THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. AFTER BEING RESET, THEY DISCOVERED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BROKEN. EXPERIENCE DURING THE CRASH, COMBINED WITH VERY UNUSUAL CAR BEHAVIOR, AND A BROKEN ACCELERATOR REFUTE TESLA'S CLAIM OF OPERATOR ERROR.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2013 TESLA MODEL S
    - BOCA RATON, FL

    THREE DAYS AGO I PARKED MY VEHICLE TO P/U A DOG FROM THE VET THUS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE TIRES CLOSE TO THE CEMENT STOP. NO ISSUE. CAME OUTSIDE WITH THE PET AND LOADED HER INTO THE REAR SEAT. STARTED THE VEHICLE, PUT UNIT INTO REVERSE AND BACKED PERHAPS 3" WHEN UNIT STOPPED MOVING. PULLED FORWARD A FEW INCHES AND TRIED AGAIN. SAME. PULLED UP VEHICLE INFO ON THE IT SCREEN TO HEIGHT OF VEHICLE WHICH HAS AIR SUSPENSION. HEIGHT SHOWED NORMAL. HIT BUTTON FOR MAX HEIGHT, SAME ISSUE. WENT BACK INTO SCREEN AND WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROTOCOL. THIS TIME I COULD SEE THE UNITS FRONT END ROSE A FEW INCHES. PUT UNIT INTO REVERSE AND UNIT BACKED WITHOUT PROBLEM. I KEPT THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AT THAT LEVEL. YESTERDAY, 2/20/19. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND DROVE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. PICKED UP TWO ORDER OF CHINESE FOOD WEIGHING ABOUT 1 POUND. PUT UNIT INTO REVERSE AFTER SEAT BELTS SECURED. BACKED OUT VERY SLOWLY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. DISMOUNTED FROM VEHICLE TO FIND THE ENTIRE FRONT PORTION OF THE UNIT WAS LYING ON THE GROUND. A PASSERBY SAW WHAT HAPPENED AND SAID "YOU MUST HAVE AIR SUSPENSION LIKE I HAVE IN MY TESLA. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME"!! THREE OF US WORKED 20 MINUTES OR SO TO REATTACH THE ENTIRE FRONT END. HAD A PEDESTRIAN BEEN WALKING TO THE VEHICLES PARKED NEXT TO ME THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT. WHAT IS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING WHEN DRIVING? I HAD AN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER WITH ME WHEN THIS EVENT HAPPENED. THEY WERE SHOCKED. TESLA WOULD NOT ADMIT THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND STATED OWNERS SHOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD TO THE TIRE STOP. SO, WE ARE TO LET THE REAR END OF THE UNIT HANG OUT 2 TO 3 FEET IN THE DRIVE AREA. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, HOOD AND FRONT END. THIS SHOULD STOP IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE, NOT OPERATOR FAULT.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE