2013 Tesla Model S Reliability
The 2013 Tesla Model S has 461 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and unknown or other. Compared with other Model S model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Model S's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
461
NHTSA owner complaints
11
Recall campaigns
41
Complaints citing a crash
19
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Tesla Model S complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 195 | 42% |
| Unknown or other | 122 | 26% |
| Suspension | 92 | 20% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 35 | 8% |
| Steering | 29 | 6% |
| Speed control / throttle | 25 | 5% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 24 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 22 | 5% |
2013 Tesla Model S recalls
11 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V249000 | Jun 14, 2013 | 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 striker to the bracket may have weakened the weld between the… |
| 14V006000 | Jan 13, 2014 | Equipment — electrical | 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. During charging, the adapter, cord, or wall outlet could overheat. |
| 15V780000 | Nov 23, 2015 | Seat belts — front | Tesla 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 may be improperly connected to the… |
| 17V260000 | Apr 19, 2017 | Parking brake | Tesla, 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 parking brake application or release. |
| 18V031000 | Jan 9, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment… |
| 18V204000 | Mar 29, 2018 | Steering — electric power assist system | Tesla, 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 fracture causing a reduction or complete loss… |
| 21V035000 | Jan 29, 2021 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — software | 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. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center… |
| 23V838000 | Dec 12, 2023 | Electrical system — adas / autonomous/self driving / software | 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. In certain circumstances when… |
| 24V051000 | Jan 30, 2024 | Electrical system — instrument cluster/panel | 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. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS)… |
| 24V153000 | Feb 27, 2024 | Forward collision avoidance — warnings / external/pedestrian alert | 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the… |
| 24V376000 | May 28, 2024 | Seat belts — front / warning light/devices | 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. As such, these… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Model S years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Model S analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 59 | 8 | Electrical system | Better year |
| 2013 (this page) | 461 | 11 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2014 | 367 | 8 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2015 | 646 | 8 | Electrical system | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2013 Tesla Model S
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 11 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Tesla Model S can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Tesla Model S reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Tesla Model S reliable?
The 2013 Tesla Model S has 461 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and unknown or other. Compared with other Model S model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Model S's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Tesla Model S problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Tesla Model S are electrical system (195), unknown or other (122), suspension (92), powertrain / transmission (35). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Tesla Model S have recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2013 Tesla Model S, including 13V249000 (seats) and 14V006000 (equipment — electrical). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Tesla Model S compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 59 complaints and 8 recalls (better year); the 2014 has 367 complaints and 8 recalls (caution). The 2013 has 461 complaints and 11 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Tesla Model S?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Tesla Model S research
Other Tesla Model S model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Model S, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.