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Tesla Model S 2013

The 2013 Tesla Model S has 416 hp. 10 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Large Cars Rear-wheel (RWD)
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Illustration of a typical sedan. Not a photo of the Model S.

Specs

Power
416 hp
310 kW
Electric range
426 km
265 mi
Energy use
23.6 kWh/100 km
Charging time (240 V)
12.0 h
TransmissionSingle-speed
DrivetrainRear-wheel (RWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,970 × 1,960 × 1,440 mm (195.7 × 77.2 × 56.7 in)
Wheelbase2,960 mm (116.5 in)
Curb weight2,155 kg (4,751 lb)
Body styleLarge Cars

Power: lowest to highest version, from Natural Resources Canada. Electric range and energy use: Natural Resources Canada.

Dimensions and weight: Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC).

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Recalls

10 campaigns🇨🇦 CA dataTransport Canada

It may not apply to vehicles sold in your country. Check with your VIN at the source.

Lights And Instruments 2024283 · 2024-05-21 · Transport Canada
Details

Issue: A previous over-the-air (OTA) software update could cause the vehicle not to display the correct visual warning indicators when there are problems with the brake system or when the parking brake is applied. As a result, the BRAKE, PARK, and antilock brake system (ABS) visual indicators would display as text instead of symbols. Safety Risk: While there is a low risk to safety, Canadian regulations require visual warnings to use common symbols, instead of words, to avoid driver confusion. Corrective Actions: Tesla will notify affected owners by email. Tesla has released an over-the-air software update to fix this problem. There is no further action required if your vehicle has software release 2024.3.25, 2024.14.5, or a release later than 2024.14.5.

Accessories 2023657 · 2023-12-12 · Transport Canada
Details

Issue: On vehicles equipped with the Autosteer advanced driver-assistance feature, when using the feature, the vehicle may not provide strong enough warnings or monitor the driver closely enough to prevent misuse of the feature. Safety Risk: A driver that doesn't pay close attention while using the Autosteer feature or who doesn't react quickly when Autosteer is canceled could have an increased risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Tesla will notify owners by email and supply an over-the-air software update to improve driver monitoring and alerts while using the Autosteer feature. Tesla advises that you must always pay attention and be ready to take control of the vehicle at any time while using the Autosteer advanced driver-assistance feature.

Electrical 2021038 · 2021-01-29 · Transport Canada
Details

Issue: On certain vehicles, the internal memory for the media control unit (MCU) could run out of storage capacity over time. If this happens, the center display can turn off while driving and cause some of the car's systems not to work properly. This includes the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. A windshield that cannot be defrosted/defogged could reduce visibility. Turn signals that do not work could cause a following driver not to recognize that a vehicle ahead intends to turn. These conditions could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Tesla advises owners to ensure that their vehicle software is up to date. Tesla will notify owners by email, including when parts are available to schedule service to upgrade the internal memory in the MCU.

Lights And Instruments 2020497 · 2020-10-20 · Transport Canada
Details

Issue: On certain vehicles, when switching the distance display setting from kilometers to miles, the speedometer displays the vehicle speed in miles per hour (mph) only. Canadian regulations require that speed be displayed in either kilometers per hour (km/h) or in both km/h and mph. Safety Risk: This small error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. Tesla has made changes to ensure that all new vehicle speedometers display mph and km/h when the display distance is set to miles. In addition, this change was sent to all vehicles in firmware update 2020.36.11.

Steering 2018149 · 2018-03-29 · Transport Canada
Details

On certain vehicles, the bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture. This could allow the power steering gear assist motor to move, causing the belt to slip which could result in a loss of power steering assist. A loss of power steering assist would require additional steering effort which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Tesla service centers will replace the aluminum mounting bolts with coated steel bolts and will apply a corrosion-preventative sealer around the gear housing and connecting bolts. If bolts are found to be broken or break during the removal process, Tesla will also install a new steering gear.

Airbag 2018017 · 2018-01-09 · Transport Canada
Details

On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger frontal airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. As a result, if the vehicle were involved in a collision that warrants airbag deployment, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants, and the airbag assembly could be damaged, preventing proper function. These issues could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Service centers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator. Note: Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. The recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk, and is expected to replace airbag inflators before their function would be affected.

Electrical 2016614 · 2016-12-08 · Transport Canada
Details

*** This notice is provided for information purposes only as the subject equipment is not regulated under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act *** The NEMA 14-30, NEMA 10-30 and NEMA 6-50 electrical adapter that could have been separately purchased as an accessory for the universal mobile charging connector on certain Tesla Motors vehicles may be impacted by higher than normal electrical resistance due to a potential manufacturing defect. This could cause the adapter to overheat, potentially increasing the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: impacted owners will be supplied with a redesigned NEMA adapter. Updated adapters will be sent by Canada Post or commercial carrier once available.

Seats And Restraints 2015553 · 2015-11-19 · Transport Canada
Details

On certain vehicles, the driver and front passenger seatbelt anchor plate may not have been properly bolted to the pretensioner anchor plate during assembly. In the event of a crash, the seatbelt may be unable to provide sufficient restraint force, which could increase the risk of injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Tesla Service Technicians at authorized locations will inspect and affect repairs as necessary.

Electrical 2014009 · 2014-01-21 · Transport Canada
Details

*** This notice is provided for information purposes only as the subject equipment is not regulated under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act *** The NEMA 14-50 electrical adapter, supplied with the universal mobile charging connector on certain Tesla Motors vehicles, may be impacted by higher than normal electrical resistance due to variations in external sources of electricity. This could cause the plug and/or wall receptacle to deform, melt, or overheat, potentially resulting in an electrical short and increasing the risk of a fire. Correction: Vehicle software has been updated over the air already to reduce charging current if a high-resistance condition is detected. As an extra measure of assurance, owners will be supplied with a redesigned NEMA 14-50 adapter containing an internal thermal fuse. Updated adapters will be sent by Canada Post or commercial carrier once available.

Seats And Restraints 2013208 · 2013-06-13 · Transport Canada
Details

On certain vehicles, due to imprecise adjustment during assembly, the support for the left-side rear seat back latch striker may be improperly fastened to the vehicle structure and could separate in a crash, potentially increasing the risk of personal injury to rear seat occupants. Correction: Tesla Service Centers will inspect the left striker support and add additional fasteners.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

SERVICE BRAKES 2026-10-02 · NHTSA

Mileage: Approximately 177,379 miles Location: California Component: Electric parking brake (EPB) / gear selection Description: My vehicle's electric parking brake intermittently locks the car in place when I come to a stop, such as at a traffic light. This has happened 5 times in the last 4 weeks. When it occurs, …

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2026-06-24 · NHTSA

The vehicle has suffered a catastrophic, intermittent low-voltage network crash caused by a failing Body Control Module (BCM), resulting in multiple dangerous safety-critical failure modes. On a previous occasion, the vehicle woke up with severe network faults and automatically forced itself into Neutral. When the dri…

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2026-06-15 · NHTSA

This issue appears to be related to a known MCU failure affecting early Tesla Model S vehicles. The touchscreen exhibits screen melting/discoloration and eventually goes blank or becomes inoperative. When this occurs, critical functions including occupant detection indicators, seatbelt warnings, and windshield defrost…

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2026-06-15 · NHTSA

This issue appears to be related to a known MCU failure affecting early Tesla Model S vehicles. The touchscreen exhibits screen melting/discoloration and eventually goes blank or becomes inoperative. When this occurs, critical functions including occupant detection indicators, seatbelt warnings, and windshield defrost…

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2026-06-03 · NHTSA

While driving my 2013 Tesla Model S at normal road speed, the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion without any warning. I had to coast and maneuver across traffic to avoid being hit before the car came to a stop. After shifting into Park, the vehicle displayed DI_w072 and DI_f072 gate‑drive faults, which indicate inve…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2026-03-29 · NHTSA

Vehicle lights turned off while driving home with my family. Pulling over and turning off and on the car reset the problem. When lights turned off I received a warning light identifying a faulty right headlight and faulty left headlight. No accident and vehicle is currently outside manufacture warranty.

PARKING BRAKE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2026-02-27 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2013 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that the parking brake seized while leaving a charging station, and the vehicle screeched into oncoming traffic and stalled. The parking brake warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle had not b…

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2026-02-17 · NHTSA

I have a 2013 Tesla Model-S, I have so far spent thousands on this car for door handle related problems over its lifetime. And Tesla still keeps charging for any door repairs. As of now, the driver side door doesn't open from outside and this is a serious safety hazard in case of an accident

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2026-01-23 · NHTSA

On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX] in Barrow County, Georgia when the instrument cluster/speedometer display went completely blank while driving. This is an intermittent issue that occurs without warning - the display turns off and sometimes freezes. Because th…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2026-01-21 · NHTSA

While charging my 2013 Tesla Model S, the vehicle experienced a charging system failure and would no longer charge. Upon inspection, I discovered water intrusion and corrosion on the lower portion of the charging-related electronic circuit board at the bottom of the charging port and right where the High Voltage cable…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2025-12-31 · NHTSA

The screen abruptly shuts down and that is a safety hazard. Tesla has refused to fix this issue.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2025-11-20 · NHTSA

November 20, 2025 To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation Subject: Safety Defect Complaint – Tesla Model S I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious and dangerous safety defect involving my Tesla Model S. Safety Defect Summary:    •   After the high-v…

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2013 Tesla Model S have?
The 2013 Tesla Model S has 416 hp.
Does the 2013 Tesla Model S have recalls?
10 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Lights And Instruments (2024-05-21).
What are the common problems of the 2013 Tesla Model S?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Unknown Or Other.

Other years

Which Tesla Model S year to buy? Recalls and complaints by year

Other models by Tesla

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