2013 Tesla Model S problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2013 Tesla Model S has 460 owner complaints on record with NHTSA, which ranks it 1 of 2 Tesla Model S model years by complaint volume. That is the highest of any year in the run — the 2012 car has 59. 11 recall entries cover this year.
Which recalls cover the 2013?
Parking Brake
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.
Free 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.
Steering
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 of power steering assist.
Free 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.
Air Bags
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag…
Free 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.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Tesla dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2013 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Tesla Model S?
Across every Tesla Model S year, not the 2013 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Electrical System — 202 reports
- Suspension — 87 reports
- Unknown or Other — 76 reports
- Power Train — 35 reports
If your 2013 is doing something now, these are the guides for that system — each opens with whether it is safe to keep driving:
Which other Tesla Model S years should you compare?
← 2012 Tesla Model S · All Tesla Model S years
If you are deciding between years, the Tesla Model S page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2013 before you commit
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