The 2013 Model S was Tesla's first mass-production vehicle, and it shows — early drive units fail frequently, the 12V battery system causes bizarre electrical gremlins, and the MCU (touchscreen computer) degrades predictably. These are groundbreaking EVs with serious growing pains.
Drive Unit (Motor/Inverter/Gearbox Assembly) Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Milling/grinding noise during acceleration or deceleration, Clunking from rear axle especially when cold, Drivetrain error messages and reduced power modes, Leaking drive unit fluid (gear oil) visible under car
Fix: Tesla replaces entire drive unit as an assembly (motor, inverter, single-speed gearbox). Requires lift, high-voltage disconnect, halfshaft removal. 6-8 hours labor if parts are on hand. Early units had inadequate lubrication and bearing issues — many were replaced under warranty or goodwill, but 2013s are aging out of coverage.
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,000
Media Control Unit (MCU) Failure / eMMC Memory Degradation
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: Touchscreen becomes sluggish, freezes, or reboots randomly, Yellow border around screen (MCU failure warning), Backup camera black screen or delayed image, Complete loss of center display — HVAC and navigation unavailable
Fix: The Tegra 3 MCU in 2013 uses eMMC flash memory that wears out from constant logging. Tesla originally charged $2,500+ for MCU replacement; aftermarket shops now offer eMMC chip-level repair or MCU board swap. 2-3 hours bench work plus dash removal. Tesla's official 'Infotainment Upgrade' to MCU2 is $1,500 but requires compatible hardware.
Estimated cost: $500-1,500
12V Battery Failures Causing System Lockouts
Common · high severity
Symptoms: Car won't wake from sleep — doors won't unlock with key fob or app, Frunk won't open, no interior lights, touchscreen dead on entry, Warning messages about 12V system on startup, Vehicle stranded despite full high-voltage battery charge
Fix: The 12V lead-acid battery powers all computers and door locks; it's charged by a DC-DC converter from the main pack. Early Model S used undersized batteries that fail every 3-4 years. Replacement requires frunk access (or manual release if locked out), 0.5 hours labor. Unlike ICE cars, a dead 12V in a Tesla means total vehicle lockout — serious tow-home scenario.
Estimated cost: $200-400
Door Handle Mechanism Failures
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Handle extends but won't retract (stays out), Handle doesn't present when approaching with key, Grinding/clicking noise when handle extends, Handle stuck inside door, preventing manual opening
Fix: The motorized pop-out door handles use small gearmotors and micro-switches that wear out or strip gears. Each handle is a separate assembly. Requires door panel removal, 1.5-2 hours per door. Tesla redesigned these multiple times — early 2013 units are worst. Some owners proactively replace all four to avoid repeated work.
Estimated cost: $400-700 per door
High-Voltage Battery Coolant Leaks
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue-green fluid pooling under vehicle (not washer fluid — this is toxic glycol), Battery thermal management warnings on screen, Reduced charging speed or range due to thermal limits, Coolant level low warning
Fix: The battery pack has a dedicated liquid cooling loop with hoses, fittings, and a pump. Fittings can weep or crack; occasionally the cooling plate inside the pack itself leaks (catastrophic repair). External leaks: 3-4 hours to trace and replace lines/fittings. Internal pack leaks require full HV battery removal and possible module replacement — $10k+ territory.
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front or rear suspension, Wandering steering or imprecise turn-in, Uneven tire wear on inside edges, Visible cracking in rubber bushings during inspection
Fix: Model S is heavy (4,600+ lbs) and suspension bushings wear faster than typical sedans. Front upper control arms and rear trailing arm bushings are common culprits. Alignment required after replacement. 2-4 hours labor depending on which arms are done. Not unique to Tesla but accelerated by weight.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Charge Port Door Actuator Failure
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Charge port door won't open when pressing on screen or tapping with charger, Door opens but won't close and latch, Manual release required to access charge port, Charge port LED ring doesn't illuminate
Fix: Motorized charge port door uses a small actuator and latch mechanism that can fail. Requires rear quarter trim removal. 1-2 hours labor. Fairly easy DIY if parts are sourced. More annoyance than critical failure — you can manually open with emergency release.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Owner tips
Replace the 12V battery every 3-4 years preemptively — it's cheap insurance against getting locked out of a $60k car
Budget $1,000-1,500 annually for the MCU fix and drive unit unknowns if buying out of warranty — these aren't 'if' but 'when' on 2013s
Check service records for drive unit replacement history; if it hasn't been done yet over 80k mi, it's likely due
Verify high-voltage battery warranty status and degradation — 2013 packs are now 11+ years old and capacity loss is real
Join Tesla owner forums (TMC, r/TeslaModel S) — the DIY community has solved many expensive dealer-only repairs with affordable workarounds
Only if you're handy or have deep pockets — these are beta-test vehicles with brilliant engineering and predictable expensive failures; great to drive, expensive to own past 100k miles.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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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 vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
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.
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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Consequence: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
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) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
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 Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Consequence: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · 21V035000
2021-01-29 · EA20003
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 display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.
Consequence: The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 18V204000
2018-03-29
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 of power steering assist.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-18-32-002.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V031000
2018-01-09 · EA15001
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 of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-18-20-001.
PARKING BRAKE · 17V260000
2017-04-19
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.
Consequence: If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-33-002.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT · 15V780000
2015-11-23
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 outboard lap pretensioner.
Consequence: If the seat belt is not correctly attached to the pretensioner, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
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. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-15-20-002.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL · 14V006000
2014-01-13
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.
Consequence: An overheated adapter, cord, or wall outlet increases the risk of burn injury and/or fire.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners and provide an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Some owners have already received this update. This update allows the Model S on board charging system to detect any unexpected fluctuations in the input power or higher resistance connections to the vehicle. If detected, the onboard charging system will automatically reduce the charging current by 25%. Tesla owners can verify that they have received the updated software (version 5.8.4 or later) by viewing the vehicle's center information screen. Additionally, Tesla will mail owners a replacement NEMA 14-50 adapter that is equipped with an internal thermal fuse. The recall began on March 14, 2014. Owners may contact Tesla Service Center at 1-877-79-TESLA (1-877-798-3752).
SEATS · 13V249000
2013-06-14
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 bracket and the frame of the vehicle.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the left hand seat back may not stay mounted, increasing the risk of injury to passengers.
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 frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2013. Owners may contact Tesla at 1-650-681-5000.
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