On certain Model S vehicles, the liftgate has plugs that do not allow water to drain, causing condensation to build up inside the tail light assembly. Tail light functionality is not affected. The retrofit of updated drain-type liftgate plugs allows water to escape the liftgate and keep the tail lights dry.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Tesla Model S body problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1crash
What stands out
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Three metal plates are installed on the front subframe to deflect road debris and protect the underbody from possible damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗It is possible to accidentally break off the aeroshield support tab from the HV Battery. If the tab breaks, the mid aeroshield is not fully supported, reducing the aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle. The operation of the HV Battery is not affected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Instructions for installing the carbon fiber spoiler.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TESLA MOTORS: 2012-2014 S MODELS; BULLETIN INSTRUCTIONS AND REPAIR GUIDELINES FOR DRAFT ENTERING CABIN FROM A-PILLAR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Model S vehicles report door handle failures as a dominant recurring issue. Several describe driver-side handles that fail to present, trapping occupants outside the vehicle—one owner was locked out on a freeway and forced to enter via the passenger side in traffic. Multiple handles on the same car fail repeatedly; one owner has had three handle replacements. Tesla acknowledges these are known defects but charges over $400 per repair.
Opposite problem: some owners report handles presenting too far and triggering automatic door opening, turning the security feature into a hazard. Doors then open when the vehicle is parked or when owners approach. More concerning, multiple owners describe rear and passenger doors opening unprompted while driving—one reports the right rear swinging open during turns, creating a fall risk for child passengers.
Front hood latching has failed, with the hood rising to vertical position and blocking the driver's view at 20 mph. There is no mechanical safety catch to prevent full opening if the latch fails.
Assembly quality issues appear in the rear bumper, where three of four mounting nuts were found loose or hand-started only—fasteners located where owners cannot inspect them. One owner found the front bumper mount separating due to rust after six years and under 40,000 miles.
One owner reported sudden acceleration while slowly parking twice within a year; Tesla's logs show an 87% power surge but Tesla concluded driver error. The owner disputes this is physically possible over such a short distance at low speed.
Same Tesla Model S body reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Door handle failure to present
Driver's side door handle does not present (extend) on command, making the door impossible to open from outside. Known defect per Tesla customer service. Owners report this as a recurring problem across multiple door handles on the same vehicle.
When: 6 years, under 40k miles; occurs randomly when approaching or after parking
Symptoms owners cite: Handle will not present when needed; Door cannot be opened from outside; Had to enter vehicle from passenger side in emergency situation on freeway
Repairs/costs cited: Tesla charges over $400 to repair; third-generation handles installed as replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla confirmed known defect but still charges for repair
Door handle presents too far and triggers automatic door opening
When door handle extends, it protrudes so far that the car interprets contact as a door-open command and automatically pops the door. Occurs when owner approaches vehicle or when car enters Park. First-generation design defect affecting early Model S vehicles.
When: Upon approach to vehicle or when shifting to Park
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens automatically when handle presents; Doors do not lock when open; Security hazard as door opens unintended; Safety concern in traffic or populated areas
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite widespread owner reports
Doors open by themselves during operation
Passenger doors, particularly rear doors, open without driver input while vehicle is moving. Reports indicate this happens frequently—rear door swings open during turns. Multiple owners report this as a widespread issue in early Model S vehicles.
When: During normal driving; triggered by turns or vehicle movement after driver door opens
Symptoms owners cite: Right rear passenger door opens when driver door is opened; Door swings open during cornering; Door does not stay latched while moving; Hazard for child passengers sitting in rear
Door unlocks and opens when using unlock command
When driver selects doors to unlock via controls, one or more doors pop open without user physically pulling the handle. May not display on dashboard, so driver is unaware until hearing external noise or visually checking.
When: When using unlock command from infotainment system
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens when unlock command issued; Door opening not always indicated on dashboard; Safety risk of occupant falling out unintentionally
Front passenger door handle presents but will not open door
Door handle extends properly but pulling the handle does not open the door. Reported as second occurrence of this type of failure on same vehicle, suggesting systematic handle design issue.
When: During normal use attempting to open door
Symptoms owners cite: Handle presents but does not open door when pulled; Occurred on multiple door handles on same vehicle
Front hood (frunk) opens while driving
Front hood opens and extends to fully vertical position while vehicle is in motion at 20 mph, completely blocking driver's view. No safety catch or secondary latch prevents full opening if primary latch fails. Button on center screen can activate hood opening; unclear if function disabled during driving.
When: During normal driving after months of no use
Symptoms owners cite: Front hood opens to vertical position; Completely blocks driver's view; No mechanical safety catch to prevent opening; Dashboard button appears to control latch without motion-sensing disable
Front bumper separated from mount due to rust
Impact bumper mount separated from structural bar on one side due to rust. Found during upper control arm replacement. Noise from front end over small bumps. Compromises structural integrity of front crash protection zone.
When: Unknown onset; discovered during maintenance at under 40k miles (car is 6 years old)
Symptoms owners cite: Noise from front of vehicle over bumps; Bumper mount rust and separation; Loss of crash protection at impact zone
Rear bumper assembly fastener quality control failure
During trailer hitch installation, three of four nuts on right side of steel rear bumper cross-member were found loose or only hand-started. Fasteners located in area not accessible for inspection without disassembly. Affects crash crumple zone integrity and rear-facing jump seat protection.
When: At time of manufacture; discovered during aftermarket installation
Symptoms owners cite: Loose fasteners on rear bumper cross-member; Three of four nuts not properly secured; Location not inspectable during normal ownership
Unintended acceleration in parking
Vehicle accelerates abruptly while pulling into parking spot at low speed after driver released accelerator and lightly tapped brake. Occurred twice in same owner's vehicle within one year. Tesla diagnostic logs show acceleration of 87% in approximately 2 feet, which owner disputes as physically implausible at those speeds. Tesla concluded driver error; owner contests this determination.
When: While slowly pulling into parking spots; second occurrence one year after first incident
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden vehicle acceleration despite foot off gas pedal; Occurred during slow parking maneuver (3 mph to higher speed); Struck palm tree and brick pillar in separate incidents; No airbag deployment
Codes mentioned: Acceleration at 87% during low-speed maneuver
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla pulled logs, escalated to management, concluded driver error despite owner dispute of physical plausibility
Cross-door relay malfunction opening unselected doors
When opening driver or rear passenger doors while parked, front passenger door unlatches automatically. Relay system appears to be triggering door unlock on unintended doors. Does not occur every time but happens 50% or more of the time.
When: When opening other doors while vehicle is parked
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger door unlatches when not selected; Occurs about 50%+ of attempted openings; Intermittent electrical relay fault
Third-row ventilation inadequate
Ventilation in third-row seating produces temperatures so high that child passengers become ill and vomit. Tesla acknowledged the problem over a year prior to complaint but has not implemented fix. Owner unable to obtain response from Tesla customer service.
When: During normal operation, particularly in warm weather
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive heat in third-row seating area; Children becoming ill and vomiting; Inadequate airflow to rear seating
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla acknowledged issue over a year ago but no repair or remedy provided
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
When driving out of parking lot I turned on to the main road and was going about 20 mph when the front hood of car ( Tesla calls this the frunk) came open and raised up to a vertical position completely blocking my view. Fortunately I was going slowly and was able to pull off to the right shoulder and stop. I then was able to close this hood and continue home. Nothing appears damaged. I have…
Had body trouble with your 2013 Tesla Model S?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2013 Tesla Model S?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 49,833 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Tesla/Model S.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.