On certain Model S and Model X vehicles, the battery powered Pyrotechnic High Voltage (HV) Battery Disconnect will reach the end of its battery lifespan in the near future, which will trigger alerts and may limit the vehicle’s performance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Tesla Model S electrical problems
critical 168 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
168
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
7crashes
12fires
11injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 168 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Tesla Model S, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Tesla Model S we track for electrical problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 168.
Electrical accounts for 37% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
Some customers in Europe have vehicles with one charger, which limits the vehicle?s charging rate to 16 A when the vehicle is connected to a charging station capable of supplying more than 16 A single phase. The vehicle?s 3-phase charging capability is unaffected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Tesla is committed to continuous improvement of the security of its products and advises customers to always install the latest mobile app and vehicle software releases to remain as secure as possible. On approximately May 1, 2020, the Tesla connectivity network is undergoing enhancements for increased security, reliability, and scalability. In order for vehicles to maintain compatibility with and access to features requiring Tesla network connectivity (such as receiving future over-the-air software updates, accessing the mobile app and associated features, utilizing voice commands, receiving streaming media content, etc.), vehicles must be running software version 2019.40.2.3 or newer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ECU has a built-in antenna that receives signals from the TPMS sensors. Earlier versions of the TPMS ECU were equipped with an antenna that might not receive reliable readings from the front sensors, causing the TPMS indicator light to be displayed inaccurately, even when the tires are properly inflated.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Model S vehicles describe a cascade of electrical failures. The most pervasive is the MCU (media control unit) touchscreen going black or unresponsive—a known wear-out of the 8GB eMMC memory that stores software. When it fails, owners lose the backup camera, turn-signal audio, HVAC controls, navigation, and even the ability to charge the car remotely. Replacement costs $1,400–$2,400, and service centers sometimes deny coverage even when the vehicle is under 100,000 miles at complaint time, citing arbitrary mileage thresholds. Some owners report the replacement MCU fails again within 14 months.
Battery defects are equally alarming. Several owners report sudden loss of power while driving at highway speed, forcing a dangerous coast-to-stop. Water intrusion into the charging port corrodes electronics and prevents charging; 2014+ models include a drain hole that the 2013 lacks, suggesting Tesla was aware of the design flaw. Cooling-system leaks onto the battery are also documented.
Charging equipment overheats and melts, and at least two parked vehicles caught fire while charging without any formal Tesla recall. Over-the-air software updates have forcibly reduced battery voltage and range (by 30+ miles) without owner consent or warning, with Tesla citing "fire safety" but offering no transparency or compensation for lost performance owners paid for.
Owners report unintended acceleration during parking, brake pedal failures, door handles that won't extend, and speedometer blanking while driving—safety hazards that Tesla has sometimes blamed on "driver error" or dismissed as warranty-voided issues.
Same Tesla Model S electrical reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Media Control Unit (MCU) eMMC Flash Memory Failure
The 8GB eMMC (embedded multimedia card) memory in the MCU fails due to write-cycle exhaustion, causing the touchscreen to go black, freeze, or become unresponsive. This is a known wear-out mechanism affecting early Model S vehicles (pre-2015). When the MCU dies, owners lose control of critical vehicle functions.
When: Typically occurs between 40,000–180,000 miles; symptoms can begin around 60,000 miles and worsen over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Touchscreen goes blank or unresponsive; Screen freezes and requires steering-wheel reboot; Loss of backup camera; Loss of HVAC control (heating, cooling, defrost); Loss of turn-signal sound indicators; Loss of navigation and GPS; Loss of radio and Bluetooth audio; Loss of steering-wheel controls (HVAC, radio, sunroof, voice commands); Headlights stuck in auto mode; Loss of garage-door opener control; Inability to adjust suspension or charging settings via app; Slow startup times before failure; Cellular connectivity icon shows no signal despite coverage
Codes mentioned: EMMC failure, eMMC flash memory wear-out
Repairs/costs cited: Tesla replacement of the MCU unit; cost reported at $1,400–$2,400 (labor and parts) when out of warranty. Remanufactured units available at $1,900. Some owners report that replacement units fail again within 14 months due to same underlying eMMC issue. Tesla issued warranty-adjustment program (SB-21-21-001, NHTSA Recall 21V-119) covering vehicles under 100,000 miles, but owners over that threshold at time of report receive no coverage despite reporting failure before the mileage threshold was crossed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla warranty-adjustment program SB-21-21-001 and NHTSA Recall 21V-119 address MCU eMMC failure; covers vehicles under 100,000 miles. Service centers initially blamed software being 'too new' for older hardware. Some owners reported Tesla service centers did not inform them of applicable recalls.
MCU Adhesive Failure and Toxic Liquid Leakage
The adhesive bonding the touchscreen display deteriorates due to heat exposure, causing liquid to leak from the screen. Owners report a sticky, toxic glue accumulating on interior surfaces and claim this is a carcinogenic substance.
When: Reported over multi-year periods; leakage worsens in hot weather.
Symptoms owners cite: Air bubbles visible within the touchscreen; Sticky liquid leaking from screen area; Liquid accumulation in storage area below screen; Chemical odor
Repairs/costs cited: Screen replacement cost ~$2,400 for new unit or $1,900 for remanufactured; labor additional. Owners report repeatedly cleaning leaking liquid from interior. Tesla declined coverage, citing out-of-warranty status.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No official recall. Tesla service refused responsibility, citing out-of-warranty status. Later production vehicles use different display adhesive, suggesting Tesla was aware of the material limitation.
Battery Failure During Driving
High-voltage battery pack fails suddenly while vehicle is in motion, causing loss of propulsion and electrical power. Owners report the vehicle loses motive power and enters limp mode with minimal warning, forcing a coast-to-stop.
When: Reported at approximately 45,000 miles and higher; one case at 95,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power and electrical power while driving; Vehicle enters limp mode; Warning message: 'Vehicle about to shut off' or 'Maximum battery charge level reduced'; Vehicle coasts to a stop in traffic; Battery warning light illuminated
Codes mentioned: Battery malfunction code
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement required. Dealer replaced battery multiple times in one case (three replacements total); unit was later determined to be non-new on third install. Owners also report water intrusion and corrosion on charging port electronics causing battery charging failure. One owner cited a design defect: no drain hole in charging port area (added in 2014+ models) allows water accumulation on circuit board near high-voltage cables.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Battery warranty (8-year unlimited miles for pre-2015; extended to 150,000 miles for later vehicles under certain programs). However, owners report Tesla refusing warranty claims or demanding $19,000+ out-of-warranty replacement. Some owners claim Tesla locked vehicles pending payment.
Unintended Acceleration During Parking
Vehicle accelerates suddenly while driver is attempting to park at low speed, despite foot on brake or shift to neutral. Two separate incidents reported in same vehicle.
When: 2016 spring incident and September 30, 2019 incident; vehicle model year 2013.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suddenly accelerates at full throttle during low-speed parking maneuver; Brake pedal appears unresponsive despite being depressed; Accelerator pedal becomes limp (zero resistance) after collision; PRND (Park/Reverse/Neutral/Drive) indicator lights up in red after incident; Vehicle unable to shift into Drive or Reverse after collision
Repairs/costs cited: First incident: vehicle impacted cement block and parked car; total undercarriage and left-side damage. Second incident: vehicle impacted golf cart; right front-end damage. In second case, autobody shop discovered accelerator pedal was physically broken after the collision. Tesla claimed 'driver error' on second incident and reported accelerator went from 0% to 88% suddenly, but owners dispute this given skid marks and broken pedal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla denied both incidents initially, claiming driver error. Technicians claimed no malfunction shown in telemetry for second incident despite physical evidence (skid marks, broken pedal, collision damage).
Loss of Door and Window Control
Door handles fail to extend or open, and windows fail to respond to commands. In extreme cases, doors cannot be opened by emergency responders, creating a serious safety hazard.
When: Reported 11 days prior to complaint filing; ongoing issue throughout vehicle ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Door handles do not extend when button pressed; 3 of 4 doors unable to open; Windows unresponsive to commands; Cannot open windows for emergency communication
Repairs/costs cited: Repair required; owners were charged out-of-warranty fees. One owner cited concerns about emergency responder access and referenced a fatal Tesla crash where responders could not open the door.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service initially resisted treating as safety issue; focused on charging for out-of-warranty repair rather than investigating root cause. Owner documented numerous service failures over vehicle ownership.
Software-Induced Battery Voltage Cap and Range Reduction
Over-the-air software update forcibly installed on parked vehicle without owner notification or consent reduces maximum battery cell voltage and usable range. Tesla cited 'fire safety' as reason following incidents of parked vehicles catching fire, but did not formally issue a recall or provide transparency.
When: June 2019 for most reports; affects vehicles across multiple model years.
Symptoms owners cite: Rated range reduced by 30–31 miles or more (e.g., 257 miles → 226 miles); Battery cell voltage capped at 4.09V instead of 4.2V; Supercharger speed reduced 2–3× (4+ hours for 200-mile charge instead of 50 minutes); Charging amperage limited to very low levels; Loss of acceleration performance; Home charging maxed out at very low amperage; App control unavailable to adjust charging settings
Codes mentioned: Software version 2019.16.x and later (fire-safety update)
Repairs/costs cited: No hardware repair; update cannot be reversed without contacting Tesla and requesting a 'downgrade' (not officially supported). Owners report paying for purchased range/power upgrades that were effectively disabled. One owner cited apple-iPhone-battery-throttling-lawsuit parallels.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla issued forced OTA update 'out of an abundance of caution' following several parked-vehicle fires caused by battery cell damage. Tesla did not issue formal NHTSA recall, service bulletin, or recall notice. No transparency about the safety issue or consequences of update. Tesla initially claimed no safety recall was issued but later acknowledged the fire-safety motivation.
Charging System Failure – Connector Overheating and Melting
Tesla charging adapter and connector hardware overheat and melt during charging, posing fire hazard. Multiple reports of insufficient weld quality on UMC (Universal Mobile Connector) and adapter connections; inadequate current-carrying capability for sustained high current.
When: Reports span 2013–2022; appears ongoing across generations.
Symptoms owners cite: Charger plug and cordset overheat during charging; Melting plastic and internal components inside adapter; Smoke and burning-plastic odor from charging equipment; Fused adapter-to-cord connection
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement adapter and cordset provided by Tesla mobile service in some cases. Owners report new adapters also failing. Cost not specified in narratives; some replacements done under recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V006000 issued; Tesla mailed replacement adapters starting late 2014. However, owners report slow recall rollout, incorrect mailing addresses, and replacement adapters lacking promised thermal fuses. Some revised gray adapters still overheat and melt. Tesla blamed house wiring and wall outlets as primary cause; owners dispute this, providing evidence of failures with compliant outlets and wiring.
Vehicle Battery Fire While Charging
High-voltage battery ignites and burns while vehicle is charging in garage or at home. Fire destroys vehicle and adjacent property; Tesla denies battery involvement and refuses warranty coverage.
When: Reports from 2013–2021; one detailed case from December 30, 2020 (5:25–5:37 AM).
Symptoms owners cite: Charging interrupted notification sent to owner's phone; Alarm activated on vehicle; Visible flames in garage; Smoke alarms triggered throughout house; Vehicle and adjacent Tesla burn; property severely damaged
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle totaled; half of house destroyed in fire. Tesla refused to inspect or take responsibility. Another owner cited a Toronto 2014 garage fire; Tesla initially claimed battery not involved, but video evidence suggests otherwise.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla declined responsibility and refused to inspect vehicle. Warranty disclaimers invoked. Tesla has not issued recalls related to parked-charging fires, though some owners allege multiple fires are linked to battery and charging-system defects.
Instrument Cluster and Speedometer Display Failure
Speedometer and instrument-cluster display goes blank or freezes intermittently while driving, eliminating driver visibility of vehicle speed. One owner was cited for speeding because speedometer was not displaying.
When: June 2019 reported; intermittent but recurring; one case in November 2025.
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument cluster display goes completely blank while driving; Speedometer does not display (owner unaware of speed); Display freezes; Display blacks out and re-activates after minutes, hours, or until vehicle next driven
Codes mentioned: eMMC recall SB-21-21-001, NHTSA Recall 21V-119 (relates to MCU eMMC affecting speedometer and critical displays)
Repairs/costs cited: Tesla service cleared filesystem caches in one case but did not perform the eMMC recall repair. Owner received traffic citation as a result.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service blamed older hardware being unable to keep up with newer software. NHTSA Recall 21V-119 acknowledges this as a safety issue affecting critical displays. However, service centers do not always inform owners of the applicable recall.
Brake and Suspension Issues
Brake system shakes during braking; side-view mirrors fail to extend while driving.
When: June 2019 onward; mirrors malfunction intermittently (5–30 minutes into drive).
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal shakes during braking; Side-view mirrors fail to extend while driving; Mirrors eventually extend after 5–30 minutes of driving
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; Tesla service offered no resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service attributed to older hardware not keeping up with software; implied no warranty coverage.
Loss of Transmission Mode (Neutral/Park) After Battery Failure
After high-voltage battery fails, vehicle cannot shift into Neutral or Park, and emergency/parking brake will not engage. Vehicle becomes free-rolling and uncontrollable.
When: November 20, 2025 (recent report).
Symptoms owners cite: High-voltage battery failure; Vehicle unable to enter Neutral after battery failure; Vehicle unable to enter Park; Emergency parking brake will not engage; Vehicle free-rolling and uncontrollable; Tow Mode engaged but vehicle cannot exit Tow Mode or engage Park
Codes mentioned: High-voltage battery failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle stuck in Tow Mode in driveway with physical objects behind wheels to prevent rolling. Tesla technicians also unable to engage Park or emergency brake.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented; case recently filed.
Coolant Leakage onto Battery
Coolant leaks from HVAC or cooling system onto high-voltage battery, causing corrosion and charging failure. Later model design includes drain in area to prevent this.
When: Reported at approximately 179,000 miles; one case at 95,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Battery warning light illuminated; Battery not charging properly after coolant leak; Water intrusion and corrosion on charging-port electronics; Loss of charging capability (rendering vehicle inoperable)
Codes mentioned: Charging port failure code
Repairs/costs cited: Charging port replacement attempted but failure persisted; MCU firmware update attempted but failure continued. Design issue: 2013 model lacks drain hole in charging port area; 2014+ models include drain, directly addressing water accumulation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service center initially attributed to house electricity; later diagnosed charging port replacement needed. Further service did not resolve underlying design issue.
Unintended Forward Lurch at Parking (Low-Speed Acceleration Incident)
While attempting to park at very low speed (3 MPH) with foot on brake, vehicle suddenly lunges forward at full throttle, crashes into curb/berm and fire hydrant. Water damage floods interior.
When: July 16, 2015.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lunges forward when brake applied; Accelerates over curb and berm at full throttle; Brake lights observed on during accident (witness account); No visibility after fire hydrant rupture and water geyser; Windows rolled down (either short circuit or safety feature response to water)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled due to heavy water damage from fire hydrant rupture. Never inspected by Tesla for root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla claimed either short circuit caused windows to roll down or safety feature was triggered. Did not investigate accelerator malfunction. Vehicle sent to service center but was totaled before thorough investigation.
Side-View Mirror Malfunction
Side-view mirrors fail to extend during driving; eventually extend after 5–30 minutes of operation.
When: Reported June 2019 onward.
Symptoms owners cite: Mirrors do not extend while driving; Mirrors extend after 5–30 minutes
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla attributed to older hardware being unable to keep pace with software updates.
Burning Electrical Smell (Possible Manufacturing Offgassing)
Strong burning-electrical smell emanates from vehicle vents on initial delivery, causing dizziness and nausea in occupants. Tesla advised the smell would dissipate over time.
When: July 1, 2013 (at delivery).
Symptoms owners cite: Burning-plastic or electrical smell through vents; Dizziness and nausea in occupants; Smell strong enough to require stopping and exiting vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: No repair; Tesla told owner to open windows and wait for smell to dissipate.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla advised owner: 'Do not worry about it, the smell will eventually go away.' Advised opening windows. No investigation or recall issued despite owner noting multiple complaints in Tesla forum.
Touchscreen Unresponsiveness and Partial Boot Failures
Touchscreen takes excessively long to boot or fails to boot entirely; display boots partially or has intermittent responsiveness issues. Related to eMMC memory degradation and software update conflicts.
When: Reported throughout 2018–2022; one case indicates 1+ hour boot time.
Symptoms owners cite: Touchscreen takes 1+ hour to boot; Partial boot with display issues (pixelation, frozen segments); Screen remains black until vehicle is exited and re-entered; Loss of all touchscreen-dependent functions during unresponsive periods
Codes mentioned: eMMC failure
Repairs/costs cited: MCU unit replacement (cost ~$1,400–$2,400). Owners report replacement units also eventually failing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla warranty-adjustment program SB-21-21-001 covers vehicles under 100,000 miles. Service centers sometimes unclear on which screen revision matches vehicle and unable to provide definitive repair cost.
Synthesized from 168 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
The screen abruptly shuts down and that is a safety hazard. Tesla has refused to fix this issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive and electrical power. A warning message stating that the vehicle was about to shut off was illuminated. The contact swerved to the right, attempting to veer to the side of the road on the right lane; however, the vehicle stopped midway and a semi-truck almost crashed into…
Allegedly: a Tesla owner awoke to the smell of burning electrical. She called 911. A fire fighter was injured responding to the garage fire. Fire investigators suspect that the origin of the fire was the wall socket or the Tesla universal mobile connector from the Tesla charging system plugged into the wall outlet. I've seen evidence of many of Tesla's charging connections fail. Even if the…
Many Tesla owners have alleged having problems with their Tesla power plugs and or adapters for their chargers. Here is another example. Quote: "had a very disturbing incident last night. My model s was charging in my garage when my smoke detector went off. I ran to the garage and saw plumes of smoke coming from the Tesla nema 14-50 adapter. The car was still charging! I unplugged the charger…
Many Tesla owners have been alleged having problems with their Tesla power plugs and or adapters for their chargers. Here is another example. Quote:"I plugged in the models today and the power ring turned red. Looked at the universal wall connector and it was red. I tried unplugging it and replugging it in and no better. I then took the nema 14-50 adapter off from the cable and this is what I…
The contact owns a 2013 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the media control unit turned off and was unable to operate the windows or the Air Conditioner in the vehicle. The contact stated that the temperature inside the vehicle began to rise and had to park the vehicle for 30 minutes. The contact stated she was able to restart the vehicle and was able to access…
In june 2019 I noticed the control screen of my 2013 Tesla model s going blank randomly while the car was in motion and then re-activating after minutes, hours or until the car sat before being driven again. This continues and I am unable to access the screen to select the backup camera as the screen freezes and does not allow use of any features. Periodically the side view mirrors will not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Tesla model s. The contact stated that the charging cord became extremely hot and the contact was burned after making contact with the cord. The plastic part of the cord had also melted. The charging cord was disconnected and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, who advised the contact to call the fire department. The fire department found the charging cord…
Allegedly a Tesla owner had a charge plug and adapter overheat and melt, that could have caused a full blown fire. I find this concerning, especially in light of a recent Tesla garage fire, that the fire department ruled the Tesla charging circuit as a possible source. Melted charging adapter/cord last evening my wife and I noticed what smelled like melting plastic. After a thorough…
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2013 Tesla Model S?
It's a serious issue. 168 complaints have been filed, including 7 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 102 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 63,000 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 88,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 63,000; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.