Repeated emmc failure, reoccurring failures and reboots of the mcu , see investigation:ea 20-003. Since there are over 100k miles, Tesla suggests $2700 mcu replacement, not free emmc replacement as they are doing for models with under 100k miles
2013 Tesla Model S powertrain problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 31 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Tesla Model S, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Owners have filed 31 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
2013 Model S owners report systematic failures across three major systems. Rear drive units whine and fail between 45k and 98k miles; some vehicles have required two replacements in their lifespan, costing $5,000–$7,000 each time. Battery packs corrode from AC coolant hose leaks pooling on the fuse box, a design flaw Tesla addressed in replacement units but refuses to cover under warranty—replacement cost runs $13,000–$15,500. MCU touch screens fail due to eMMC memory chip degradation, leaving owners without climate control, backup camera, charging controls, or navigation; replacement runs $1,100–$2,700 and Tesla mandates buying the entire unit, not just the failed chip.
In June 2019, Tesla remotely reduced battery capacity 12–16% on affected cars via forced OTA update, cutting driving range by 41 miles or more and doubling charging time, without notifying owners beforehand. Owners now past the extended 8-year/125k-mile warranty face repair bills of $9,000–$15,000 with no manufacturer recourse, despite industry data showing 66% of early Model S vehicles experience powertrain failure by 60k miles. Several owners report losing all propulsion suddenly on highways or city streets, creating unsafe conditions they could not predict or prevent.
Same Tesla Model S powertrain reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Battery Pack / Fuse Box Corrosion
AC hose leaks water onto fuse box cover under battery pack, causing corrosion and complete battery pack failure. Tesla redesigned the fuse box location in replacement units but does not repair or replace failed units under warranty despite knowing of the defect.
When: 2013–2022; appears after AC use in hot weather; corrosion-related failures after 9 years of ownership reported
Symptoms owners cite: All electrical systems shutting down warning displayed; Complete loss of propulsion; Car required towing
Repairs/costs cited: Full battery pack replacement cost $13,000–$15,545.97. Tesla claimed to redesign fuse box placement in replacement units.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service centers declined to show customers the corroded fuse box, refused photos, and refused warranty coverage despite design being known and subsequently changed.
Rear Drive Unit Failure
Rear electric motor fails prematurely, often after previous replacement. Failures occur between 45k and 98k miles on original or replacement units, causing sudden loss of propulsion on roadways. Multiple owners report whining noise before failure.
When: 45k–98k miles; failures reported 3–6 years after previous replacement; one failure at 24k miles, others at 56k, 78.5k, 98k, 150k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud whining noise from rear drive unit; Loss of motive power while driving at highway speeds; Unintended acceleration followed by sudden power loss; Gear selector (P, N, R, D) flashing red / unresponsive; Knocking sound from drivetrain; Car stalls or stops suddenly without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost $5,000–$7,000+ per occurrence. One owner replaced drive unit twice: first at 45k miles under warranty, second at 98k miles at personal cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla warranty covers 8 years / 125k miles (extended from prior 4 years / 50k miles), but once expired, Tesla requires full out-of-pocket replacement. Whining noise was dismissed as normal by service during warranty period despite leading to failure after expiration.
Powertrain Failure (General)
Early Model S powertrains fail at rates estimated by owners at 66% by 60k miles. Failures result in sudden loss of all drive power. One owner notes the increased warranty to 8 years/125k miles (from 4 years/50k miles) is de facto admission of systemic defect; vehicle now 9 years old and out of coverage.
When: Typically 56k–70k miles; warranty extension to 8 years/125k miles suggests recognition of early failure rate
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of propulsion; Car unable to drive; Multiple alerts: 'Power reduced,' 'Service required,' 'Vehicle shutting down,' 'May not restart'
Repairs/costs cited: One owner quoted $9,000+ for powertrain repair (combined with center screen repair). Another quoted $10,000 for powertrain failure repair at 70k miles, just after warranty expiration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla extended warranty to 8 years/125k miles. Owners outside this window receive no coverage despite industry recognition of widespread defect.
Drive Unit Inverter Failure
Internal failure of the inverter and drive unit assembly causes sudden complete loss of propulsion. Rear wheels lock even in neutral or tow mode, rendering the vehicle immobile.
When: Miles not specified; one incident on freeway off-ramp
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden 'power reduced' flash on screen; Complete inability to move forward or roll freely; Rear wheels locked in all drive modes including neutral and tow mode; Vehicle could not be pushed by four people
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost estimated over $6,000 for inverter unit replacement.
Battery Failure – Water Intrusion / Faulty Seals
Water intrusion into battery pack through faulty seals on rapid-mate charging connector causes internal failure, complete battery discharge, and overcurrent conditions. Owner received no advance warning despite alerts on display.
When: Not specified; owner received multiple alerts but drove car home before battery failed completely the next day
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple alerts: 'Power reduced,' 'Shutting down,' 'Service required,' 'Pull over safely,' 'May not restart'; Complete battery failure requiring replacement; Battery would not hold charge
Repairs/costs cited: Complete battery replacement required. Tesla identified faulty seals on rapid-mate connector as cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty coverage implied; repair required at owner expense.
MCU (Media Control Unit) eMMC Memory Failure
MCU1 eMMC memory chip fails, rendering the center touch screen inoperable and disabling most vehicle controls including climate, charging, backup camera, radio, turn signals, and navigation. Known issue under NHTSA investigation EA 20-003. Failures occur both during and after warranty; some owners report repeated failures.
When: First failure reported after 8+ years of ownership; repeated failures in same vehicle; one owner's MCU failed after previous $1,100 screen replacement one year prior
Symptoms owners cite: Center touch screen unresponsive or goes dark; Loss of climate control (defrost/fog); Loss of backup camera; Inability to charge car past 20% state of charge (stranding vehicle); Loss of turn signal controls; Loss of radio and navigation; MCU reboots intermittently then fails completely
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost $1,100–$1,600+ per service. Tesla mandates replacement of entire MCU assembly (which includes new screen) even if only eMMC is faulty; owner cannot purchase eMMC chip alone. Some owners (under 100k miles) received free eMMC replacement; owners over 100k miles charged full MCU cost ($2,700).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known issue under NHTSA investigation EA 20-003 and DP19005. Tesla issues occasional OTA updates attempting to extend eMMC lifespan. No recall issued. Warranty coverage varies by mileage; some owners denied coverage due to mileage thresholds.
Battery Management System Software Update – Forced Capacity and Performance Reduction
Tesla issued OTA software update (June 2019) to address fire risk in early Model S batteries, but did not inform owners beforehand of the consequences. Update forcibly capped battery maximum voltage and charging rate without owner approval, resulting in permanent 12–16% loss of rated driving range (41 miles in one case) and 50%+ reduction in charging speed. Update was claimed 'out of an abundance of caution' following non-crash fires but no official safety recall was issued.
When: June 23–24, 2019; forced OTA update deployed to parked vehicles; one owner reports cell voltage capped from 4.2V to 4.09V per cell
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of driving range: 256 miles reduced to 215 miles (41-mile loss); 237 miles reduced to 208 miles (12% loss); Charging rate reduced by 50%+; charging time doubled in some cases; Reduced acceleration and overall powertrain performance; No owner notification or explanation provided before or after update; User cannot decline or reverse update
Repairs/costs cited: No repair available; permanent reduction in vehicle capability. One owner reported concern: if medical emergency occurred during drive, reduced range could prevent reaching hospital.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla issued OTA update 'out of an abundance of caution' after multiple non-crash fires in early Model S vehicles. No official NHTSA safety recall issued. Tesla refused to explain the update to owners or provide advance notice of range and performance consequences. Some owners refused the update and expressed concern about fire risk without it.
Gear Selector / Transmission Control Malfunction
Vehicle unable to shift out of Park or into Reverse. Unintended acceleration occurs in cold temperatures. Computer reprogramming during warranty failed to resolve the issue.
When: Early operation (~200 miles); cold-weather driving
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to select Reverse gear after computer re-flash; Unintended acceleration in cold temperatures; Shifting issues when using Reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Computer system was reprogrammed; problem recurred. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service center performed re-flash but issue returned; vehicle returned to owner in non-functional state.
Drive Unit Rust and Corrosion
Drive unit corrodes or rusts prematurely, causing loss of motive power and requiring replacement.
When: One case at 150k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to respond when accelerator depressed; 'Take to Service' message displayed; Reduced power and acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Drive unit replacement required; vehicle not repaired due to cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla informed owner via diagnosis that drive unit was rusted.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Tesla Model S?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 68,752 and 121,000 miles, with the median around 110,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 68,752; a quarter make it past 121,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.