SCREEN FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN ALL SYSTEMS BEING UNABLE TO OPERATE. CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND TESLA REQUIRED THE UNIT BE COMPLETELY REPLACED FOR
NHTSA ODI 11374967
Home · 2013 Tesla Model S 75 · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
Newest first · 459 complaints · page 8 of 19
SCREEN FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN ALL SYSTEMS BEING UNABLE TO OPERATE. CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND TESLA REQUIRED THE UNIT BE COMPLETELY REPLACED FOR
NHTSA ODI 11374967
I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN. I TOLD TESLA THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REFUSE TO DO SO, SAYING THAT THEY RUN INTERNAL DIAGNOSTICS AND IT SAYS MINE ISN'T AFFECTED. I HAVE MULTIPLE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS SHOWING THAT THEY ARE WRONG. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF A RECALL BY DOING A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT BUT ARE ACTUALLY NOT DOING ANY REPLACEMENTS. THERE ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH MY SCREENS ONT BOOT FOR OVER AN HOUR, OR THAT IT PARTIALLY BOOTS AND HAS DISPLAY ISSUES. PLEASE FORCE THEN1 TO ISSUE A RECALL, AS THEY ARE NOT BEING FAIR AND ACTUALLY REPLACING ANY ISSUES. I HAVE ASKED THE. MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY DO NOT AGREE WITH MY ASSESSMENT EVEN THOUGH I SEND THEM VIDEOS AND PHOTOS. THEY ARE SKIRTING THE LAW. PLEASE HELP. I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL VIDEO I CAN SEND YOU IF YOU'D LIKE.
NHTSA ODI 11374717
NHTSA ACTION #: PE20010 MY TESLA RECENTLY HAD THE BLACK SCREEN FOLLOWING THE SYSTEM DEGREDATION THAT FALLS IN LINE WITH ME MEMORY CHIP FAILURE KNOWN IN THE MODEL S 2013-2016. I AM UNABLE TO USE MY BLINKERS, MAIN SCREEN FOR DRIVING, MY REARVIEW CAMERA FOR SAFETY DURING REVERSING, OR CONTROL MANY OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, THIS OCCURRED WHILE I'M MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT DURING A TRIP SO I WAS NOT IN DANGER OF HARMING ANYONE. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE ERROR SHOWING ON MY SCREEN IN RELATION TO THIS.
NHTSA ODI 11374668
2013 TESLA S P85 MCU WILL NOT BOOT UP AFTER OVER THE AIR SOFTWARE UPDATE BETWEEN OCTOBER 2 T O OCTOBER 9TH WHILE I WAS ON A VACATION. OTA SOFTWARE VERSION 2020.24.6.11
NHTSA ODI 11366786
THE MAIN LCD DISPLAY IS SOMETIMES NON RESPONSIVE OR WILL NOT DISPLAY THE SAME INFORMATION THAT IS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY AS WELL AS THE TESLA APP. EXAMPLES ARE FAN SPEED AND CHARGING MILEAGE. WHEN ITEMS ARE PRESSED THEY DO NOT CHANGE, ALSO SOME WEIRD CHARACTERS ARE DISPLAYING ON THE LCD SCREEN.
NHTSA ODI 11365283
HERE IS A TESLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/44596360/PHOTOS/2013-TESLA-MODEL-S-CA-SAN-JOSE IT HAS THE TRADITIONAL WHOMPY WHEEL. SB-19-31-001 JANUARY 3, 2019 TESLA, INC. SERVICE BULLETIN REPLACE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES ON CERTAIN MODEL S VEHICLES, EITHER LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM MIGHT CRACK, CAUSING EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE CAMBER OF THE REAR SUSPENSION." YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN MISTER GARRISON! TESLA IS NOT PROACTIVELY FIXING THESE PROBLEMS. EVERY TESLA IS A TIME BOMB. PLEASE SORT THIS OUT THANK YOU KEEF
NHTSA ODI 11364749
VEHICLE MAKES SQUEAK NOISE WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEED AND DRIVE OVER A BUMPER. TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM NEED REPLACEMENT ON OCT 19 2019 AND PAID IT AND REPLACED. SAME THING HAPPENED ON LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM ON MAY 08 2020 AND PAID AND REPLACED. AND THEY TOLD ME THAT PLAY IS PRESENT IN BOTH AFT LINKS. I AM WORRIED THAT MY MODEL IS OLD ONE AS 2013 AND IT FAILED A LOT FROM THE SUSPENSION PART. THANKS GOD THIS THING HAPPENED ON HIGH SPEED BUT I AM REALLY WORRIED REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI 11364589
FAILURE OF EMMC INSIDE MCU (MEDIA CONTROL UNIT). MOST OF THE CAR'S CONTROLS ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE USING THE TOUCH SCREEN AND WITHOUT HEAT, TURN-SIGNALS AND ABILITY TO CHARGE, THE VEHICLE IS BARELY DRIVEABLE.SINCE I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND IT WAS WINTER, I HAD TO GO TO A LOCAL TESLA SERVICE CENTER. ALTHOUGH EMMC IS REPLACEABLE, I WAS CHARGED FOR A REBUILT MCU (~$1200).
NHTSA ODI 11364216
THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU) IN MY 2013 TESLA MODEL S STOPPED WORKING WHEN I REBOOTED THE CAR WHILE STATIONARY (COMMONLY NEEDED TO RESTORE LOST FUNCTIONALITY), APPARENTLY DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE EMBEDDED MULTI-MEDIA CARD (EMMC) MEMORY. AS PART OF THIS FAILURE, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK WHEN I LATER WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEFAULTED TO 'OFF' (PIC ATTACHED), AND THE HVAC SYSTEM (INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER) DEFAULTED TO AN UNKNOWN SETTING AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (NEITHER BY THE DEAD MCU NOR THE SMARTPHONE APPLICATION), THOUGH THE CAR WAS OTHERWISE STILL DRIVEABLE. APPARENTLY, THE OEM EMMC HAD LIMITED RE-WRITE CAPABILITY AND A RELATIVELY HIGH RE-WRITE FREQUENCY; WHEN IT FAILED, IT NOT ONLY CREATED DRIVING SAFETY HAZARDS, BUT ALSO COST MORE THAN $1,000 TO REPAIR WHAT WAS PROBABLY AN INEXPENSIVE PART (UNDER $10) FOR THE OEM.
NHTSA ODI 11363170
WAS SUPERCHARGING ABOUT 7 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME, MY SCREEN TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT REBOOT.. THE DREADED MCU FAILURE EVERY TESLA OWNER FEARS, AND EVERY SERVICE CENTER PRETENDS DOES NOT EXIST. MY CAR WOULD NOT POWER OFF, AS WE WERE AT THE BEACH MY A/C WAS ON FULL BLAST. MY CAR WAS NOW DRIVEABLE WITH NO KEY, AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK WHATSOEVER. ANYONE WITH OR WITHOUT A KEY COULD JUST WALK UP TOUCH THE HANDLE AND GET INTO MY CAR. I HAD TO STAY CLOSE TO SUPERCHARGERS AS MY A/C DRAINED THE BATTERY HEAVILY. TESLA ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ME TAKE IT TO A SERVICE CENTER WHICH WERE CLOSED FOR THE NEXT 2 DAYS BECAUSE A MOBILE TECH WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPLACE IT ON SPOT. SO NOW I GET TO DRIVE 7 HOURS HOME IN THE MOST STRESSFUL SITUATION OF MY LIFE. AS WE GOT AWAY FROM THE COAST AND THE TEMPERATURE RAPIDLY DROPPED I HAD WATER POURING OFF MY WINDSHIELD AND DOWN THE SIDES OF MY CAR AND OUT OF MY AIR VENTS! IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. MY FIANCEE HAD TO KEEP A TOWEL IN HER LAP TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD EVERY FEW SECONDS. PUTTING THE LACK OF VISIBILITY ASIDE AND SAFETY OF A VEHICLE THATS UNABLE TO LOCK. I HAD TO MANUALLY FIND ALL TESLA SUPERCHARGERS ALONG THE ROUTE I ALSO HAD TO GUESSTIMATE HOW MUCH CHARGE I WOULD NEED TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT STATION WHICH WAS QUITE THE TASK DUE TO THE HIGH A/C DRAIN. AFTER OUR LAST CHARGING STOP WE HAD MAYBE 120 MILES TO GO AND I CHARGED TO 170ISH.. AT LEAST 50 MORE THAN NECESSARY. THERE WAS ONE POINT ON OUR TRIP WHERE WE HAD 16 MILES REMAINING AND 17 TO GO. SOMEHOW THROUGH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE MAN ABOVE WE MADE IT HOME WITH A COUPLE MILES TO SPARE. IT COMPLETELY ASTOUNDS ME THAT TESLA COULD JUST BRUSH OFF SUCH A HORRENDOUS FAILURE OF A VERY WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE. IT'S NOT A CHANCE OF IF IT FAILS AS TO A MATTER OF WHEN. STOCK PRICES MATTER MORE THAN A CUSTOMERS SAFETY.
NHTSA ODI 11363100
THE CENTER TOUCH SCREEN CONSOLE DIED. DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE MCU. I AM ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BUT THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI 11362729
MCU COMPLETELY DIED ON MY 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE REVERSE CAMERA DOES NOT WORK. SIGNALS. HAZARDS. GPS. AC.
NHTSA ODI 11362605
I HAVE A 2013 TESLA MODEL S AND BOTH OF MY SCREEN ORE PEELING FROM THE INSIDE AND GLUE IS LEAKING (SEE PICS). THIS HAPPENED AFTER A SOFTWARE UPDATE NOT SURE IF ITS A COINCIDENT BUT MY CAR WOULD CONTROL THE TEMP INSIDE THE CAR NOT SURE THIS IS OCCURRING ANYMORE. ANYWAY ITS ABSURD THAT SCREEN GLUE STARTS MELTING INSIDE OF A CAR WITH GLUE RESIDUE LEAKING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE GLUE IS GOING TO THE MAIN SCREEN WHICH COULD DRIP DOWN TO THE PEDALS. FROM THE CENTRAL SCREEN GLUE IS DRIPPIGN AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE PICTURE.
NHTSA ODI 11361873
THE MAIN SCREEN OF THE CAR ATARTED LEAKING GLUE ALL OVER THE CAR AFTER SOME BUBBLES ATARTED TO APPEAR WHILE THE GPS STOPPER RANDOMLY WORKING, THE SCREEN WOULD PIXELATED AND RESTART BY ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRIP. THE WORST PART IS THAT IT TOOK MORE THAN A MONTH TO GET IT REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAD THE MCU AND SCREEN IN BACKORDER UNTIL I FINALLY HAD TO PAY $1200 FOR SOMETHING THAT EVERY SINGLE CAR OF THIS YEAR HAD GONE THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM, NOT ONLY ME
NHTSA ODI 11361448
WELL I LOVE MY FIST TESLA BUT AFTER THE FIRST TIME IT HAD TO GO IN TO THE AUSTIN SERVICE CENTER FOR A PROBLEM WITH A CLICKING /THUMPING NOISE AS WHEN I BACK UP I HEARD & FEEL. SO AFTER HAVING MY CAR A COUPLE DAYS FOUND IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE LARGE DRIVE UNIT REPLACE THAT WILL BE STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SAY THE REAR SUBFRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACE & I HAVE TO PAY TO GET REPLACED DUE TO ' WEAR & TEAR ' AS SERVICE CENTER SAY, ON MY SUBFRAME IT'S NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT ETC.THEY SAY IT'S NOT COVERED THE 100% WARRANTY!!
NHTSA ODI 11361567
AFTER TESLA SENT A SOFTWARE UPDATE OVER THE AIR TO MY CAR ON 09/22/2020, THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU) OF MY CAR GOT STUCK IN A CONSTANT BOOT-UP LOOP. THE SOFTWARE WAS 100% DOWNLOADED BUT COULD NOT BE INSTALLED POSSIBLY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A HIGHLY STRESSED EMMC MEMORY. AS A RESULT, THE MCU KEPT REBOOTING BY ITSELF EVERY 2 MINUTES OR SO, WHICH CAUSED BACK-UP CAMERA, CLIMATE CONTROL ETC. UNACCESSIBLE AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED. TESLA SUGGESTED A HARD REBOOT BUT THE PROBLEM WON'T GO AWAY. I REPORT THIS MCU PROBLEM AS IT COULD BE CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN DEFECT REGARDING OVER-LOGGING ON THE CHEAP EMBEDDED MULTI-MEDIA-CARD MEMORYE (EMMC). I BELIEVE THAT TESLA SHOULD DO RECALLS TO REMOVE THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES FOR ALL MODEL S PRODUCED BEFORE MARCH, 2018.
NHTSA ODI 11361571
MCU MAIN COMPUTER FAILED, PREVENTED ME FROM USING DEFROST COULDN'T SEE WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS MY ENTIRE FRONT WINDOW VIEW GOT BLOCK. THE MCU ALLOWS YOU TO USE THE SCREEN WHICH LETS YOU TURN ON DEFROST. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS ALSO CONTROLS YOUR HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI 11361430
THE MAIN SCREEN THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING HAS A MASSIVE ISSUE. IT CONTROLS ALL THE FUNCTIONS IN THE CAR, LIKE THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA, ABILITY TO CONTROL AC, ETC. THE SCREEN IS PEELING FROM THE INSIDE, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ON THE TESLA FORUMS. TESLA WANTS TO CHARGE ME AT LEAST $2500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I KNOW THIS IS AFFECTING MANY CARS.
NHTSA ODI 11355701
THE 17" TOUCHSCREEN MONITOR IS BLACK AND REFUSES TO BOOT UP OR RESET, REBOOT. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR SU IN AS PROGRAM MY THE DRIVING FEATURES, COMMUNICATIONS, GPS, CLIMATE CONTROL AIR-CONDITIONING, REAR VIEW BACKING SCREEN, TURN SIGNALS OR ENTERTAINMENT AND OTHER TESLA FEATURES INCLUDING SAFETY FEATURES. THIS OCCURS AT ALL TIMES, FROM THE TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON.
NHTSA ODI 11354786
THE CAR WAS PENDING AN OVER THE AIR UPDATE WHICH I WAS DELAYING BECAUSE OF THE RESEARCH I FOUND ONLINE ABOUT THE COMPUTER TOUCHSCREEN CHIP GOING OUT. THE UPDATE WAS FORCED TO THE CAR WHILE IT WAS IN MY GARAGE AND AFTER THE UPDATE THE TOUCHSCREEN WAS NON FUNCTIONAL. BECAUSE OF THIS MOST FEATURES WERE NOT USABLE LIKE A/C AND RADIO. THE MORE IMPORTANT FEATURES THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO USE WERE THAT THE TURN SIGNAL.
NHTSA ODI 11354287
CENTRAL TOUCHSCREEN FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING ROAD TRIP. FAILURES HAPPENED WHILE CHARGING AND STATIONARY, AND WHILE DRIVING. LOSE ACCESS TO VEHICLE SAFETY AND OTHER CONTROLS (HEADLIGHTS, HVAC, NAVIGATION, SUNROOF, ETC.). REPORTED TO TESLA PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND WAS TOLD IT IS "NORMAL" BEHAVIOR. NOW THAT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, TESLA HAS DIAGNOSED FAILURE OF MEMORY CHIP AND IS CHARGING ME OUT OF WARRANTY TO REPLACE COMPUTER DAUGHTERBOARD.
NHTSA ODI 11353517
OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS, MY 2013 TESLA MODEL S BEGAN EXPERIENCING LONG BOOT TIMES, FREQUENT SPONTANEOUSLY REBOOTING, LOSS OF MOBILE CONNECTION AND PROBLEMS WITH THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. LAST SATURDAY THE CAR BEGAN TO REBOOT CONSTANTLY AND WAS INCAPACITATED ON THE ROAD, REQUIRING A FLAT BED TRUCK ($250). TESLA SERVICE TELLS ME THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE CAR FUNCTIONAL AGAIN IS TO PAY OVER $1300 ON A NEW MCU. AS A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, THIS FEELS SOMETHING TESLA CAUSED THROUGH OVERUSE OF THEIR MEMORY STORAGE SYSTEM AND/OR A PROGRAM BUG ASSOCIATED WITH SAVED NAVIGATION LOCATIONS.
NHTSA ODI 11353231
I OWN A TESLA MODEL S AND I REPORTING ISSUES WITH MY TOUCH SCREEN MCUS. IT HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AFTER 7,000 MILES. PRESENTLY I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF MY HEATING,, AIR CONDITIONING, FAN, SAFETY CAMERAS, GARAGE DOOR OPENER, OR ELECTRONIC CONTROLS ON ANY TOUGH SCREEN PORTIONS OF THE CAR. THIS IS A HUGE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN THAT IMPACTS ME AND THE PUBLIC AS WELL. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAINSIDE AREA AND WE DEPEND ON THE BACK UP CAMERA TO AVOID ACCIDENTS AS OUR GARAGE BACKS UP INTO A VERY NARROW LANE. AND I CAN NOT SEE THE CHILDREN AND ANIMALS THAT ARE IN BACK OF MY CAR WHEN I EXIT MY GARAGE. NOR CAN I USE ANY OF THE GPS FEATURES FOR GUIDANCE AS WELL. THE TOUCH SCREEN HAS COMPLETE FAILURE IN THE MCU UNIT. I CONTACTED TELSA RE THIS ISSUE AND INFORMED THEM THAT THIS IS A LIABILITY TO ME AND THE BRAND BASED ON THE HUGE SAFETY ISSUES THIS PRESENTS. I TOLD THEM I WAS GLAD THAT THE CALL WAS BEING RECORDED AS I DID WANT THIS ISSUE TO BE UNREPORTED. AND I INFORMED TESLA THAT THIS PROBLEM IS EXIGENT AS WE LIVE IN SOUTHEN CALIFORNIA AND THE TEMPERATE IS NOW OVER 120 DEGREES. THIS COULD CAUSE HEAT STROKE AND ALSO KILL OUR ANIMALS AS WELL. TESLA REPLIED THAT THIS MY MY PROBLEM AND NOT THEIRS. SOME OWNERS BELIEVE THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMBEDDED MULTI-MEDIA-CARD MEMORY (EMMC) IN THE MCU AND THAT IT IS BEING OVERWRITTEN TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. II KNOW NOW THAT IS A RECOGNIZED DEFECT KNOWN AS THE 'EMMC FAILURE' PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT TESLA NOW HAS INTRODUCED A NEW MCU IN 2018 THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT OWNERS OF OLDER VEHICLES ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM IN HAVING TO REPLACE THE UNIT OUT OF WARRANTY, DESPITE SEEING TESLA'S MISTAKE AS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF A NORMAL ISSUE THAT OCCURS OVER TIME. I NEED RESOURCES AND REMEDIES TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURE INDUCED MALAISE.
NHTSA ODI 11353070
IN EARLY JUNE 2019, THE TOUCHSCREEN IN MY 2013 MODEL S P95+ STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE, GOES BLACK ETC. THEN ONE DAY, A GOOEY SUBSTANCE STARTED TO LEAK FROM INSIDE AND ONTO THE CENTER CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DISPLAY ADHESIVE WAS LEAKING DUE TO HEAT. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE MCU UNIT AT A COST OF $1,200. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE RELATED TO THE SCREEN. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THIS PAST 08/31/2020, THE SAME THING STARTED TO HAPPEN TO THE MAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE APPARENTLY KNOWN PROBLEMS AND RENDER THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI 11352757
THE MAIN TOUCH SCREEN FAILED WITH LIKELY EMMC FAILURE RESULTING IN NO NAVIGATION, NO BACKUP CAMERA, NO TURN SIGNALS OR SOUND, NO AIR OR DEFROSTERS AND NO WAY TO CONTROL HEADLIGHTS OR OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI 11352878
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