Home · 2013 Tesla Model S 75d · Complaints

What 459 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Tesla Model S 75d

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.

All (459)Crash / fire / injury (57)Electrical system (195)Suspension (91)Transmission & drivetrain (35)Steering (29)Speed control (25)Fuel system (24)Visibility & wipers (22)Brakes (21)Engine (21)Body & structure (19)

195 of 459 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 3 of 8

Mar 13, 2021Electrical system

REPLACED MCU FOR TOUCHSCREEN AT A COST OF $1,359.50. CAR WAS ON RECALL FOR THIS REASON. NOTHING ON TESLA SITE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11402752

Feb 26, 2021Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE BATTERY WAS NOT CHARGING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER TESLA SERVICE CENTER (8105 BIG LAKE RD, VILLAGE OF CLARKSTON, MI 48346, (248) 241-9321) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, AND STATED THE ISSUE WOULD BE AT THE RESIDENCE ELECTRICITY. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER AT TESLA SERVICE CENTER (6142 TELEGRAPH RD, TOLEDO, OH 43612, (567) 420-6130) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE CHARGING PORT TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT WAS UPDATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000.

NHTSA ODI 11398039

Feb 25, 2021Electrical system

THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER IS LEAKING AND DELAMINATING CAUSING THE GLUE TO DRIP ONTO OTHER COMPONENTS, POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD OR UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON OLDER TESLA MODEL S CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11397917

Feb 3, 2021SuspensionElectrical systemBrakes

1. DRIVING SCREEN FAILED. 2. DURING WET WEATHER BRAKES WILL NOT SLOW DOWN CAR FOR 3 SECONDS...VERY DISTRUBING 3. 2013 MODEL S WITH UNDER 100K MILES HAD FONT END PARTS FAIL. REQUIRED A $3,000.00 REPAIR. HAVE NEVER HAD AN AMERICAN CAR, EVEN WITH TWICE THE MILEAGE HAVE MULTIPLE FRONT END PARTS FAIL.

NHTSA ODI 11394551

Jan 25, 2021Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

BACKING UP MCU FAIL BACKUP CAMERA FAILED ALMOST BACK ON A KID RAN BEHIND MY CAR WHILE I WAS LOOKING DOWN AT A DISABLED SCREEN. DRIVING TO TESLA SERVICE DEPARTMENT MAIN SCREEN FAILED DUE TO COMPUTER CAR CRIPPLED TO MINIMAL SAFETY CONTROL. CAR NOW IN SERVICE TESLA REQUIRE ME TO PAY $1500 FOR NEW MCU2 INSTEAD OF RECALLING AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MCU.

NHTSA ODI 11389928

Jan 22, 2021Electrical system

THE MAIN TOUCH SCREEN CONTROLLING BACKUP CAMERA, NAV, AIR-CON /HEAT AND DEFROST SYSTEMS GOES DARK. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THOSE ITEMS MAKING DRIVING UNSAFE. THE SPEEDO AND GEAR INDICATOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALLOWS YOU TO DRIVE BUT IT IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE CAR DRIVING TO PROVE IT OPERATES WITHOUT THE CONTROLS.

NHTSA ODI 11389413

Jan 14, 2021Electrical system

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2013 MODEL S INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MCU, TOTAL FAILURE OF THE BATTERY AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. SOME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE MCU FAILURE BEFORE AND AFTER THE MCU WAS REPLACED INCLUDE LOSS OF ABILITY TO ACCESS THE SCREEN TO TURN ON HEAT, RADIO, DEFROSTERS, BLUETOOTH, OR ANY OTHER FUNCTION OF THE SCREEN THAT IS AVAILABLE, LOSS OF BLINKER SOUND, LOSS OF PARKING CHIME SOUND, LOSS OF SOUND FROM THE STEREO INCLUDING NO BLUETOOTH OR MUSIC. WHILE DRIVING FROM BLAINE, MN TO ST. PAUL, MN WITH MY BLINKER ON THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME ON THE FREEWAY WITH OUT MY KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE THE WAS NO BLINKER SOUND. THAT WAS NOT ONLY FRIGHTENING BUT ALSO DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD A MYRIAD OF ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I AM REALLY FEARFUL OF A TOTAL FAILURE WHILE I AM DRIVING. ALL OF THE ISSUES NOTED ABOVE WERE DURING MOTION. ONE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE NOTICED IS MY CAR TAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO TURN ON.

NHTSA ODI 11388097

Jan 14, 2021Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TESLA (7500 WINDROSE AVE B185, PLANO, TX 75024) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CHIP WITHIN THE COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11388106

Jan 14, 2021Electrical systemEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF BEFORE BECOMING INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE NEXT DAY THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO TESLA (811 S SAN FERNANDO BLVD, BURBANK, CA 91502) WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TO THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.*DT THE FAILURE OF THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES BEFORE THE CONTACT MADE THIS REPORT. THE ABOVE REPRESENTS THE LATEST OCCASION OF INCIDENT. SOME OF THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT FAILURES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 65 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO TESLA, THE SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT WANTED ESTIMATED $1,400.00 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO HIGH COST. THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN IN EARLY JANUARY 2021, AFTER THIS REPORT WAS ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11388216

Jan 14, 2021Electrical systemSpeed control

MAIN PROCESSING UNIT FOR THE CAR STOPS WORKING AND DISPLAYS GO BLACK. TURN SIGNALS DO NOT AUDIBLY ANNUNCIATE. CLIMATE CONTROL TURNS OFF. LIGHTING, SECURITY AND OTHER SAFETY CONTROLS CANNOT BE CHANGED. I HAVE DATES AND TIMES AND SYMPTOMS FOR SOME OF THE FAILURES. OCCURS TYPICALLY WEEKLY, BUT CAN HAVE MULTIPLE EPISODES PER DAY. TESLA SERVICE HAS BEEN REQUESTED AND PERFORMED 4-5 TIMES. THE OEM MPU WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO AND YET PROBLEMS PERSIST. MPU HAS FAILED WHILE PARKED, WHILE DRIVING, ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11388225

Jan 8, 2021Electrical system

COMPUTER SCREEN WENT DARK SEVERAL TIMES AND AFFECTS THE TURN SIGNALS FOR THE VEHICLE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 60 DAYS. THE DARK SCREEN MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST ANY OF THE HEATING, COOLING, OR USE OF HANDS FREE DEVICES.

NHTSA ODI 11387149

Dec 23, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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

NHTSA ODI 11384690

Dec 23, 2020Electrical system

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 EXTEND WHILE DRIVING UNTIL WE HAVE DRIVEN FOR 5 TO 30 MINUTES. I HAVE REPORTED THE SCREEN BLANKING ISSUE AND MIRRORS TO TESLA SERVICE IN SYOSSET NY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS RELATED TO MY MODEL S BEING AN OLDER MODEL WITH AN OLDER COMPUTER THAT HAS TO 'CATCH UP' TO WHAT IS BEING SELECTED ON THE SCREEN. THE SOFTWARE IT IS RUNNING IS REALLY INTENDED FOR NEWER MODELS THAT HAVE A FASTER COMPUTER. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, TESLA WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD PROBABLY REACH THE CONCLUSION THAT TESLA SERVICE TOLD ME. I RECENTLY READ ABOUT TESLA'S WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM: TOUCHSCREEN COMPONENT ' 8GB EMBEDDED MULTIMEDIACARD (EMMC) IN MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU). IT APPEARS THAT WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THIS WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT IS IDENTICAL TO THE SYMPTOMS WITH MY TESLA AS I AM UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SAFETY FEATURES, REAR CAMERA AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. MY CAR HAS 113,500 MILES AND THE PROGRAM ONLY COVERS CARS WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT I WAS MISLED BY TESLA SERVICE AS I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE CAR GOING OVER 100,000 MILES AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT SEEMS THAT TESLA IS AVOIDING A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH OLDER MODEL S CARS SUCH AS MINE. I BELIEVE TESLA SHOULD REPLACE THE MCU UNIT OF MY MODEL S FOR NO CHARGE AS THEY KNEW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AND MISLED ME TO THINK THAT THE ISSUES WITH MY BACKUP CAMERA AND MIRRORS WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY ISSUES WITH THE MODEL S.

NHTSA ODI 11384714

Dec 10, 2020Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

FAILURE OF THE TOUCHSCREEN RESULTS IN LOSS OF REAR CAMERA IMAGE DISPLAY WHEN REVERSE GEAR IS SELECTED, RESULTING IN REDUCED REAR VISIBILITY WHEN BACKING. SCREEN ALSO COMPLETELY FREEZES AND CANNOT CONTROL CLIMATE CONTROL ELEMENTS, SOUND, ETC. WHEN BACK UP CAMERA FINALLY DOES ENGAGE, BACKUP CAMERA SCREEN IS BLACK WITH TWO WHITE LINES.

NHTSA ODI 11382923

Nov 30, 2020Electrical system

REPLACEMENT OF TOUCHSCREEN IN JAN 2020 DUE TO FLUID LEAKAGE AND MCU REPLACEMENT IN AUG 2020 FOR NON-RESPONSIVENESS.

NHTSA ODI 11377177

Nov 28, 2020Electrical system

THE PRIMARY TESLA SCREEN REGULARLY HAS INTERMITTENT SCREEN FAILURES. THIS LEADS TO ME HAVING TO RESET THE COMPUTER WHILE DRIVING A FEW TIMES BEFORE OPERATION RESUMES. THIS CAUSES THE REAR CAM, AIR CONDITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND OTHER CONSISTENTLY TO CEASE FOR A SHORT PERIOD. RECENTLY THE SCREEN HAS DEVELOPED AIR BUBBLES IN THE SCREEN AND LEAKS GOO INTO THE FLOOR (THE LEAKING FLUID).

NHTSA ODI 11376811

Nov 18, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

THE CAR CAN'T RECEIVE SAFETY FIRMWARE UPDATES BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF THE MCU. TESLA WANTS CUSTOMER TO PAY TO REPLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11375244

Nov 17, 2020Electrical system

I HAVE 110,000 MILES ON MY TESLA, THE SCREEN BLACKS OUT SOMETIMES. I HEAR THAT YOU MIGHT MAKE THEM DO A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11375022

Nov 17, 2020Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

MY VEHICLE HAS THE ISSUE WITH THE EMMC CHIP BEING TOO SMALL TO HANDLE ALL THE LOGGING TESLA WAS DOING AND NOW IT'S STARTING TO FAIL. WHEN IT COMPLETELY FAILS I WON'T BE ABLE TO DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD, THE HEAT AND AC WON'T WORK, THE TURN SIGNALS WON'T WORK AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO CHARGE THE VEHICLE. I GOT AN EMAIL FROM TESLA SAYING MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY CAR THE WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM DUE TO MILES BUT IT'S WITHIN THE YEARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILES. TESLA DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF LOGGING CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE EMMC. THE FAILURE IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11375033

Nov 16, 2020Electrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

THE MAIN/CENTER SCREEN BLACKS OUT ON MY TESLA, WHICH IS WHERE ALL THE CAR CONTROLS AND BACK-UP CAMERA IS VIEWED. EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T COMPLETELY BLACK OUT, THE BACK UP CAMERA DOESN'T FUNCTION AS IT JUST STAYS FROZEN A LOT OF THE TIME. OUTSIDE OF THE BACKUP CAMERA ISSUES, ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS, LIKE TURNING ON OR OFF HEADLIGHTS IS ALSO IMPACTED. AT OTHER TIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT IMPACTS CHARGING THE CAR, WHICH CAN LEAVE ME DEAD IF I CANNOT CHARGE. OTHER FUNCTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN IMPACTED LIKE TURNING AIR CONDITIONING AND NAVIGATION, HOWEVER NOT NECESSARILY SAFETY ISSUES. THESE ISSUES HAVE HAPPENED WHILE SITTING IN MY GARAGE TRYING TO LEAVE, CHARGING MY CAR AT A TESLA CHARGING STATION, DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY OR STREETS. I ESTIMATE THEY HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 60K MILES AND HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11374928

Nov 16, 2020Electrical systemFuel systemVisibility & wipers

I OWN A 2013 TESLA MODEL S THAT HAS LOST THE MCU AND WILL NO LONGER CHARGE. IN ADDITION, THE MCU CAUSES THE TOUCH SCREEN TO OPEN VERY SLOWLY. I HAVE COMPLAINED AND TESLA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE MCU AND NOT COMPENSATE ME FOR THE INABILITY TO CHARGE THE CAR. THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WAS THAT THE TOUCHSCREEN WOULD NOT COME ON AT ALL. I COULD NOT SEE ANY INFORMATION WHATSOEVER, DURING TESLA'S ATTEMPT TO FIX THE SCREEN, I LOST THE ABILITY TO CHARGE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11374941

Nov 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

MY 2013 TESLA MODEL S HAD THE TOUCHSCREEN FAIL. THIS RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO PAY FOR A BRAND NEW SCREEN. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TOUCHSCREEN FAILURES AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS AND RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT

NHTSA ODI 11374943

Nov 16, 2020Electrical system

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

Nov 15, 2020Electrical system

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

Nov 14, 2020Electrical system

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

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Working with the data? Download all 459 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Tesla Model S 75d verdict →