Home · 2013 Tesla Model S Bev · Complaints

What 459 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Tesla Model S Bev

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)

19 of 459 complaints match · Electrical system · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Dec 13, 2021Electrical systemCrash1 injury

The rear view camera did not deploy when I was backing out of a driveway and I was struck by another vehicle. The police determined it was a no-fault accident. My insurance company deemed me primarily responsible. I was unable to see any oncoming traffic because the camera was not working and there were obstacles to seeing oncoming traffic. The car was deemed totaled by the mechanic and my insurance company. The car battery died soon after the accident and the vehicle remains in my garage and is immovable. I sustained minor head, neck and back injuries.

NHTSA ODI 11443631

Nov 18, 2021Electrical systemFire

Car was charging in the garage on Dec 30, 2020 when at 5:25 AM a message was sent to my phone that the charging had been interrupted but not completed. 12 minutes later at 5:37 AM a message was sent that the Alarm on the vehicle had been activated. 2 minutes later the second Tesla in the garage sent a message that the alarm had been activated. None of these messages were seen at the time since we were asleep in the back of the house, but the car alarm did wake us up. Hearing the alarm woke us and soon after we heard smoke alarms from teh garage and throughout the house. When we walked to the front of the house, we could see flames from the garage to the top of the second story. We immediately exited the house. The attached article and video describes the situation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/08/04/tesla-fire/ Both Tesla cars and half the house was destroyed by the fire. Tesla never came to the house to inspect the car that started the fire. To date it has not been examined and Tesla takes no responsibility for the damage. They advertise that the battery is warranted and that they will cover any damage caused by a faulty battery, but have refused to do anything.

NHTSA ODI 11440932

Feb 18, 2020Electrical systemBrakesCrash

TWICE MY TESLA LUNGED FORWARD ACCELERATING SPEED WHEN TRYING TO PARK RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. I REPORTED BOTH ISSUES TO TESLA. FIRST TIME THEY DENIED THAT HAPPENING AND THE SECOND TIME THIS PAST YEAR THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THEN WHEN I PROVIDED THE INFORMATION MY EMAILS KEPT GETTING BOUNCED BACK. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN PARKING IN A SCHOOL PARKING SPOT WITH A CEMENT BLOCK. AS I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING INTO THE SPOT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SO FAST MY CAR WENT COMPLETELY OVER THE BLOCK AND I PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. I REMEMBER I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKES AND IT KEPT GOING FASTER. I CLIPPED THE CAR PARKED NEXT TO ME AND MY CAR WE TO INTO THE DIRT AREA AND SINCE I PULLED THE WHEEL LEFT TO AVOID THE BUILDING IT CONTINUED OFF THE DIRT AREA BACK ONTO THE PARKING LOT AND FINALLY STOPPED. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED FROM GOING OVER THE CEMENT BLOCK AND MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE WAS DAMAGED FROM SCRAPING ALONG THE FRONT BUMPER OF CAR PARKED TO THE LEFT OF ME. THAT OCCURRED IN SPRING OF 2016. THE 2ND OCCURRENCE WAS SEPTEMBER 30, 2019. I HAD PARALLELED PARKED IN BETWEEN A GOLF CART AND A CAR; MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED I HAD MY FINGER ON MY CONTROL TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND ONCE AGAIN IT LUNGED FORWARD AND I JERKED MY WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER NOT TO HIT THE GOLF CART STRAIGHT AHEAD. I ENDED UP CLIPPING THE GOLF CART AND MY RIGHT FRONT END GOT THE BRUNT OF IT. I HAVE PHOTOS IF YOU WANT THEM BUT I NEED TO GET HELP LOADING THEM IF YOU NEED THEM SO CONTACT ME IF YOU WANT THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11309949

Jan 26, 2020Electrical systemBody & structureSpeed controlCrash1 injury

ON NOVEMBER 1, 2019, I WAS SLOWLY BRAKING AND START TURNING RIGHT INTO MY DRIVEWAY ON THE 2013 TESLA MODEL S. I FELT A SURGE OF THE VEHICLE AND 1 SECOND LATER, THE VEHICLE LANDED ON TOP OF THE STAIRCASE OF MY HOUSE ENTRANCE AND DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL WHEN I SLOWLY TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY.THE VEHICLE SPED ON ITS OWN FOR ONLY A SPLIT SECOND. I CALLED TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME AND DIRECT ME TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE'S INFORMATION TO BE SENT TO THE ENGINEERS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED BUT TO REPAIR SHOP BUT TESLA SUPPORT TEAM HAS BEEN IGNORING ALL MY CALLS AND EMAIL. MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI 11302076

Feb 15, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlEngineFuel systemCrash1 injury

IT WAS A 2HR45MIN DRIVE INTO WORK ON AN ICY BLIZZARDY MORNING, DRIVING MY 2013 MODEL S RWD P85 WITH 90,000MI. HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 YRS. MADE IT TO WORK SAFELY AND THE LAST 6 FEET IN THE PARKING GARAGE, GOING ABOUT 3 MPH PULLING AT A RIGHT ANGLE INTO A PARKING STALL. HAD BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, SHIFTED MY FOOT TO TAP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCH FORWARD AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, CAR IS ACCELERATING FULL THROTTLE INTO A CEMENT WALL. CRASHED HEAD ON AND AIRBAG DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOY. SAT FOR A MOMENT TO CATCH MY BREATH AND TRY TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED. SENT "BUG REPORT" ON TO TESLA CENTRAL FROM THE CAR. THE DASHBOARD HAD PRND LIT UP IN RED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY LIMP. ZERO RESISTANCE. THANKFULLY, NO OTHER CAR WAS AROUND ME. CALLED TESLA SERVICE AND THEY TOLD US TO REBOOT THE CAR. WE DID, BUT ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. HAD TO PUSH OUT OF THE 5 STORY GARAGE AND TOW IT TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP. FILED POLICE REPORT. REPORTED TO LOCAL TESLA SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. A FEW DAYS LATER, WE HEARD BACK FROM THE TESLA REP THAT SAID THAT REPORT SHOWED NO MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO TESLA ACCELERATOR WENT FROM 0% TO 88% SUDDENLY, IMPLYING "DRIVER ERROR." YET THEY ALSO SAID THE BRAKE WAS TAPPED AND THEN RELEASED PRIOR TO IMPACT. THIS DOES NOT JIVE, WHY WE A PERSON ACCELERATE, TAP THE BRAKE THEN RELEASE? SKID MARKS FROM REAR TIRES LEFT ON GARAGE FLOOR. TESLA WON'T RELEASE DATA. WE DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THIS REPORT AND THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE CRASH. TODAY THE AUTO BODY SHOP INFORMED US THAT THEY WERE CURIOUS WHY THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. AFTER BEING RESET, THEY DISCOVERED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BROKEN. EXPERIENCE DURING THE CRASH, COMBINED WITH VERY UNUSUAL CAR BEHAVIOR, AND A BROKEN ACCELERATOR REFUTE TESLA'S CLAIM OF OPERATOR ERROR.

NHTSA ODI 11180431

May 7, 2017Electrical systemFire

IN 2014 A TESLA CAUGHT FIRE IN A TORONTO GARAGE. THIS CASE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE OF FIRES IN TESLAS. TESLA HAS CLAIMED THAT THE BATTERY OF THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE FIRE AND THAT THE FIRE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY FAULTY HOUSE WIRING. HTTP://WWW.AUTOFOCUS.CA/NEWS-EVENTS/NEWS/TESLA-INVESTIGATES-CAUSE-OF-TORONTO-GARAGE-FIRE SNIP: 'IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE DON'T YET KNOW THE PRECISE CAUSE, BUT HAVE DEFINITIVELY DETERMINED THAT IT DID NOT ORIGINATE IN THE BATTERY, THE CHARGING SYSTEM, THE ADAPTER OR THE ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE, AS THESE COMPONENTS WERE UNTOUCHED BY THE FIRE,' SAID A TESLA SPOKESPERSON. A VIDEO HAS NOW SHOWED UP IN WHICH THE PURCHASER OF THAT CAR SHOWS THE STATE OF THE INTERIOR. THERE IS NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER THAT THE BATTERY DID IGNITE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SRMQBRB_LMM IT APPEARS T HAT TESLA HAS BEEN TELLING LIES AND DELIBERATELY COVERING UP THE ISSUE OF FIRES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MORE FIRES SINCE THAT THAT ONE. I HAVE COMPILED A SUMMARY OF SOME SUSPICIOUS TESLA FIRES: HTTP://TESLABEARS.CLUB/T/GREAT-BALLS-OF-FIRE WHILST THAT COLLECTION DOES CONTAIN SOME HUMOROUS POSTS I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I AM ENTIRELY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I REQUEST THAT YOU REOPEN THE FIRE INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI 10983879

Sep 22, 2016SuspensionElectrical systemFire

HERE IS A TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTP://WWW.COPART.COM/US/LOT/14649834?SEARCHID=1942545060 IT HAS BEEN BURNED OUT. THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED AND THE CAR IS PROPPED UP WITH PIECES OF WOOD. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY IMPACT DAMAGE, THE FRONT BUMPER BAR AND THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT DISPLACED. WHILST IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO THE FIRE IT IS ALSO PROBABLE THAT THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSING THE BATTERY PACK TO DRAG ALONG THE GROUND AND IGNITE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THIS INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THERE IS STILL AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TESLAS CATCHING FIRE DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURES AND THAT THE COMPANY IS COVERING UP THIS PROBLEM. GASOLINE FIRES CAN BE EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY EASILY BUT A LITHIUM BATTERY FIRE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10908781

Aug 24, 2015Electrical systemCrash

ON JULY 16, 2015 WHILE DRIVING MY 2013 MODEL S 60, I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE IN SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. AS I PULLED INTO THE SPACE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED THE BREAKS. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD OVER A CURB AND A BERM, STOPPING WHEN IT HIT A FIRE HYDRANT, PROPELLING IT OFF OF ITS BOLTS, GENERATING A HUGE GEYSER OF WATER. BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WATER GUSHING OVER MY CAR, I HAD NO VISIBILITY AND ELECTED TO STAY IN THE CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIAL 911. MOMENTS LATER, A MAN WHO HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR NEXT TO THE SPACE WHERE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, OPENED THE BACK DOOR TO ASK ABOUT MY CONDITION. I THEN EXITED THE CAR. I WAS NOT INJURED AND THANK GOODNESS THE CAR HAD NOT HIT ANOTHER PERSON OR ANOTHER CAR. IT TOOK A TOW TRUCK ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE. ALL THE WHILE THE TORRENTIAL WATER SURGED AROUND, UNDER AND OVER MY CAR AND NOW FLOODED THE INTERIOR. ACCORDING TO TESLA, EITHER THE CAR SHORTED-OUT CAUSING ALL OF THE WINDOWS TO ROLL DOWN OR THERE IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO ROLL DOWN IF THE CAR PERCEIVES IT IS UNDER WATER. THE MAN WHO BRAVED THE FLOOD OF WATER FROM THE FIRE HYDRANT TO CHECK ON ME SAW THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT AS HE WAS SITTING IN HIS CAR. HE SAID THAT MY BREAK LIGHTS WERE ON AS MY CAR WENT OVER THE BERM. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF AND I AM CERTAIN THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE NEXT DAY, I HEARD FROM BOTH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE BODY SHOP THAT TESLA WANTED THE CAR AT THEIR SERVICE CENTER IN VAN NUYS. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THE CLAIMS ADJUSTER CALLED TO SAY THAT DUE TO THE HEAVY WATER DAMAGE, THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA'S WEBSITE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR. ALSO, SEE NHTSA REPORT OF PREVIOUS 2013 ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10758893

Jun 28, 2015Electrical systemCrashFire1 death

TIMOTHY DEVINE WAS KILLED AFTER DRIVING HIS VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN THE CANYON. THE TESLA STARTED A BRUSHFIRE THAT WAS SO BAD THAT 180 FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED IN AND MALIBU CANYON ROAD WAS CLOSED FOR OVER 9 HOURS. TANG, A SPOKESMAN FROM THE HIGHWAY PATROL SAID THAT TIMOTHY DEVINE WAS SO BADLY BURNED HE WASN'T RECOGNIZABLE AS A PERSON AND THAT FIRE HAD MELTED THE CAR DOWN TO NOTHING. WAS THIS SUICIDE OR DRIVER ERROR? WAS THIS KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, BRAKE FAILURE, ETC. WAS THIS FATAL CRASH, FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS THE THE FAULT OF THE DRIVER AND OR THE FAULT OF THE VEHICLE?

NHTSA ODI 10730863

Sep 8, 2014Electrical systemFire

TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING THAT TESLA'S UNIVERSAL MOBILE CHARGERS ARE STILL A FIRE HAZARD. TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING THAT NEW REPLACEMENT GREY FACED ADAPTERS UNDER THE RECALL ARE STILL OVERHEATING, MELTING, FAILING AND BURNING. TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE NEW GREY FACED ADAPTER UNDER THE RECALL. SOME TESLA OWNERS ARE STILL REPORTING OVERHEATING, MELTING, BURNING AND FAILURES WITH NEW & OLD ADAPTERS. SOME CUSTOMERS REPORT THEY ARE STILL USING THE OLD ADAPTERS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE UPDATED NEW GREY FACED ADAPTER. THE GREY FACED ADAPTER HAS NOT ADDRESSED ALL OF THE FIRE HAZARDS WITH THE TESLA'S UMCS. TESLA'S UMCS STILL ARE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631517

Jul 10, 2014Electrical systemAirbagsFuel systemCrashFire7 injuries1 death

A STOLEN TESLA CRASHED IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, KILLING THE DRIVER. PHOTOS SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. ALLEGEDLY LIGHT POLES SPLIT THE CAR IN HALF. THE LIGHT POLES SEEM TO BE THE BREAKAWAY TYPE. SUGGESTING THERE MAY BE A STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS THAT ALLOWED THE TESLA TO BREAK IN HALF, FRACTURING THE BATTERY, CATCHING PIECES OF BATTERY ON FIRE, AND EXPLODING BATTERY CELLS, SENDING FLAMING SHRAPNEL THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10609716

Jul 10, 2014Electrical systemFire

THE UMC SOFTWARE "FIX" DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS. CHARGE CONNECTORS HAVE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, MELT AND BURN. ALLEGEDLY SOME OF THE UMC CONNECTOR TO WIRE WELDS ARE INSUFFICIENT, AND A FIRE HAZARD, INDICATING POOR MANUFACTURING AND POOR QUALITY CONTROL. SOME CUSTOMERS CLAIM TO HAVE HAD A DOZEN OR MORE UMCS FAIL. TESLA (ELON MUSK) CLAIMED THAT NEW AND REVISED ADAPTERS WOULD BE MAILED OUT WITHIN TWO WEEKS, IT WAS ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE REVISED ADAPTERS UNDER THE RECALL STARTED TO BE SHIPPED OUT. THE RECALL HAS BEEN SLOW. CUSTOMERS ARE ALLEGING THAT TESLA DOES NOT KEEP OWNERSHIP ADDRESSES UP TO DATE, SO MANY CUSTOMERS ARE NOT GETTING RECALL NOTICES OR THE REVISED ADAPTERS UNDER THE RECALL. TESLA (ELON MUSK) CLAIMED THAT THE ADAPTERS WOULD CONTAIN A THERMAL FUSE TO REDUCE THE FIRE HAZARD, YET ALLEGEDLY THE REVISED ADAPTERS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT OUT UNDER THE RECALL DON'T HAVE THERMAL FUSES. THE CONNECTORS BETWEEN THE ADAPTER AND THE MODULE/BRICK SEEM TO BE INSUFFICIENT AND A FIRE HAZARD. SOME CUSTOMERS ARE REPORTING THAT NEW REVISED GRAY ADAPTERS ISSUED BY THE RECALL ARE ALSO OVERHEATING AND MELTING; EVEN WITH THE SOFTWARE UPDATES THAT TESLA (ELON MUSK) CLAIMED WOULD FIX THE PROBLEMS. ALLEGEDLY THE REVISED GRAY ADAPTERS HAVE HIGHER TEMPERATURE PLASTICS AND IMPROVED WELDS; YET SOME UMCS ARE CONTINUING TO OVERHEAT AND MELT. SOME OF THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED, THAT'S WHY THE UMCS ARE STILL A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10609726

Jul 7, 2014Electrical systemFire

BEFORE DEFECTIVE NEMA-1450 COULD BE REPLACED, I HAD A MELT-DOWN OF THE DEVICE WHILE CHARGING THE CAR. THE REASON FOR WRITING: LETTER RECEIVED TODAY (LETTER DATED 6/27/14) FROM TESLA SAYS THEY HAD DEVELOPED A SOFT-WARE UPDATE TO PREVENT THIS (AS WELL AS REPLACING THE PART). MY INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER MY SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED (I'M NOW 5.11, UPDATE WAS 5.8.4). CLAIMS OF SOFTWARE PROTECTION SHOULD BE VALIDATED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10608795

Feb 12, 2014Electrical systemEquipmentFire

DESPITE THE 14V006000 RECALL BEING ISSUED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION, SO THEY HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THE FIRE HAZARDS AND ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ONLINE AFTER THEIR CHARGE CONNECTORS FAILED AFTER THE RECALL. ALLEGEDLY ON JANUARY 9, 2014 TESLA CEO ELON MUSK CLAIMED THAT RELATED RECALLED TESLA MODEL S. ADAPTERS WOULD BE MAILED OUT WITHIN TWO WEEKS. YET A MONTH LATER CUSTOMERS AND ALLEGEDLY EVEN TESLA SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT ADAPTERS. THE PROPOSED RECALL AS IT STANDS SEEMS TO BE INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE THE ONLY HARDWARE THAT IS REPLACED IS THE ADAPTER. THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE ADAPTER AND THE UMC MODULE ARE WELL DOCUMENTED TO BE THE SOURCE OF MANY OVERHEATING, MELTING AND BURNING EVENTS. THESE CONNECTIONS SHOULD PROBABLY BE REPLACED WITH CONNECTORS THAT ARE BETTER CAPABLE OF CARRYING THE HIGH CURRENT FOR LONG DURATIONS. DESPITE TESLA TRYING TO PORTRAY A SOFTWARE UPDATE AS A "FIX", TESLA CHARGE CONNECTORS CONTINUE TO OVERHEAT, MELT AND BURN. DESPITE TESLA TRYING TO SCAPEGOAT HOUSE WIRING AND WALL OUTLETS AS THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE OCCURRENCES OF TESLA CHARGE CONNECTIONS OVERHEATING, MELTING AND BURNING THAT HOUSE WIRING AND WALL OUTLETS ARE NOT THE SOURCE. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT HOUSE WIRING AND WALL OUTLETS HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE A CAUSE AND OR FACTOR IN SOME CASES, HOWEVER THAT SHOULD NOT DIVERT ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE FAULTY TESLA CHARGE CONNECTIONS THAT ARE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10563948

Dec 29, 2013Electrical systemFire

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 CONNECTION FAILED AT THE WALL SOCKET, I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THE TESLA DESIGN AS A CAUSE OR A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE DESIGN OF THE TYPICAL TESLA CHARGING CONFIGURATION PUTS UNDUE STRESS ON THE WALL SOCKET, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A FAILURE OF A WALL SOCKET. IN MY OPINION SOME OF THE TESLA CHARGING CONNECTIONS ARE NOT ROBUST ENOUGH FOR THE POTENTIAL CURRENTS INVOLVED. MANY OF TESLA'S CHARGE CONNECTIONS ARE KNOWN FOR PRODUCING EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557627

Dec 28, 2013Electrical systemFire

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 FROM THE CAR AND YANKED THE CHARGER ADAPTER PLUG FROM THE OUTLET. THE NEMA 14-50 ADAPTER FUSED TO CORD. THE ADAPTER HAD A HOLE ON ONE SIDE WHERE IT WAS MELTING. I CALLED TESLA AND THEY SENT OUT SOMEONE WITH A NEW MOBILE CHARGER AND NEMA 14-50 ADAPTER. I AM NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT USING THIS ADAPTER AGAIN. THE BREAKER NEVER TRIPPED NOR DID THE CAR GENERATE ANY ERROR OR SHUT OFF CHARGING. I HAD THE ELECTRICIAN COME OUT AND INSPECT THE OUTLET. IT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF CHARRING AND TESTED OUT FINE FOR CONSTANT VOLTAGE WITHIN SPECS. NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT TESLA'S RESPONSE AT THIS POINT. I PLAN ON CALLING THEM IN THE MORNING." *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557543

Dec 28, 2013Electrical systemFire

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 FOUND". *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557549

Dec 23, 2013Electrical systemFire1 injury

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 TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

NHTSA ODI 10557033

Dec 23, 2013Electrical systemFire

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 INVESTIGATION WE DETERMINED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE CHARGING PLUG AND CORDSET. AFTER BURNING MY HANDS AND ARM REMOVING THE PLUG I PULLED THE ADAPTER OFF THE CORDSET AND SURE ENOUGH THE INNERDS HAD MELTED DOWN.' HTTP://WWW.TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/25444-MELTED-CHARGING-ADAPTER-CORD CALIFORNIA FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS TESLA MODEL S CHARGING SYSTEM MAY HAVE STARTED GARAGE FIRE HTTP://WWW.BUSINESSINSIDER.COM/TESLA-GARAGE-FIRE-2013-12. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10557103

Working with the data? Download all 459 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 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 Bev verdict →