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

The vehicle has suffered a catastrophic, intermittent low-voltage network crash caused by a failing Body Control Module (BCM), resulting in multiple dangerous safety-critical failure modes. On a previous occasion, the vehicle woke up with severe network faults and automatically forced itself into Neutral. When the driver stepped out to get the child and shut the door, the system crashed entirely and the exterior electronic door handles failed to present, trapping an infant child inside the running vehicle. Most recently, while driving in a rainstorm, the vehicle suffered a complete failure of the windshield wipers, a total loss of the high-beam headlights, a total loss of the horn, and a total loss of electronic communication to the electronic parking brake system. Most critically, the vehicle experienced an uncommanded propulsion hazard where it hard-locked itself in the 'Drive' gear and absolutely refused to shift into 'Park' or 'Neutral,' forcing the driver to physically maintain heavy hydraulic brake pressure to keep the vehicle from creeping forward. Because the horn failed and the parking brake was disabled, the driver was trapped in the driver's seat holding the brakes and was forced to call 911 for emergency first responders to come and physically block the wheels so the driver and infant could safely exit. Tesla Service has diagnosed the issue as a failed central Body Control Module (Part #1010906-00-D), but the cascading network failure modes present an extreme, life-threatening hazard regarding vehicle control and child entrapment.

NHTSA ODI 11746345

While driving my 2013 Tesla Model S at normal road speed, the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion without any warning. I had to coast and maneuver across traffic to avoid being hit before the car came to a stop. After shifting into Park, the vehicle displayed DI_w072 and DI_f072 gate‑drive faults, which indicate inverter/drive‑unit failure and match a pattern reported by other early‑model‑year Tesla owners. This sudden loss of motive power created a serious safety hazard, including risk of rear‑end collision and exposure to oncoming traffic while disabled. • No alerts appeared before the failure • Fault codes appeared only after the vehicle stopped • Vehicle required towing • Incident occurred under normal driving conditions • Tesla has denied responsibility or involvement It was serviced by Tesla a couple days before. During servicing they stated on one side the drive axle was not completely installed upon arrival. They stated they "popped it in for free but the drive unit will likely need replacement soon." Prior to this visit i have had no issues or alerts with these parts or systems, I declined any work to these areas. The next day after receiving my vehicle back, I discovered the coolant reservoir was completely empty. No warning was provided that the coolant system had been left unfilled, and the lack of coolant may have contributed to thermal damage in the drive unit or inverter. They denied any work they did involve these parts and denied any responsibility. They denied my request to have the car towed to their service center and diagnose it unless i paid for it. They also estimated the repair to cost me 6k without any further investigation. I request that NHTSA evaluate whether this failure mode represents a broader defect affecting 2012–2015 Model S drive units/inverter electronics and whether further investigation or recall is warranted.

NHTSA ODI 11741781

The contact owns a 2013 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that the parking brake seized while leaving a charging station, and the vehicle screeched into oncoming traffic and stalled. The parking brake warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle had not been charged prior to a snowstorm, and the battery became fully drained. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the main battery and 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced before the diagnostic test. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle failed to shift into drive or move. The jack mode was disengaged. While driving, the rear wheels were screeching. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: SB-21-33-002). The vehicle was towed to another local dealer, Tesla Service Arlington-Glebe Rd (2710 S Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22206). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The battery was at 19 percent. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

NHTSA ODI 11720889

On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX] in Barrow County, Georgia when the instrument cluster/speedometer display went completely blank while driving. This is an intermittent issue that occurs without warning - the display turns off and sometimes freezes. Because the speedometer was not displaying, I had no way to know my actual speed. I was pulled over by Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and cited for speeding. I explained the instrument cluster malfunction to the officer at the scene and showed him the blank display. I took my vehicle to Tesla Service Center in Duluth, GA (3380 Satellite Blvd) on November 4, 2025 - as soon as I could get an appointment after the incident. Tesla cleared the filesystem caches but did NOT inform me about the existing eMMC recall (SB-21-21-001) that affects my vehicle, nor did they perform the recall repair. My 2013 Model S is equipped with the MCU1 with the 8GB eMMC that is subject to NHTSA Recall 21V-119. This is a known defect that NHTSA determined to be a safety issue because it affects critical displays including the speedometer, backup camera, and turn signal indicators. I have video evidence of the malfunction occurring and the Tesla service receipt documenting the issue. The fact that Tesla’s service center did not notify me of the applicable recall or perform the free recall repair. This defect directly resulted in me receiving a traffic citation because I could not see my speedometer while driving INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11712888

While charging my 2013 Tesla Model S, the vehicle experienced a charging system failure and would no longer charge. Upon inspection, I discovered water intrusion and corrosion on the lower portion of the charging-related electronic circuit board at the bottom of the charging port and right where the High Voltage cables are located as well. The affected electronics are located in an area that is not normally exposed to water and is not owner-serviceable. Later model Tesla Model S vehicles (2014 and newer) include a drain in this exact location, which this vehicle does not have. This design change appears to directly address the same water accumulation issue that caused the failure in my vehicle. The failure results in loss of the vehicle’s ability to charge, rendering the vehicle inoperable. Tesla declined to repair the issue, stating the vehicle is out of warranty, despite acknowledging the design change in later models. This appears to be a latent design issue related to water ingress into critical charging electronics, which presents a safety and reliability concern due to loss of propulsion capability and water exposure to High Voltage parts.

NHTSA ODI 11712551

The screen abruptly shuts down and that is a safety hazard. Tesla has refused to fix this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11708089

November 20, 2025 To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation Subject: Safety Defect Complaint – Tesla Model S I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious and dangerous safety defect involving my Tesla Model S. Safety Defect Summary:    •   After the high-voltage battery failed, the vehicle would not enter Neutral.    •   I had to use Tow Mode in the middle of a street on a hill to avoid blocking traffic.    •   Once in Tow Mode, the car could not enter Park and the emergency/parking brake would not engage.    •   The car became completely free-rolling, posing danger to myself, other drivers, and pedestrians.    •   When Tesla returned the car to my home, their technicians also could not get the vehicle into Park or activate any emergency braking system.    •   The car is currently stuck in Tow Mode in my driveway with physical objects placed behind the wheels to prevent it from rolling. Why This Is a Safety Hazard: A vehicle that cannot shift into Park, cannot use its emergency brake, and remains free-moving after a failure represents a serious safety defect. This occurred without warning and left the vehicle unsafe to operate or even store. Request: I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this as a potential safety defect affecting the Tesla Model S when the high-voltage battery fails. A car should never lose all ability to secure itself.

NHTSA ODI 11700490

The instrument panel went blank permanently posing a safety hazard due to loss of vehicle function status indicators such as speed, direction, gauges, warnings, and signaling.

NHTSA ODI 11695532

2013 Model S VIN [XXX] : 'Voltage sense open detected' poses shutdown risk on May 2021 replacement battery. Tesla claims 4-year warranty vs. standard 8-year; local service redirects without resolution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11695377

Premature HV Battery BMS Failure After Tesla Replacement – Safety Risk of Fire and Sudden Power Loss

NHTSA ODI 11685191

Tesla instrument cluster screens are leaking fluid and eventually failing. The instrument cluster is the only place I can see my speed, thus my car is now unsafe as I can not tell what speed I am driving at.

NHTSA ODI 11629453

I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding two critical component failures in my 2013 Tesla Model S within the past 12 months, both of which occurred shortly after the manufacturer's warranty had expired. These issues have not only been financially burdensome but also raise questions about the reliability and longevity of Tesla vehicles. Motor Replacement: In Sept 2022, I was compelled to replace the motor in my Tesla Model S at a cost of $6,304.89. This occurred despite my vehicle maintaining a clean record and having only around 70k miles on it at the time. The timing of this failure, immediately after the expiration of the manufacturer's warranty, is concerning and suggests a potential design or manufacturing flaw. Battery Replacement: Most recently, I have been informed that the battery in my Tesla Model S requires replacement at an estimated cost of $15,545.97. Like the motor failure, this comes as a substantial financial burden, and again, it has happened just after the warranty period has ended. I find these consecutive, high-cost component failures within a short timeframe to be unacceptable and have led me to question the overall reliability of Tesla vehicles. As a responsible and safety-conscious consumer, I believe it is vital to report these issues to the NHTSA to ensure the safety and protection of all Tesla owners and the general public. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigates these repeated component failures in Tesla vehicles, particularly the motor and battery, and assesses whether there may be any systemic issues that warrant further action or recalls. It is crucial for the NHTSA to uphold and enforce safety standards in the automotive industry to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. I have attached relevant documents and receipts as evidence of the mentioned repairs for your reference. - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11548100

On August 23, 2023 I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S on the Van Wyck Expressway when suddenly the steering wheel became very stiff making the car hard to steer. I experience a loss of electronic power in steering the car. I called Tesla Road Service they dispatched a tow truck one of their tow provider and I was charged $475.00 dollars. It was towed to: Tesla Service Center @ 160 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, NY 11231. I mentioned to Tesla Service Center per information I reviewed online this is a recall SB-22-00-014 per the year of my vehicle 2013 Tesla Model S. Tesla Service Center charged me $500.84 cents for a diagnosis they said the Electric Power Steering Gear Rack & Pinion is the issue and refused to acknowledge the recall per the model of my 2013 Model S Tesla. They quote me an amount of $4, 500.00 dollars before tax to fix the issue. When I declined the repairs per this expensive price I was informed by Tesla Service Center @ 160 Van Brunt Street to come and pickup the car. I arrived on Friday, August 25, 2023 to pickup the car with a tow truck the service department could not locate my keys. It took them 3 hours to find my key and then they put the car on service mode not allowing the car to go on park or drive only staying on neutral. They claimed that happened because the car reset itself. When I insist by a manager for them to fix that problem since the car did not come in with that issue only a stiff steering problem they refused. After several discussion with different staff and managers they had one of their mechanic to fix the issue and the car was able to go on Drive & Park again so I can have it towed to my location which took 3 tow trucks since Tesla wasn't cooperative in the beginning. I had the car towed to my location with the stiff steering the failed Electric Power Steering Gear Rack & Pinion Tesla refused to repair the problem per the Recall safety issue on this car. They want to charge me $4,500.00 plus tax out of pocket.

NHTSA ODI 11540947

The contact owns a 2013 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the message “unable to drive, voltage supply” and “vehicle may not restart” was displayed. The vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the local service center who diagnosed that the drive unit was faulty and needed to be replaced, due to water ingress coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. In addition, while operating the vehicle, a warning alert was displayed regarding the battery system and that the battery would no longer recharge. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the HV battery pack had failed due to corrosion caused by condensation from the HVAC system. The HV battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11532730

Center LCD SCREEN bubbling and leaking fluid from panel into car.

NHTSA ODI 11527818

My main center computer touch screen has been leaking a sticky toxic glue for over 5 years. This toxic sticky glue continues to leak all over the interior of my vehicle which regularly needs to be cleaned. This saftey issue has been reported to Tesla several times and Tesla refuses to take responsibility for this saftey issue. The sticky toxic glue leaks severly worse when exposed to higher temperatures and definitely is related to heat/thermal heat exposure. Tesla did not utilize an automotive grade computer screen on earlier production vehicles and has since changed the type of computer screens utilized in their current production vehicles. This is an ongoing problems with thousands of earlier production vehicles. Tesla is aware of this problem and refuses take responsibility to issue a recall which affects thousands of customers who are experiencing this same saftey issue. Tesla WILL NOT help or do anything to resolve this problem saying my vehicle is out of warranty. I had to take the interior of my vehicle apart to constantly clean this leaking toxic sticky glue. This glue has been leaking on other interior electrical components which is a serious saftey issue!

NHTSA ODI 11526128

Screen in front of the driver froze. Speedometer did not change, odometer did not change, map and directions did not change, gearshift indicator did not change, clock was frozen.

NHTSA ODI 11522147

Explained to Tesla service center immediately upon purchasing vehicle while it was still under warranty that the vehicle range was unacceptable using TESLA's warranty guideline for requirements for a battery replacement while under warranty. TELSA refused to changed the battery even though I took the vehicle to TESLA several times while the Battery was still under warranty. A month after the warranty expired the motor died, it had been showing signs wear but TESLA failed to property inform me of the issue and charged me over $6000 for the repair due to my lack of knowledge on what the symptoms are for a failing motor. Shortly after the warning for "Charging - Maximum battery charge level reduced" has come on and TESLA is trying to charge me about $21,000 for a replacement battery.

NHTSA ODI 11511655

At random the Steering assist reduce, traction control disabled, stability, control, disable, regenerative breaking reduced. Wipers are affected during these error messages. The car is trying to get me killed!! On different days, all those errors are gone and the car drives normal. Suspect this is a software defect and can be very dangerous. Seems like something got reset after the car is turned off. All software are up to date on the car and on the phone app. Once no more errors from the car, it would drive normal until it randomly disable traction control, stability control and wipers becomes very slow, get stuck at times.

NHTSA ODI 11500922

1. 2nd row seat behind driver malfunction for years. (Mean can not insert) 2. On Dec. 5th, 2022, Drive off the Tesla model S off highway to local road and car just die. Tow to Tesla service station in Bellevue, WA. I was told drive unit was water damaged a day later. This drive unit was put in on June, 2018 to replace original drive unit, which broken in June, 2018 at 76k miles. 4.5 years later, and under 45k miles driving splashed water from road cause damage of drive unit. Unbelievable. If car died on the 520 bridge before I got off it really can be a serious car crash. This is really a safety issues.

NHTSA ODI 11498175

Last week, my vehicle could no longer charge fast and I am unable to charge past 107 miles. The following message appears: BMS_u029 / "Maximum battery charge level reduced" After researching the issue, I found that hundreds of other Tesla drivers have experienced this problem (see: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/forums/model-s-battery-charging.109/). Some were unable to charge after receiving this message, and some were capped at 30-50 miles, making the vehicles practically unusable. Tesla charges $15,000 (remanufactured battery pack) to $25,000 (new) to fix the problem. But many drivers are reporting that the defect is caused by a Tesla design, where the AC condensation drips onto the battery pack and create rust and corrosion, which then cause the batteries to malfunction.

NHTSA ODI 11487133

My 2013 Tesla Model S 60 KW didn’t drive on July 2022 and I got a warning on the screen that all electrical systems are shutting down . The car had to be towed to Tesla Service . Tesla service told me the battery pack has to be replaced for 13k. I went down to Tesla Service and told them I want to see the battery pack but I was told that I couldn’t see it and was shown a piece of the corroded fuse box cover. I was told I couldn’t take a picture of it even though this was my car and own the battery pack . I was told only then that there was corrosion on the fuse box cover to the battery pack and the battery pack has to be replaced for 13k. I paid 13k and Tesla replaced the battery pack 6 weeks later. I have learned since then that many Teslas Model S year 2012-15 have this problem. The problem is that the air conditioner hose leaks on to the fuse box cover and corrodes it. Tesla knows about this problem and refuses to do anything and just says that the entire battery pack has to be replaced. This is a defect in the battery pack that fuse box is located under the air conditioner hose. I asked Tesla before paying for the replacement battery pack if this would occur with the replacement battery and was told that the replacement battery has the fuse box at the other side of the battery pack .not like the old battery. Apparently Tesla knows about this problem and redesigned the battery pack. This a defective battery pack and the car could stop driving suddenly and crash into other cars. This very dangerous and Tesla knew about this for years and didn’t do anything. I was under warranty from 2013 till 2021 for the battery pack and Tesla should have repaired the battery pack or replaced it. I want to reimbursed for my 13k that I spent on the replaced battery pack. Tesla knowingly knows this problem and deceived me and said just the fuse box got corroded. This happened in July 2022 in the heat when I had the air conditioner on and water leaked on to the battery pack.

NHTSA ODI 11487136

The touchscreen failed and I need it replaced, but Tesla says it’s not part of what the NTSB negotiated with Tesla to do regarding these screens. 2014 model S. It’s not fair to me to have to replace what I believe is a defect. Also, I believe this car was salvaged in another state and then brought to CA and resold to me. There was a salvage record on Bumper and now it disappeared. There’s also a code on my car that reads that acceleration may be reduced and Tesla wants to replace connectors but I keep getting more and more parts added to the quote. They say this is a “preemptive” repair. They made a new firmware/software rollout which took away my Sirius XM capability and they say they know about it, but won’t reinstall my software. I believe their software/firmware has taken away attributes on my car. Tesla won’t give me the repair history to the car and I fear they are hiding all the recalls saying they’ve been done when in reality they haven’t. I’m worried about driving the car.

NHTSA ODI 11486881

As I was driving the vehicle home one night on the highway, the vehicle had a 13% charge and told me to pull over safely as it was shutting down. I had it towed to a charging station and the issue seemed to be resolved. Then after a couple weeks, I was driving on the highway and revived another warning, “maximum battery charge level reduced- ok to drive- schedule service.” I brought it to the nearest supercharger and it only charges to 24% charge and it charges extremely slow. I took it in for service and the told me I need to replace the high voltage battery and quoted me at $19,414. I have seen reports of investigations taking place currently in Canada for the same issue. Apparently, these older Teslas have an A/C condensor unit that dumps water onto the battery and causes battery problems. Please look into this for me as I believe a recall is warranted. Thanks so much! I also included the contact information of the dealership where my car is being serviced

NHTSA ODI 11485840

Battery packs on older Model S are dying WHILE driving. Puts the car non responsive and limp mode. No choice but to try and pull over. No acceleration and car dies. First occurrence warning happened, however went away upon charging the vehicle. Drove to a Tesla service center under its own power, left service center under its own power with no warning messages. Tesla is aware of the issue with older battery packs, demands 20k or to scrap your car, or they require a legal release pertaining to the battery pack. I was locked out of my vehicle and it was held without a mechanics lein. This legal release absolves them of all responsibility over the vehicle especially if you bring it to another shop. Owners have no right to repair their vehicles at shops with certified technicians. The second time this happened, luckily the vehicle was parked and died in a driveway. No warning messages prior. Tesla says it gave warnings however I was not aware. Car was towed by AAA to a service center where it currently sits. Reference to another vehicle which received international attention for exact same issue. https://www.newsweek.com/man-says-tesla-locked-him-out-until-pays-26-thousand-dollar-battery-1743016 These older cars are not safe on the road.

NHTSA ODI 11485038