What 459 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Tesla Model S P90d

Hello, I recently read this complaint #11394551. I experienced this same issue. It was shocking and scary - during wet weather, my brakes would not work for upwards of 3 seconds and the braking distance was worsening each month. My car literally was sliding through stop signs as though it was on ice - but it was not nor was there snow on the ground. Tesla service was able to fix this concern on my car by doing two things per Tesla: 1. New brakes/rotors all around 2. Installing a shield to which prevented water from constantly hit the brake components (I was told this constant water application is what caused the components to fail) I was fortunate and did not have an accident or injury. It saddens me to read compliant #11394551. I assumed Tesla would be fixing this concern on all cars as it clearly was a safety issue; however, it appears a recall or fix was not done on all cars. See attached invoice for the repair.

NHTSA ODI 11418345

The rear trunk will not open and pulling the emergency safety cord will not open the trunk. If you review the Tesla forums this is a known issue with the car. In my case this happened while the car was parked. However if I had the rear facing seats in the trunk and was involved in an accident I would not have been able to get my children out of the car due to the emergency cord not working when the trunk latch fails.

NHTSA ODI 11417596

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOS ANGELES-CENTINELA (5840 W. CENTINELA AVE LOS ANGELES, CA 90045 310) 649-5463) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 11415298

DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED TO PRESENT AND REQUIRED REPAIR. REPAIRED WITH LATEST GENERATION HANDLES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A HANDLE HAS HAD ISSUES ON MY CAR (IT IS THE 3RD TIME A HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED). THIS IS CONCERNING AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. I WAS WITHOUT A WORKING HANDLE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED. IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR DURING THIS TIME - AND SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR AND UNABLE TO DUE TO THIS DEFECT - THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE A DELAY IN EXTRACTION AND POTENTIALLY A LOSS OF LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11413453

TESLA IS NOT REPLACING THE EMMC CARD THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED IN A TIMELY MANNER AS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO.

NHTSA ODI 11407698

TESLA IS REFUSING TO REFUND THE OUT OF POCKET COST PAID FOR THE MCU TOUCHSCREEN REPAIR, DESCRIBED BY THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 21V035. PLEASE FIND ATTACHED TESLA'S AUTOMATED SYSTEM REFUSING TO REFUND, PLUS MY SERVICE RECEIPT SHOWING IT WAS PAID OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ODI 11406908

THE CAR IS NOT GETTING ITS SOFTWARE UPDATES BECAUSE OF A BAD MCU. THE DEALER IS QUOTING $1200 TO REPLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11403661

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

MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 8GB EMMC RECALL REIMBURSEMENT. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 4TH 2019 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTIONING. TESLA HAD SET UP A SITE FOR CUSTOMER IN THAT SITUATION TO GET THEIR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THEIR INSUFFICIENT INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL RECORD KEEPING, THEY DENIED MY CLAIM. I TRIED TO CONTACT TESLA AGAIN TO TRY TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT THEIR CS JUST REPLY, "IF YOUR CLAIM WAS DENIED, THE SYSTEM HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE REPAIR IN QUESTION WAS NOT RELATED TO THE 8GB EMMC ACCUMULATED WEAR RECALL." I THEN REPLIED BY ASKING WHAT WAS THE REASON THAT UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THEY JUST IGNORE MY FURTHER QUESTIONING.

NHTSA ODI 11402672

THE STEERING RACK MOTOR FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. TURNING THE WHEELS AT NO OR LOW SPEED TAKES GREAT FORCE AND TURNING THE WHEEL AT FASTER SPEEDS TAKES MODERATE FORCE. THE MOTOR DIED MID TRIP, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THE MOTOR WORKED PERFECTLY FINE WHILE DRIVING TO MY DESTINATION AND FAILED, THANKFULLY, WHILE I WAS STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI 11399048

POWER STEERING NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11398617

I WAS NOTIFIED BY TESLA THAT MY CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE FEB 2 2021 RECALL REGARDING TOUCHSCREEN FAILURES. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REACHED OUT TO TESLA REGARDING SUCH FAILURES, BUT THEY SAID I HAD TO GIVE THEM SPECIFIC DATES & TIMES OF FAILURES FOR THEM TO TAKE ACTION, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE. WHEN NOTIFIED OF THE FEB 2021 RECALL. I CONTACTED THEM WITH 3 DATES/TIMES OF TOUCHSCREEN FAILURES. DURING THESE FAILURES, THE CAR COULD DRIVE, BUT I COULD NOT USE BACK-UP CAMERAS, OR USE MOST OF THE CAR'S FEATURES INCLUDED DEFOGGERS, ETC. AFTER CONTACTING TESLA ON FEB 2, 2021, THEY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO COME IN TO ADDRESS THE RECALL. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO TESLA THIS WEEK, AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 2 DAYS. WHEN I CAME TO PICK UP THE CAR, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT DO ANY REPAIRS RELATED TO THE RECALL (EVEN THOUGH I HAD SHOWN THEM DATES AND TIMES OF REPEATED TOUCHSCREEN FAILURES). THEY SAID THAT THAT THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE MEMORY ISSUE INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS (DESPITE TELLING ME PREVIOUSLY THIS WAS ALL COVERED UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL AND THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED). THE INVOICE THEY GAVE ME SAYS THE FOLLOWING: "PERFORMED MCU DIAGNOSIS, AND RESULTS WERE NOT WITHIN CONCERNING BOUNDS. PROACTIVELY INSPECTED VEHICLES MEMORY AND FOUND SPACE STILL AVAILABLE, CLEARED OUT NAVIGATION FILES, MAP TILES, AND MEDIA CACHE TO FREE UP ADDITIONAL SPACE. DUE NOTE TO ROUTINELY CLEAR TRIPS AS IT ALSO TAKES UP MEMORY SPACE. NO REPAIRS RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME." THEY ALSO TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM REMOTELY BUT I TOLD THEM THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE AS THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND THAT TESLA'S EMAIL SPECIFICALLY NOTED THAT CARS UNDER 8 YEARS OLD (WHICH MY CAR IS) WOULD BE ADDRESSED AT NO COST.

NHTSA ODI 11398013

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

MY VEHICLE STARTED MAKING SOME LOUD CREAKING/SQUEAKY NOISES WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER BUMPS AT ANY SPEED OR PARKED. I HAD IT INSPECTED BY A TESLA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THE LEFT CONTROL ARM IS STARTING TO FAIL AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE FORE LINK ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS SOME RATTLING NOISE THAT WAS GOING ON ALSO. I RECENTLY READ THAT TESLA HAD ISSUED A RECALL IN CHINA FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE MODEL S AND IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE IN THE US. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY VEHICLE TO THIS INVESTIGATION AS IT SEEMS THAT I'M BEING AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11398116

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

CHANGED THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BEFORE FULL FAILURE OCCURRED. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, TECHNICIANS NOTED THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS ON VERGE OF COLLAPSE AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. UNDER THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN THEY REPLACED THE REAR CONTROL ARMS AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE AND CHARGED FOR THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR THIS SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FLAW, LEAVING USERS UNAWARE AND WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE LOSS OF LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11396782

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THE LEFT REAR END OF MY CAR HIT A CAR PARKED BEHIND ME. MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SPED UP IN FORWARD DIRECTION IN AN ARC CAUSING ME TO HIT JUST INSIDE GARAGE ON THE LEFT . I TRIED TO BRAKE AND TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND NOTHING WAS WORKING. IT FINALLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND QUIT HITTING THE GARAGE. THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE AND I THOUGHT CAR WAS ON FIRE. THERE WAS LOTS OF BURNED RUBBER UNDER MY LEFT REAR TIRE CAUSING THE SMOKE. NONE UNDER RIGHT SIDE. THERE WERE WORKERS AT THE HOUSE (CAR BEHIND ME) AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CAR DOING IT. I WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I CALLED TESLA THAT DAY AND A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED BY SPECIAL TEAM IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD WHAT HAPPENED FROM COMPUTER. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM TESLA. MY CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AT THE TESLA SHOP IN COUNCIL BLUFFS AFTER BODY WORK DONE AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO CHECK COMPUTER AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT WOULD BE DONE BY TESLA ENGINEERS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION EITHER. THEY ASKED ME TO REPORT UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION ON THIS SITE. IT DID $23,000 IN DAMAGES TO MY CAR AND $25,000 TO MY HOUSE AND KNOCKED IT OFF FOUNDATION IN AFFECTED CORNER. IF BOTH TIRES HAD BEEN SPINNING I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE HERE AS I WOULD HAVE GONE STRAIGHT THROUGH GARAGE AND FLYING AS IT IS A ONE STORY DROP TO THE BACK. I WANT TO KNOW MY CAR IS SAFE BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHY INCIDENT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11396170

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

VEHICLE TOUCHSCREEN CONSTANTLY FREEZES AND NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO TESLA DUE TO THEIR CLAIMED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MCU ISSUES, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE REFUSED REPLACEMENT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OPERATIONS ARE CONTROLLED BY THE TOUCHSCREEN.

NHTSA ODI 11390619

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

PROBLEMS WITH THE CHIP OF THE COMPUTER. IT TAKES A ALONG TIME TO START(WAKE) THE CAR UP EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE WHOLE SCREEN TO THE NEW NOW. ALSO THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ? RELATED TO THE CHIP. IT TAKES TIME FOR THE CAR TO START WHEN NOT USING AND HAS TO WAIT FOR SOME TIME AND SOMETIMES NEED TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11389636

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

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

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

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