Is the 2013 Tesla Model S a bad year?
460 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Model S years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2013 Tesla Model S are in line with other Model S years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Model S owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 90,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 195 (42%) | 64k–115k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 35 (8%) | 69k–121k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 29 (6%) | 21k–94k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 24 (5%) | 51k–103k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 22 (5%) | 59k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (3%) | 60k–111k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 92 (20%) | 20k–66k miles · mostly behind | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Speed control | 25 (5%) | 10k–73k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 19 (4%) | 30k–84k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 22 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 21 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 90,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 460 complaints: 41 mention a crash · 19 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 32 say the car was towed.
12 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Re: NHTSA action number: DP19005 - investigation subject : battery management software updates I am an early model Tesla owner.
I was driving my Tesla model s early in the morning in a quiet neighborhood when was slowly approaching to four-way stop sign intersection by gradually step on the brake.
Repeated emmc failure, reoccurring failures and reboots of the mcu , see investigation:ea 20-003.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 90,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Tesla Model S: 11
In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged…
When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions. The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release. If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved.
The affected vehicles are equipped with driver or front passenger seat belts that may be improperly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner. If the seat belt is not correctly attached to the pretensioner, it may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
During charging, the adapter, cord, or wall outlet could overheat. An overheated adapter, cord, or wall outlet increases the risk of burn injury and/or fire.
An improper method for aligning the left hand seat back striker to the bracket may have weakened the weld between the bracket and the frame of the vehicle. In the event of a crash, the left hand seat back may not stay mounted, increasing the risk of injury to passengers.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Tesla: 90
Repair instructions Tesla sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Tesla Model S. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Tesla motors inc 2013-2014 model s : buletin information regarding replacing rear drive unit
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies
For some Model S and Model X vehicles built before March 2018, an 8GB embedded MultiMediaCard (?8GB eMMC?) in the Media Control Unit…
Tesla is committed to continuous improvement of the security of its products and advises customers to always install the latest mobile app and vehicle software…
NHTSA defect investigations: 12
Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
Sudden Unintended Acceleration
Defect Petition Interlock Request
Pedestrian alert sounds
Autopilot System Driver Controls
Neighbouring years
2012 Model S: 61 complaints, keep it · 2014 Model S: 367 complaints, keep it.
Every Tesla Model S year
2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Model S years side by side
Other Tesla models: Tesla Cybertruck · Tesla Model 3 · Tesla Model X · Tesla Model Y. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Tesla Model S a bad year?
460 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Model S years. At 90,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Tesla Model S?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (195), transmission and drivetrain (35), steering (29), fuel system (24), visibility and wipers (22).
How many recalls does the 2013 Tesla Model S have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 24V-376), Collision avoidance (NHTSA 24V-153), Electrical system (NHTSA 24V-051), Electrical system (NHTSA 23V-838) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.