2013 Tesla Model S Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2013 Tesla Model S, 42% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 90,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “backup camera” (8% of reports).
- 195electrical system complaints
- 90,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $1,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Backup camera: mentioned in 16 of 195 complaints (8%)
- Media control: mentioned in 15 of 195 complaints (8%)
- Touch screen: mentioned in 15 of 195 complaints (8%)
- Software update: mentioned in 14 of 195 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2013 Tesla Model S at $1,950, and half of them between $1,700 and $2,900.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2022), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 195 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 14 a fire, 5 an injury.
Tesla Model S electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Model S | 7 | 18% | 3,500 |
| 2023 Model S | 9 | 8% | 150,332 |
| 2022 Model S | 17 | 12% | 1,500 |
| 2021 Model S | 25 | 14% | 6,000 |
| 2020 Model S | 7 | 9% | 7,875 |
| 2019 Model S | 5 | 11% | 2,730 |
| 2018 Model S | 34 | 20% | 15,750 |
| 2017 Model S | 114 | 27% | 35,000 |
| 2016 Model S | 149 | 23% | 50,574 |
| 2015 Model S | 266 | 40% | 56,022 |
| 2014 Model S | 133 | 36% | 64,000 |
| 2013 Model S | 195 | 42% | 90,000 |
| 2012 Model S | 37 | 61% | 78,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Forward collision avoidance: warnings:external/pedestrian alert; electrical system:software
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Risk: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: 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.
Fix: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Electrical system:adas:driver monitoring:software
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. 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.
Risk: 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, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Electrical system:propulsion system:charging:cable/cord:accessory; equipment:electrical
Problem: Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2013 Model S vehicles equipped for, and delivered with, certain NEMA 14-50 (240 volt) Universal Mobile Connector (UMC) adapters. During charging, the adapter, cord, or wall outlet could overheat.
Risk: An overheated adapter, cord, or wall outlet increases the risk of burn injury and/or fire.
Fix: Tesla will notify owners and provide an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Some owners have already received this update. This update allows the Model S on board charging system to detect any unexpected fluctuations in the input power or higher resistance connections to the vehicle. If detected, the onboard charging system will automatically reduce the charging current by 25%. Tesla owners can verify that they have received the updated software (version 5.8.4 or later) by viewing the vehicle's center information screen. Additionally, Tesla will mail owners a replacement NEMA 14-50 adapter that is equipped with an internal thermal fuse. The recall began on March 14, 2014. Owners may contact Tesla Service Center at 1-877-79-TESLA (1-877-798-3752).
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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 gateâdrive…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Tesla Model Ss have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 195 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2013 Tesla Model S (42% of the 460 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Tesla Model S electrical system?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 90,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2013 Tesla Model S?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,950 (half paid between $1,700 and $2,900), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2013 Tesla Model S?
The most frequent phrase is “backup camera”, in 16 of 195 complaints, followed by “media control” (15).
Other 2013 Tesla Model S problems
- Suspension problems (91)
See all 2013 Tesla Model S problems or electrical system problems across all Model S years.