Vehicle Data Hub

2013 Tesla Model S engine problems

21 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2013 Tesla Model S, which is 3% of all its NHTSA complaints.

At a glance

Complaints
21 3% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
77,000 miles 12 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
3 and 0
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2013 Tesla Model S Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 77,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 1 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 1 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 1 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 4 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 77,000 miles
Based on 12 complaints that include mileage. 25% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles1
20k to 40k miles1
40k to 60k miles1
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles4
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 12 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 77,000 miles, and 25% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

I previously filed a complaint to NHTSA on 9/24/2013 with NHTSA id no. 10545230. I noticed similar issue was reported by 3 or 4 other tesla owners: (1) 9/26/2013 NHTSA id no. 10545488, (2) 9/29/2014 NHTSA no. 10639849, (3) 9/29/2014 NHTSA no. 10639935, and (4) 6/8/2015 NHTSA id no. 10723925. There was another similar case in camarillo ca as reported by ventura county star on 3/29/2013 but apparently was not reported to NHTSA.

Reported at 3,000 miles, September 2013 Crash

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.

Reported at 108,000 miles, February 2026

Other problems reported for the 2013 Tesla Model S

Engine problems in other years

  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

Engine problems across all Tesla models