2013 Tesla Model S Airbags Problems

This issue appears to be related to a known MCU failure affecting early Tesla Model S vehicles. The touchscreen exhibits screen melting/discoloration and eventually goes blank or becomes inoperative. When this occurs, critical functions including occupant detection indicators, seatbelt warnings, and windshield defrost controls may become unavailable. The loss of these functions creates potential safety risks involving visibility, occupant protection, and driver awareness while operating the vehicle."

NHTSA ID

11744091

Incident

Jun 2, 2026

This issue appears to be related to a known MCU failure affecting early Tesla Model S vehicles. The touchscreen exhibits screen melting/discoloration and eventually goes blank or becomes inoperative. When this occurs, critical functions including occupant detection indicators, seatbelt warnings, and windshield defrost controls may become unavailable. The loss of these functions creates potential safety risks involving visibility, occupant protection, and driver awareness while operating the vehicle."

NHTSA ID

11744090

Incident

Jun 2, 2026

THE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU) IN MY 2013 TESLA MODEL S STOPPED WORKING WHEN I REBOOTED THE CAR WHILE STATIONARY (COMMONLY NEEDED TO RESTORE LOST FUNCTIONALITY), APPARENTLY DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE EMBEDDED MULTI-MEDIA CARD (EMMC) MEMORY. AS PART OF THIS FAILURE, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK WHEN I LATER WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEFAULTED TO 'OFF' (PIC ATTACHED), AND THE HVAC SYSTEM (INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER) DEFAULTED TO AN UNKNOWN SETTING AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (NEITHER BY THE DEAD MCU NOR THE SMARTPHONE APPLICATION), THOUGH THE CAR WAS OTHERWISE STILL DRIVEABLE. APPARENTLY, THE OEM EMMC HAD LIMITED RE-WRITE CAPABILITY AND A RELATIVELY HIGH RE-WRITE FREQUENCY; WHEN IT FAILED, IT NOT ONLY CREATED DRIVING SAFETY HAZARDS, BUT ALSO COST MORE THAN $1,000 TO REPAIR WHAT WAS PROBABLY AN INEXPENSIVE PART (UNDER $10) FOR THE OEM.

NHTSA ID

11363170

Incident

Oct 6, 2020

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CRASHED INTO A SIDE DITCH. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, CAUSING MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DT*DT*DT*DT *TR*DT*DT*JB*DT*JB REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT *JB*DT *JS*DT

NHTSA ID

11279662

Incident

Jan 22, 2015

MY TESLA HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES RELATED TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS THAT A SEATBELT SENSOR TIED INTO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO A PINCHED WIRE IN THE SEATBELT MECHANISM, CAUSING THE SRS/AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO STAY ON. TO FIX THIS, TESLA REPLACED THE SEATBELT LATCHING MECHANISM AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT. SHORTLY AFTER, THE WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS TIME, A SEAT SENSOR TIED INTO THE SYSTEM FAILED. TESLA HAS TOLD ME THAT TO FIX THIS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MUST BE REPLACED, AND THAT I MUST PAY FOR IT, A $2500 BILL. I WAS FURTHER INFORMED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 4 TO 6 WEEKS TO ORDER THE SEAT, DURING WHICH TIME THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULD REMAIN NON-OPERATIONAL. AT THE MOMENT I AM REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE SEAT, SO I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH A DISABLED AIRBAG SYSTEM. I FEEL THAT TESLA SHOULD BE FIXING SUCH DEFECTS FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA ID

11030061

Incident

Sep 20, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/44749556/PHOTOS?RESULTINDEX=12&TOTALRECORDS=21&BACKTO=%2FLOTSEARCHRESULTS%2F%3FFREE%3DTRUE&QUERY=TESLA&QUERY=TESLA&DISPLAYSTR=SEARCH%20RESULTS&VIEWEDLOT=44749556 THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED ON ALL 4 WHEELS AND THE WHEELS ARE JAMMED UP IN THE WHEEL WELLS WHICH HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BODYWORK AND PRESUMABLY A VERY RAPID DECELERATION OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO IMPACT DAMAGE. THERE HAV BEEN MANY REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND REPORTS THAT THE CAR LACKS ANY FORM OF LIMIT STOPS IF SHOULD THERE BE A LEAK IN THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS DEPLOYED BUT NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT THERE WAS A DRIVER IN THE CAR AT THE TIME SINCE THIS CAR PREDATES THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM! PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE OWNER AND THAT THIS REPORT IS BASED ENTIRELY ON MY OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGED CAR. DATE OF INCIDENT IS AN APPROXIMATION.

NHTSA ID

10937974

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE FIRST REPORTED TESLA CRASH IN CHINA, IT APPEARS THAT THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WHILE CHINA IS NOT IN THE JURISDICTION OF NHTSA, THE INFORMATION CAN BE USED PROACTIVELY FOR SAFETY IN THE US, INSTEAD OF BEING REACTIVE. HTTP://WWW.CARNEWSCHINA.COM/2014/07/11/FIRST-TESLA-CRASHES-IN-CHINA/......UPDATED 07/15/14 *BF

NHTSA ID

10610088

Incident

Jul 11, 2014

A STOLEN TESLA CRASHED IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, KILLING THE DRIVER. PHOTOS SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. ALLEGEDLY LIGHT POLES SPLIT THE CAR IN HALF. THE LIGHT POLES SEEM TO BE THE BREAKAWAY TYPE. SUGGESTING THERE MAY BE A STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS THAT ALLOWED THE TESLA TO BREAK IN HALF, FRACTURING THE BATTERY, CATCHING PIECES OF BATTERY ON FIRE, AND EXPLODING BATTERY CELLS, SENDING FLAMING SHRAPNEL THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609716

Incident

Jul 4, 2014