2013 Tesla Model S Body & structure Problems

Front impact bumper separated from mount on one side due to rust. Noticed a noise from front of car when going over small bumps in the road. If we had been in an accident, the impact bumper would not have provided adequate protection for the passengers or vehicle components near the drivers front where the mount had separated from the bar. No other inspections have occurred. Pictures and info can also be found here: [XXX] Issue found during replacement of upper control arms. (image has an upper control arm that was removed from the same car at the same time with little/no rust) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11671434

Incident

Jul 2, 2025

When parked and opening the drivers door or rear passenger doors, the front passenger door will unlatch. Something is setting off the relay to open the front door when other doors open. Does not happen 100% of the time, but 50%+

NHTSA ID

11618483

Incident

Oct 4, 2024

First the passenger door handle broke and Tesla fixed it, now the driver door handle broke. Seems like a safety issue and these things are just designed to break.

NHTSA ID

11530168

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

The Model S door handles extend/retract. The handle mechanism involves a gear that extends the handle out and a spring of sorts that retracts the door handle. The door handle can be programmed to automatically extend when in proximity to the key fob or be programmed to extend only when the car is physically unlocked with the key fob. Over the course of ownership (9 years) I have needed at least 7-8 door handles replaced because of a failure of the door handle to extend. When the door handle does not extend, the door cannot be opened from the outside. It can be difficult to pry open the door handle if the door handle cannot extend. If the driver door handle does not function, and if the driver becomes unconscious or incapacitated, there is no easy way for an individual outside the car to open the driver door without breaking the window or climbing into the car via another door that can be opened with a functioning door handle. This represents a significant safety concern and could render the door unusable and impede the efforts of rescue personnel from intervening on behalf of the driver. These door handles seemingly have a shelf life before failure, and I have been told by Tesla that they consider door handles to be "consumables," which suggests that they, like belts, brake pads, tires, etc. simply need to be replaced after a certain time. Over 30 years of owning and driving automobiles, I have never had to replace defective door handles at all, and certainly not once every year or two. Not to mention the safety issue, but Tesla also charges for parts and labors every time a door handle needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ID

11471518

Incident

Jun 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive and electrical power. A warning message stating that the vehicle was about to shut off was illuminated. The contact swerved to the right, attempting to veer to the side of the road on the right lane; however, the vehicle stopped midway and a semi-truck almost crashed into the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle. The contact pushed the vehicle into a nearby parking lot with assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer advised the contact that they had replaced the battery with a new battery; however, the failure reoccurred, and the battery was replaced for a second time. The Department of Auto Motor Repair of California investigated and informed the contact that the dealer had kept his original battery and the third battery that the dealer installed in the vehicle was not new. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the third battery with the original one; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer replaced the original battery with an upgraded battery. The contact also stated that the hood would not close securely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer; Tesla (7077 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89117) who repaired the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side door would fail to close. The vehicle was towed twice to the second dealer and was finally repaired. The contact stated that the center display of the vehicle would inadvertently turn off while driving. The contact stated that the failure had prevented him from using the rearview camera or have control of the door switches and some features of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11445667

Incident

Dec 30, 2021

Mileage

45,000 mi

When driving out of parking lot I turned on to the main road and was going about 20 mph when the front hood of car ( Tesla calls this the frunk) came open and raised up to a vertical position completely blocking my view. Fortunately I was going slowly and was able to pull off to the right shoulder and stop. I then was able to close this hood and continue home. Nothing appears damaged. I have no idea how or why this happened. There is no safety catch on this hood to keep it from flying open if the latch fails for some reason or another. Further more on the screen there is a button that can be pushed to open this front hood. I have not opened this front hood for several months. Further I don't know if this button will open the front hood if the car is in motion. If this front hood had come open while the car was moving at a high speed I could have lost control and been killed. I have owned many cars and have never seen one that did not have a safety catch on the front hood to prevent it from opening if the main catch was unlocked. This is a serious safety defect and Tesla should be required to recall any of its cars that do not have a safety catch feature holding the front hood from coming up unless released by a person standing in from of car and unlatching it by hand. Further the button on the screen should not be able to release the front hood if the car is moving. Lastly if this release button is pushed there should be some kind of audible warning to the driver that the front hood is not latched properly or the car should not be able to move forward if this front hood is not properly latched.

NHTSA ID

11444068

Incident

Dec 16, 2021

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 ID

11413453

Incident

Apr 13, 2021

Mileage

84,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 1, 2019, I WAS SLOWLY BRAKING AND START TURNING RIGHT INTO MY DRIVEWAY ON THE 2013 TESLA MODEL S. I FELT A SURGE OF THE VEHICLE AND 1 SECOND LATER, THE VEHICLE LANDED ON TOP OF THE STAIRCASE OF MY HOUSE ENTRANCE AND DRIVEWAY. I DID NOT PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL WHEN I SLOWLY TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY.THE VEHICLE SPED ON ITS OWN FOR ONLY A SPLIT SECOND. I CALLED TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME AND DIRECT ME TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE'S INFORMATION TO BE SENT TO THE ENGINEERS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED BUT TO REPAIR SHOP BUT TESLA SUPPORT TEAM HAS BEEN IGNORING ALL MY CALLS AND EMAIL. MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ID

11302076

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

7 mi

TESLA MODEL S DOOR POPS OPEN WHEN YOU SELECT THE DOORS TO UNLOCK. MANY TIMES, IT DOESNT EVEN SHOW ON THE DASH BOARD, SO YOU DONT KNOW ITS OPEN UNLESS YOU NOTICE IT OR HEAR NOISE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. YOU GO CHECK AND THATS WHEN YOU REALIZE IT IS OPEN. VERY UNSAFE. SOMEONE CAN JUST ROLL OUT OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11298611

Incident

Jan 6, 2020

THE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE (EXTERIOR) WILL NOT PRESENT, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE IS 6 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT. THE TESLA CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT, BUT THEY ARE STILL CHARGING OVER $400 TO FIX IT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO HELP SOMEONE, AND WHEN I TRIED TO GET BACK INTO MY CAR, THE HANDLE WOULD NOT PRESENT AND I HAD TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE HANDLE HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. MANY OTHER TESLA OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. DOOR HANDLES ARE A NECESSITY FOR ALL VEHICLES, AND SHOULD LAST A REASONABLE LIFETIME FOR A CAR. NOT BEING ABLE TO ENTER YOUR CAR IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11265664

Incident

Sep 24, 2019

Mileage

38,000 mi

11 DAYS AGO, THE DOORS AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING ON MY TESLA MODEL S. THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND WHEN I CLICKED ON THE "OPEN" BUTTON TO CAUSE THE DOOR HANDLES TO EXTEND, I DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE HANDLE NO LONGER OPENED. IN FACT, 3 OF THE 4 DOORS NO LONGER OPENED. IN ADDITION, AFTER CRAWLING IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOWS NO LONGER OPENED EITHER. IN ADDITION TO BEING A NUISANCE, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT, EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. SECOND, IF A DRIVER IS APPROACHED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR ANOTHER PERSON, HE/SHE CANNOT OPEN THE WINDOW TO COMMUNICATE. IN FACT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, A DRIVER PERISHED IN A FIERY TESLA CRASH. THE POLICE WERE UNABLE TO RESCUE HIM, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT OPEN HIS DOOR. SEE HTTPS://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/2019/02/25/FATAL-TESLA-MODEL-S-CRASH-FIRE/. "ACCORDING TO REPORTS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND ONLOOKERS SAY THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESCUE THE DRIVER. THE AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOYING DOOR HANDLES ON THE OUTSIDE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE DEPLOYED." APPARENTLY THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF TESLA CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. SEE HTTPS://FORUMS.TESLA.COM/FORUM/FORUMS/DOOR-HANDLE-NOT-FUNCTIONING FOR A SNAPSHOT. FOR AN EXAMPLE, SEE HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=L4J3BEB5NOG. I CONTACTED AT LEAST 7 DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT TESLA, BUT NONE OF THEM SEEMED TO VIEW THIS AS A SAFETY HAZARD. THEY WERE MORE FOCUSED ON CHARGING ME FOR WHAT THEY CALL AN "OUT-OF-WARRANTY" EVENT, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE WINDOWS AND DOORS HAS PERSISTED SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. IN FACT, I HAVE DOCUMENTED A LONG LIST OF SERVICE FAILURES WITH THIS TESLA MODEL S. I HAVE OVER 100 EMAILS OUTLINING THESE PROBLEMS, RANGING FROM DEFECTIVE DOORS/WINDOWS TO A BATTERY MALFUNCTION TO MORE. I CAN SHARE THESE UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ID

11253727

Incident

Aug 26, 2019

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE DOORS OPEN BY THEMSELVES!! THIS CAN HAPPEN AT A VARIETY OF TIMES, BUT THE MOST CONCERNING TO ME IS WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR, RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENS BY ITSELF. IF I DON'T NOTICE, I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD W/ THAT DOOR OPEN, MULTIPLE TIMES IT HAS BEEN LITERALLY SWINGING OPEN AS I GO AROUND A CORNER!!! MY CHILDREN RIDE IN MY CAR IN THE BACK AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL FALL OUT OF THE CAR!! NOTE, THIS ISSUE HAS AFFECTED MANY MANY MANY OF THE TESLA MODEL S OWNERS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE BY REFERENCING THE DIFFERENT FORUMS. IN FACT, IT APPEARS THAT OWNERS THAT HAVEN'T EXPERIENCE IT ARE HUGELY IN THE MINORITY.

NHTSA ID

11181936

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE PRESENTS TO OPEN, BUT WILL NOT OPEN THE DOOR WHEN PULLED. THIS IS THE SECOND DOOR FOR THIS MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

11171057

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHEN DOOR HANDLE PRESENTS ITSELF, IT EXTENDS TOO FAR SO THAT THE CAR THINKS SOMEONE IS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE CAR POPS OPEN THE DOOR BY ITSELF. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS A SECURITY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN ONE IS OPEN. THIS ISSUE OCCURS WHENEVER THE OWNER APPROACHES THE CAR (CAUSING THE HANDLES TO PRESENT THEMSELVES) AND WHENEVER THE DRIVER PUTS THE CAR IN PARK (ALSO CAUSING THE HANDLES TO PRESENT THEMSELVES). ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY. MANY OWNERS OF EARLY TESLA MODEL S CARS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, WHICH SEEMS TO RELATE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE FIRST GENERATION OF DOOR HANDLES. TESLA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL FIRST GENERATION DOOR HANDLES. HERE IS THE YOUTUBE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=Q5XAIN-K2PU&APP=DESKTOP

NHTSA ID

11096421

Incident

May 16, 2018

Mileage

38,000 mi

MY CAR WENT OVER A POTHOLE ON 101 S JUST SHORT OF WOODSIDE RD. EXIT. I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND MY CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND VEERED INTO THE LANES NEXT TO ME AS I TRIED TO CONTROL IT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT, IT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE REAR, RIGHT TIRE BURST AND THE WHEEL IMPACTED BADLY. REAR SUSPENSION BROKEN AND THE 'QUARTER AND ROCKER PANEL' BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

10945288

Incident

Jan 11, 2017

Mileage

23,000 mi

SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A STRIP MALL, I RELEASED MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS, LIGHTLY TAPPED BRAKE AND THE CAR "UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED" INTO A PALM TREE IN FRONT OF A BRICK PILLAR AT A STRIP MALL. I BACKED OUT TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. HUSBAND WAS WITNESS IN DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME, (LAST YEAR AT A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT) ALTHO THE FIRST TIME NO DAMAGE WAS DONE AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. POOR DECISION IN HINDSIGHT! SINCE NO PERSON WAS INJURED, THE POLICE DEPT WOULD NOT TAKE A REPORT. INSURANCE WAS CALLED AS WELL AS TESLA. TESLA TOOK 6 DAYS TO PULL LOGS AND ASSURED US IT WAS BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND ESCALATED TO MANAGEMENT. WE RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY FROM TOSHA AT TESLA, RELAYING THAT THEY DETERMINED THAT T WAS DRIVER ERROR AND LOG REPORTS SHOW THAT AS THE CAR WAS PULLING INTO THE SPOT, IT WAS ON A 3 ON A SCALE OF 100 AND THEN IT ACCELERATED 87% AND THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. DOES NOT MAKE LOGICAL SENSE THAT THE CAR COULD ACCELERATE 87% IN A MATTER OF 2 FEET! I AM 150% SURE I DID NOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR. I AM 47, NOT A 90 YR OLD WOMAN WHO MAY HAVE PEDAL CONFUSION. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WITH ANY OF OUR OTHER NON-TESLA CARS NOR IN MY 40+ YEARS OF DRIVING CARS OR MOTORCYCLES. THEIR RESPONSE IS SUSPECT AND WE ARE QUITE FRANKLY FEARFUL TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY. THIS STIP MALL HAS LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT WALK BY, ESP ELDERLY AND THE FACT THAT NO ONE OR THE PILLAR WAS HIT IS A BLESSING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WILL BE ASKING TESLA FOR A WRITTEN REPORT OF THEIR FINDINGS BUT NOT CONFIDENT IT WILL BE PROVIDED. WE PLAN TO SEEK COUNSEL AS WELL ESP SINCE THIS IS CONSIDERED AN "AT FAULT ACCIDENT".

NHTSA ID

10839579

Incident

Feb 24, 2016

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE VENTILATION IN THE 3RD ROW IS AWFUL IN THE MODEL S. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF SICK KIDS THROWING UP BECAUSE IT'S TOO HOT. TESLA ACKNOWLEDGED IT OVER A YEAR AGO AND STILL HASN'T FIXED IT. WE HAVE TRIED CONTACTING THEM AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627760

Incident

Aug 22, 2014

Mileage

100 mi

THIS IS NOT SO MUCH A COMPLAINT AS IT IS A QUESTION. I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT PURCHASING A TESLA AND I SAW PICTURES OF THE RECENT ACCIDENT THAT SPARKED, LITERALLY, A FIRE -- APPARENTLY A FRONT END COLLISION. THE EXCUSE FROM TESLA WAS THAT A PIECE OF METAL PIERCED THE BATTERIES AND THAT WILL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT ACCORDING TO TESLA, CAUSE A FIRE. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN NHTSA CRASH TESTS THESE CARS, IT IS INTO CONCRETE. AS MOST CRASHES ARE METAL TO METAL, SHOULDN'T YOU TEST, ESPECIALLY THIS CAR, BY CRASHING IT INTO ANOTHER CAR? *TR

NHTSA ID

10546738

Incident

Oct 4, 2013

I REMOVED THE REAR BUMPER COVER FROM THE CAR TO INSTALL A TRAILER HITCH. THREE OF THE FOUR NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEEL BUMPER CROSS MEMBER. THE NUTS WERE LOOSELY STARTED ONTO THE STUDS. THE NUTS ARE LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT CANNOT BE INSPECTED WITHOUT DISASSEMBLING THE REAR OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT AFFECTS CRASH CRUMPLE ZONE INTEGRITY AND PROTECTION FOR THE REAR FACING JUMP SEATS IN THIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND I DO NO BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN ASSEMBLY QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498446

Incident

Feb 14, 2013

Mileage

950 mi