Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2013 Tesla Model S
The 2013 Tesla Model S has a range of recall campaigns and owner complaints, particularly concerning the electrical system, suspension, and other areas. With 11 official recalls and 461 owner complaints, potential buyers should be cautious and conduct thorough inspections. Limited data suggests some fixes may be available but verifying existing owner maintenance and recall repairs is crucial.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2013 Tesla Model S has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 461 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V376000 Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V153000 Muted Pedestrian Warning Sound/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V051000 Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V838000 Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V035000 Center Display Can Lose Rearview Camera Image NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V204000 Loss of Power Steering Assist Due to Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V031000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V260000 Parking Brake may not Release or Fully Apply NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V780000 Front Seat Belts may be Incorrectly Secured NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V006000 Plug in vehicle charger/Possible fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V249000 Seat Back Mounting may Fail NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 195 complaints
- Unknown or Other 122 complaints
- Suspension 92 complaints
- Power Train 35 complaints
- Steering 29 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 25 complaints
Of the 461 complaints on file, 41 report a crash and 19 a fire; across all 461 complaints, owners report 24 injuries and 5 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Instrument cluster visibility
How to check: Ensure all warning lights on cluster are easily visible.
Passenger airbag inflator risk
How to check: Confirm with seller that airbag recall remedy is completed.
Power steering assist loss
How to check: Check if power steering recall work has been done.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Monitor dashboard for error messages or warnings.
Red flag: Persistent warning lights.
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Listen for unusual sounds from the HVAC system.
Red flag: HVAC clattering or non-functioning.
- 03
Initial acceleration
What to check: Ensure smooth power delivery with no hesitations.
Red flag: Jerky or delayed acceleration.
- 04
City driving
What to check: Check power steering function during low-speed turns.
Red flag: Steering feels heavy or unresponsive.
- 05
Highway acceleration
What to check: Accelerate to check for stability and control.
Red flag: Vehicle pulls to one side.
- 06
Cruising
What to check: Observe dash for any alerts during steady speed.
Red flag: New warnings or alerts appear.
- 07
Braking
What to check: Test brakes for smooth, consistent operation.
Red flag: Brakes feel spongy or ineffective.
- 08
Parking
What to check: Check parking brake holds the car securely.
Red flag: Parking brake fails to hold vehicle.
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Have all recall repairs been completed?
- Are there any ongoing electrical issues?
- Has the airbag inflator been replaced?
- Are there any suspension problems?
- When was the last software update?
- Has the steering component been checked?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Recall repair records
- Service history
- Original sales receipt
- Battery health report
- Vehicle history report
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2013 Tesla Model S at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2013 Tesla Model S? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.