NHTSA Complaint #10498446 — 2013 TESLA MODEL S

STRUCTURE:BODY issue reported to NHTSA

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10498446
Vehicle	2013 TESLA MODEL S
Component	STRUCTURE:BODY
Date of Incident	February 14, 2013
Date Filed	February 17, 2013
Mileage	950 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	VA

Consumer Description

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

Related Complaints for the 2013 TESLA MODEL S

Other STRUCTURE:BODY Complaints

#11671434 — July 6, 2025 — Front impact bumper separated from mount on one side due to rust. Noticed a noise from front of car when going over ...

#11618483 — October 7, 2024 — When parked and opening the drivers door or rear passenger doors, the front passenger door will unlatch. Something i...

#11530168 — July 3, 2023 — First the passenger door handle broke and Tesla fixed it, now the driver door handle broke. Seems like a safety issu...

#11444068 — December 16, 2021 — 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 ( ...

#11413453 — April 22, 2021 — DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED TO PRESENT AND REQUIRED REPAIR. REPAIRED WITH LATEST GENERATION HANDLES. THIS ...

Recent Complaints for the 2013 TESLA MODEL S

#11718480 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER — February 17, 2026 — I have a 2013 Tesla Model-S, I have so far spent thousands on this car for door handle related problems over its lif...

#11712888 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — January 23, 2026 — On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX] in Barrow County, Georgi...

#11712888 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — January 23, 2026 — On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX] in Barrow County, Georgi...

#11712551 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — January 21, 2026 — While charging my 2013 Tesla Model S, the vehicle experienced a charging system failure and would no longer charge. U...

#11708089 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — December 31, 2025 — The screen abruptly shuts down and that is a safety hazard. Tesla has refused to fix this issue.