2013 Tesla Model S acceleration problems

Filed Jan 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · GA

On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2013 Tesla Model S (VIN: [XXX] ) on [XXX] in Barrow County, Georgia when the instrument cluster/speedometer display went completely blank while driving. This is an intermittent issue that occurs without warning - the display turns off and sometimes freezes. Because the speedometer was not displaying, I had no way to know my actual speed. I was pulled over by Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and cited for speeding. I explained the instrument cluster malfunction to the officer at the scene and showed him the blank display. I took my vehicle to Tesla Service Center in Duluth, GA (3380 Satellite Blvd) on November 4, 2025 - as soon as I could get an appointment after the incident. Tesla cleared the filesystem caches but did NOT inform me about the existing eMMC recall (SB-21-21-001) that affects my vehicle, nor did they perform the recall repair. My 2013 Model S is equipped with the MCU1 with the 8GB eMMC that is subject to the federal safety agency Recall 21V‑119. This is a known defect that the federal safety agency determined to be a safety issue because it affects critical displays including the speedometer, backup camera, and turn signal indicators. I have video evidence of the malfunction occurring and the Tesla service receipt documenting the issue. The fact that Tesla’s service center did not notify me of the applicable recall or perform the free recall repair. This defect directly resulted in me receiving a traffic citation because I could not see my speedometer while driving INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 24, 2025 · Acceleration, Transmission · 150,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2013 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the message "Take to Service" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer by Tesla Insurance to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the drive unit was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure via email and a letter. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Dec 7, 2024 · Acceleration, Electrical · TX

Tesla instrument cluster screens are leaking fluid and eventually failing. The instrument cluster is the only place I can see my speed, thus my car is now unsafe as I can not tell what speed I am driving at.

Filed Nov 8, 2024 · Acceleration · CA

While driving on the freeway at 70 MPH with 39 miles of range left, the vehicle abruptly slowed down to 20 MPH...cars behind us almost hit us due to the car slowing down despite me accelerating. We pulled to the right shoulder, rest the car and then was only able to go up to 20MPH...range still said 39 miles. Shortly after the car stopped, there was a warning displayed, and the car turned off and could no longer turn back on. I believe the battery failed. The car was towed to Tesla Irvine Barranca Service center and diagnostics confirmed the battery needed replacement. I traded in the car for a new vehicle. Safety of the driver, passengers, and the around us on the freeway were all at risk and we were lucky to avoid any issues. All Tesla told me was the battery died There was a warning that appeared when the car slowed down to 20mph...stating the car was no longer able to be driven

Filed Mar 23, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · WA

Brake pedal switch is malfunctioning causing the brake lights to turn on by itself when driving 60mph+ when I am pressing only the gas pedal and then it’s causing the engine to shutoff or power reduced due to “both pedals pressed” alert in the system. This can cause an accident 1st for sending the wrong brake light signal for the drivers behind me and 2nd to shut off engine when driving at high speeds. If this happens when driving uphill can cause the car to slow abruptly and even start going backwards due to engine shut off. Also I have concern that I had to reverse press (pull back) the brake pedal with my left foot in the middle of the highway to get rid of the alert while I was pressing the gas pedal with my right foot and then to regain gas power to continue to speed. Again, this is dangerous action that can cause an accident.

Filed Dec 2, 2021 · Acceleration · WI

Screen behind steering wheel that displays Speedometer goes black from time to time. Am told by a Tesla tech that this issue is related to outdated MCU1 hardware and that a 1500 upgrade to MCU2 hardware will resolve the issue. The current software that runs on 9 year old hardware (same chips are used from 2012-early 2018) is too bloated and causes usability issues that create unsafe driving conditions. It is imperative that speed, climate control and other functions that MCU handles have 100% uptime, especially when the vehicle is in motion. This is only possible by a hardware upgrade that can run Tesla’s latest software (which is automatically pushed several times per year). Right now, Tesla will sell customers an upgraded MCU for $1500-2000, depending on vehicle. This MCU can handle the latest software that inevitably finds its way to every Tesla vehicle through automatic updates. Customers should not have to pay $2000 to maintain basic features, such as timely vehicle power up, reliable speedometer and climate controls, and consistently performing music playing. I have had dozens of issues with MCU performance over the 5year ownership period. the federal safety agency should do a performance and reliability evaluation of a model S or X with MCU 1 vs MCU 2 and use this data as evidence to demand Tesla recall for all 2018 and earlier vehicles with MCU 1. Common issues include: 1. Waiting 30-90 seconds for vehicle to power up and become drivable. This is especially concerning when driver needs to move vehicle in a timely fashion (think of scenario with impending danger). 2. Either of 2 screens going blank for 2-30 minutes, including while driving. This creates anxiety and distraction for a driver loosing gauges and loss of vehicle controls 3. Inability to change climate control, especially in dangerous conditions Think of the vehicles core functions and controls relying on iPhone 4 hardware !

Filed Sep 22, 2021 · Acceleration · FL

i was driving over 100mph, let off the accelerator and the car kept going that fast. Then all of warning lights came on, traction turned off, anti skid turned off. etc etc. I immediately applied brakes to NO affect. I called the Tesla Road Side Assistance. Lady was on the phone looking at my warnings. She could see the same warnings i was seeing. Applying brakes as hard as possible got the car to eventually slow down. It acted like the Cruise Control was stuck on 100mph. BUT, i never turned it on. EVER. This happened around first of May. Well two weeks later it happened again. This time Help Desk referred it to Jacksonville Service Center. The mechanic said he referred it to the "engineering" team at Tesla on 6/10/21. Have not heard back, I have been there several times, NO help at all. Refuse to discuss it.

Filed Jan 14, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 95,000 miles · CA

Main processing unit for the car stops working and displays go black. Turn signals do not audibly annunciate. Climate control turns off. Lighting, security and other safety controls cannot be changed. I have dates and times and symptoms for some of the failures. Occurs typically weekly, but can have multiple episodes per day. Tesla service has been requested and performed 4-5 times. The oem mpu was replaced approximately 4 months ago and yet problems persist. Mpu has failed while parked, while driving, on city streets and highways. Can occur at any time.

Filed Sep 3, 2020 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

I own a tesla model s and I reporting issues with my touch screen mcus. It has completely failed after 7,000 miles. Presently I have absolutely no control of my heating,, air conditioning, fan, safety cameras, garage door opener, or electronic controls on any tough screen portions of the car. This is a huge public safety concern that impacts me and the public as well. I live in a mountainside area and we depend on the back up camera to avoid accidents as our garage backs up into a very narrow lane. And I can not see the children and animals that are in back of my car when I exit my garage. Nor can I use any of the GPS features for guidance as well. The touch screen has complete failure in the mcu unit. I contacted telsa re this issue and informed them that this is a liability to me and the brand based on the huge safety issues this presents. I told them I was glad that the call was being recorded as I did want this issue to be unreported. And I informed tesla that this problem is exigent as we live in southen california and the temperate is now over 120 degrees. This could cause heat stroke and also kill our animals as well. Tesla replied that this my my problem and not theirs. Some owners believe that it is a problem with the embedded multi-media-card memory (emmc) in the mcu and that it is being overwritten to the point of failure. Ii know now that is a recognized defect known as the 'emmc failure' problem. I understand that tesla now has introduced a new mcu in 2018 that doesn't have the same problem, but owners of older vehicles are still experiencing the problem in having to replace the unit out of warranty, despite seeing tesla's mistake as the source of the problem instead of a normal issue that occurs over time. I need resources and remedies to correct this manufacture induced malaise.

Filed Aug 12, 2020 · Acceleration · 71,111 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

On 8/6/2020 at approximately 3:50 pm [xxx], I [xxx] was parking my 2013 model s 85 tesla in my carport. I have lived at this address for 7 months and had parked my car there without incident numerous times. I was not distracted nor intoxicated in any way; I was simply parking my car. As I was about to push the park button on the tesla, suddenly the car unintentionally accelerated, out of control, the brake didn't work, and continued to leap forward at full speed, causing me to crash through the gate, and back of my carport, bouncing one trashcan off my shed door and pushing another one, as I veered around the shed corner knocking the carport supports out as I went. Crashing through my neighbors back fence, I plowed over my neighbor's garden and back yard with my garbage can and car acting as a battering ram. The tesla eventually careened into neighbors back carport plowed over a gas main, power main panel, water main, and sewer drain line. Basically, all the utilities which fed her house, and finally stopped after hitting the side of space# 46 house. I saw and smelled gas entering the car from the broken gas pipe. Fortunately, the power to my house along with 40 of the surrounding houses had been shut off the previous day due to a totally unrelated incident. A power transformer which fed the community had been mis-wired and destroyed all the electrical appliances and electronics in the 40 houses the transformer fed. If the power had been on, there would have been sparks and an explosion under my tesla battery pack; which would have caused a secondary explosion. I would have been killed instantly according to the firemen and pge gas repair man who showed up after the incident. Anyone present within the vicinity around my car would most likely have been killed too or injured. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).