Tesla Model S won't shift problems

Filed Oct 31, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

1. 2016 Model S suffered a sudden, complete loss of motor power at 70 mph on a high-speed freeway due to internal coolant intrusion, creating a life-threatening emergency requiring a 911 dispatch. - Car went into Limp mode. What happened is a known, well-documented mechanical issue: the internal rotor seals on early-generation Tesla Large Drive Units are prone to failing over time. When this seal fails, pressurized liquid glycol coolant leaks directly into the motor housing. It then submerges the motor encoder (speed sensor) and the electrical wiring harness. This instantly causes a short circuit, throws the car into limp mode to protect the high-voltage system, and effectively leaves you stranded. I was in middle lane, car died, unable to get out of traffic, limped to side divider in center of freeway, called 911. No warning prior to failure, turtle after incident on dash. Unable to get out of car, cars swerving around me at high speed rocking car.- TESLA IS NOT LISTING THIS IN SERVICE ESTIMATE SO HAVE TO GET THEM TO DO IT

Filed Oct 2, 2026 · Brakes · CA

Mileage: Approximately 177,379 miles Location: California Component: Electric parking brake (EPB) / gear selection Description: My vehicle's electric parking brake intermittently locks the car in place when I come to a stop, such as at a traffic light. This has happened 5 times in the last 4 weeks. When it occurs, the car will not shift into gear and will not move at all. The only way I have been able to recover is to keep trying to shift until it eventually releases, or to put the car into Tow Mode and then take it back out of Tow Mode. There is no way to predict when it will happen or how long it will take to clear. This is a serious safety hazard. When it happens at a stoplight, I am stuck in the travel lane while traffic resumes around me, creating a significant risk of a rear-end collision. It could also strand the vehicle in an intersection. I am aware of recall 17V260 (parking brake caliper gear) affecting 2013 Model S vehicles. A VIN lookup on the federal safety agency website shows no open recalls on my vehicle. I contacted Tesla Service, which recommended a paid diagnostic assessment. I have not yet had the car inspected. I have not been in a crash or injured as a result. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether this is a defect affecting other 2013 Model S vehicles, and whether the earlier recall repair was sufficient.

Filed Feb 11, 2026 · Transmission · MO

I am reporting a safety-related defect involving sudden loss of motive power on my 2016 Tesla Model S. During the drivetrain warranty period, the vehicle developed a persistent humming/buzzing noise from the rear drive unit. This noise was documented on video with a timestamp confirming it occurred while the vehicle was under warranty. At the time, there was no loss of performance or warning indicators. Due to the distance to the nearest Tesla service center (approximately 200 miles), the vehicle was not immediately inspected. When I later contacted Tesla Service, the vehicle was approximately three weeks outside the drivetrain warranty. Upon inspection, Tesla advised that the rear drive unit was failing and would require replacement at customer expense. Tesla declined warranty coverage despite evidence that the failure symptoms began during the warranty period. The rear drive unit later catastrophically failed while the vehicle was being driven uphill, resulting in a complete loss of propulsion. Prior to this incident, Tesla service personnel had advised that if the rear motor failed, the front motor would allow the vehicle to operate in a limp mode to reach a safe location. This did not occur. When the failure happened, the vehicle lost all motive power and was unable to maintain position on an incline. The vehicle nearly rolled backward into traffic. Police assistance was required (911 call) to redirect traffic so the vehicle could be rolled backward down the hill to a safe location. A minor child was present in the vehicle at the time. I am aware that failures of rear drive units on 2016–2017 Tesla Model S vehicles related to coolant intrusion have been reported by Tesla service personnel and other owners. This incident demonstrates a serious safety risk involving sudden loss of power and incorrect guidance regarding vehicle behavior during drive unit failure. I believe this represents a safety-related defect warranting investigation.

Filed Sep 18, 2022 · Electrical · VA

Battery packs on older Model S are dying WHILE driving. Puts the car non responsive and limp mode. No choice but to try and pull over. No acceleration and car dies. First occurrence warning happened, however went away upon charging the vehicle. Drove to a Tesla service center under its own power, left service center under its own power with no warning messages. Tesla is aware of the issue with older battery packs, demands 20k or to scrap your car, or they require a legal release pertaining to the battery pack. I was locked out of my vehicle and it was held without a mechanics lein. This legal release absolves them of all responsibility over the vehicle especially if you bring it to another shop. Owners have no right to repair their vehicles at shops with certified technicians. The second time this happened, luckily the vehicle was parked and died in a driveway. No warning messages prior. Tesla says it gave warnings however I was not aware. Car was towed by AAA to a service center where it currently sits. Reference to another vehicle which received international attention for exact same issue. https://www.newsweek.com/man-says-tesla-locked-him-out-until-pays-26-thousand-dollar-battery-1743016 These older cars are not safe on the road.

Filed Jan 28, 2021 · 43,320 miles · VA

The main screen is getting stuck on my car, sometimes going blank and sometimes resetting itself that takes about 2-10 mins. It is happening both when driving and when sitting ideal in car. One day I was stuck in parking lot for about 15 mins trying for it to get back up. I've enabled "pin to drive" feature on my car, without the screen I can't even move the car. This becomes very challenging, specially when you don't have access to camera or maps on board. I've reached out to tesla about this they said do a hard reset but the problem still continues and are asking $1500+ to replace it with the new one.

Filed Oct 16, 2020 · 42,298 miles · CA

Mcu gets stuck and back up camera doesn't come up. Once mcu went blank and the car didnt go into drive mode while trying to drive and took a while to go to drive mode and no rear back up camera at the same time. One time when the mcu is rebooting, while I was it was in reverse and the dashboard display got stuck displaying r, while I switched for d drive mode and the car was going forward but display showing r, if I wasnt paying attention would have hit something.

Filed Aug 9, 2020 · Electrical · 138,782 miles · WI

The main screen in our 2013 tesla model s started requiring regular reboots just to run. Then it died completely, leaving us without access to HVAC controls (they were stuck on the last setting which did not allow for defrost/defog for the windshield or rear window). We also did not have functioning turn signals, hazards or a backup camera, and charging was limited to a ridiculously slow rate (the car was in "limp mode" per our technician). We were forced to replace the main computer (mcu1). We were given a choice of another mcu1 (which we were told may have the same problem eventually) or an mcu2 which would not. We chose the mcu2.

Filed Jul 26, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 101,750 miles · MI

Middle screen went out putting the car in 'limp mode' happened in the middle of the night and we didn't have headlights or turn signals! Happened while driving about two hours from home when we tried putting a route in the touch screen after setting the automatic update for 2 am the following morning. The car has 101k miles the warranty expired at 100k miles. We notified tesla of the problems we've been having with our screen freezing and rear view camera randomly not working while it was under warranty but the techs said 'everything is fine and it must have been a fluke' now that the car is out of warranty the now suddenly know the problem and a solution! This defect is scary and left us stranded and unable to navigate to a safe area off the highway in the middle of the night without headlights!!! Why would they jeopardize safety over money!

Filed Jun 27, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 48,401 miles · CA

Mcu failed. When it failed car would not shift into drive. Before failure mcu was constantly rebooting while driving. During reboot would lose headlights, turn signals, radio, and air conditioning. Complete failure occurred while stationary. Rebooting occurred while driving.

Filed May 15, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · 9,000 miles · CA

On saturday 5/11/2019 around 12:45pm while I was driving on the highway the car suddenly made a loud sound then the car shut down in the middle of the highway leaving me stuck. The car would not go into gear. The car display an error on the center console "unable to drive, please proceed to safety" (something like this) I did not take a photo since I was concerned about being rear ended. I had to call 911 to stop all traffic so the car could be pushed off the highway. As we were about to push the car it started working again. I will be taking the car into tesla service so they can try to determine why this occurred. This could have caused a major accident to myself and others if this happened during non rush hour traffic.