YearToAvoid

2013 Tesla Model S Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems

NHTSA lists 98 suspension, wheels & tires complaints for the 2013 Tesla Model S, 21% of all complaints that year, with 11 crashes, 6 fires, and 8 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure was 47,403.5. No related recall is listed in NHTSA data.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
98
21% of 459
Crashes reported
11
Fires reported
6
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
47,404 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical suspension symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the front upper ball joint separating from the steering knuckle without prior collision damage, sometimes followed by a fire.
  • Owners report the rear wheel and suspension assembly tearing off the car, in some cases exiting through the rear bumper area.
  • Owners describe the front wheel coming off while the car was in motion, with a groove worn into the tread and the tire partly peeled from the rim.
  • Owners report the steering knuckle snapping, coinciding with worn-off tread on the affected tire.
  • Owners describe suspension collapse events that occurred alongside a vehicle fire, with some reports questioning whether the fire or the suspension failure happened first.

When 2013 Tesla Model S suspension complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 17, 2013, latest Jun 17, 2025.

2013 Tesla Model S suspension, wheels & tires complaints: complaints filed per quarter102013 Q42016 Q32017 Q32018 Q42020 Q12021 Q12022 Q32025 Q1
98 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q4 to 2025 Q2; peak 2016 Q2 (10).

Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2013 Tesla Model S

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by Model S model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20129 (15%)
  2. 201398 (21%)
  3. 201493 (25%)
  4. 2015150 (22%)
  5. 2016215 (33%)
  6. 2017111 (26%)
  7. 201821 (13%)
  8. 201910 (23%)
  9. 202018 (23%)
  10. 202132 (18%)
  11. 202221 (15%)
  12. 20238 (7%)
  13. 20242 (5%)
  14. 20252 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How many suspension complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA lists 98 complaints in the Suspension, Wheels & Tires category for the 2013 Tesla Model S, which is 21% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2013 Tesla Model S suspension problems?
NHTSA data provided here lists no related recall for this component on the 2013 Tesla Model S.
Did the 2013 Tesla Model S suspension issues cause crashes or fires?
Owners reported 11 crashes, 6 fires, and 8 injuries tied to suspension, wheels & tires complaints for the 2013 Tesla Model S.
At what mileage do 2013 Model S suspension problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component and year is 47,403.5 miles.
How does 2013 compare to other Model S years for this problem area?
The 2013 model year had 98 suspension complaints (21% share), while 2016 had the highest count among listed years at 215 complaints (33% share) and 2024 had the lowest at 2 complaints (5% share).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.