The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·14V006000·Announced 2014-01-13

Tesla Recalls 2013 Model S Vehicles for Charging Adapter Overheating Risk

Tesla is recalling 21,081 2013 Model S vehicles because the NEMA 14-50 charging adapter may overheat, posing a risk of fire or burn injury.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect in the electrical propulsion system that poses a risk of fire and burn injury, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for significant injury/property-damage reports or structural defects.

Plain-English summary

Tesla Motors, Inc. is recalling 21,081 model year 2013 Model S vehicles equipped with certain NEMA 14-50 (240 volt) Universal Mobile Connector (UMC) adapters. The recall addresses a defect where the adapter, cord, or wall outlet could overheat during the charging process.

The overheating condition increases the risk of burn injury and/or fire. To correct the issue, Tesla will provide an over-the-air (OTA) software update that allows the vehicle's onboard charging system to detect unexpected power fluctuations or high resistance connections. If detected, the system will automatically reduce the charging current by 25%. Additionally, Tesla will mail owners a replacement NEMA 14-50 adapter equipped with an internal thermal fuse.

The recall began on March 14, 2014. Owners can verify if they have received the software update (version 5.8.4 or later) by viewing the vehicle's center information screen. Owners may contact Tesla Service Center at 1-877-79-TESLA (1-877-798-3752) or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
TESLA MODEL S
Brand
TESLA
Manufacturer
Tesla Motors, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Electric Vehicle Charging System
Hazard
Affected units
21,081

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • MODEL S

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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