Table 1 shows three common air bag related problems of the 2013 Tesla Model S.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Air Bag problems | |
| Warning Light On problems | |
| Side/window Air Bag problems |
The media control unit (mcu) in my 2013 Tesla Model S stopped working when I rebooted the car while stationary (commonly needed to restore lost functionality), apparently due to a failure of the embedded multi-media card (emmc) memory. As part of this failure, the turn signals did not work when I later went to drive the car, the passenger airbag defaulted to 'off' (pic attached), and the hvac system (including the windshield defroster) defaulted to an unknown setting and could not be controlled (neither by the dead mcu nor the smartphone application), though the car was otherwise still driveable. Apparently, the oem emmc had limited re-write capability and a relatively high re-write frequency; when it failed, it not only created driving safety hazards, but also cost more than $1,000 to repair what was probably an inexpensive part (under $10) for the oem.
My Tesla has had multiple issues related to the airbag system. The first issue was that a seatbelt sensor tied into the airbag system failed due to a pinched wire in the seatbelt mechanism, causing the srs/airbag warning light to stay on. To fix this, Tesla replaced the seatbelt latching mechanism and charged me for the replacement. Shortly after, the warning light came back on. This time, a seat sensor tied into the system failed. Tesla has told me that to fix this, the driver's seat must be replaced, and that I must pay for it, a $2500 bill. I was further informed that it would take 4 to 6 weeks to order the seat, during which time the airbag system would remain non-operational. At the moment I am refusing to pay for the seat, so I'm driving around with a disabled airbag system. I feel that Tesla should be fixing such defects free of charge.
The contact owned a 2013 Tesla Model S. While the contact's husband was making a right turn at an unknown speed, the vehicle failed to stop when the brakes were applied and crashed into a side ditch. The front driver's side air bag deployed with excessive force, causing multiple injuries to the driver. As a result, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot where it was deemed a total loss. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was unknown. Request for confidential treatment.