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Tesla DI_f138

Front motor disabled - OK to drive Vehicle power may be limited

Common search variants: DIf138 · DI-f138 · DI f138 · Search ignores case and common separators.

DriveYes. Tesla’s verified alert guidance says: “Continue to your destination. Your vehicle is OK to drive.” Expect potentially reduced power, speed, and acceleration.
ChargeNot yet established by verified evidence.
ServiceService requirement is not yet established by verified evidence.
Confidence95%

Quick answer

DI_f138 means the front motor is unavailable. Tesla documentation states that the vehicle can continue driving using the rear motor(s), but power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced.

This page separates verified manufacturer/regulator evidence from supporting material. Unsupported causes, repairs or safety conclusions are not guessed.

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1. What does DI_f138 mean?

DI_f138 means the front motor is unavailable. Tesla documentation states that the vehicle can continue driving using the rear motor(s), but power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced.

2. Technical explanation

This is a Tesla OEM alert: “Front motor disabled - OK to drive Vehicle power may be limited.” Verified Tesla owner-manual material filed with NHTSA states that the front motor is unavailable and the vehicle uses the rear motor(s) to continue driving. As a result, power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced.

3. What system is affected?

Front motor / front drive unit availability.

4. How serious is this code?

The database severity is unknown. Tesla’s alert explicitly identifies reduced vehicle capability because the front motor is unavailable.

5. Symptoms you may notice

  • Front motor unavailable.
  • Reduced power may occur.
  • Reduced speed may occur.
  • Reduced acceleration may occur.
  • The vehicle may continue driving using the rear motor(s).

6. Possible causes

  • Tesla documentation states that this alert may be caused by a temporary condition. No further specific cause is established by the verified evidence.

7. Can I still drive the vehicle?

Yes. Tesla’s verified alert guidance says: “Continue to your destination. Your vehicle is OK to drive.” Expect potentially reduced power, speed, and acceleration.

8. Can I charge the vehicle?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

9. What you can safely do

  • Continue to the destination as directed by the Tesla alert.
  • Allow for potentially reduced power, speed, and acceleration.
  • Follow the alert shown in the vehicle.

10. Step-by-step troubleshooting

  1. No owner-performed diagnostic or repair procedure is established by the verified evidence.
  2. Tesla documentation identifies a temporary condition as a possible cause, but the supplied evidence does not establish further troubleshooting steps.

11. When to contact service

Service requirement is not yet established by verified evidence.

12. What the service center may check

  • Not yet established by verified evidence.

13. Possible repair or resolution

  • Not yet established by verified evidence.

14. Affected vehicles

15. Related TSBs / service bulletins

  • Official NHTSA-hosted Tesla manufacturer communications/owner-manual material document DI_f138, including NHTSA communication 10250483 (published December 1, 2023): https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250483-9999.pdf
  • The supplied records identify these documents as official TSB/manufacturer communications, but do not establish a repair bulletin or repair procedure for this alert.

16. Recall information

  • Not yet established by verified evidence.

17. Official manufacturer information

Tesla owner-manual content filed with NHTSA describes DI_f138 as “Front motor disabled - OK to drive Vehicle power may be limited.” Applicable verified records cover US Tesla Model 3 (2017–2023), Model S (2012–2023), and Model X (2016–2023).

19. Frequently asked questions

What does Tesla alert DI_f138 mean?

It means the front motor is unavailable. The vehicle may continue driving with the rear motor(s), with reduced power, speed, and acceleration possible.

Can I drive with DI_f138?

Yes. Tesla’s alert says the vehicle is OK to drive and instructs the driver to continue to the destination.

Will performance be affected?

Yes. Tesla states that power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced.

Can I charge the vehicle with DI_f138?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

What caused DI_f138?

Tesla documentation says it may be caused by a temporary condition. No specific underlying component or failure mechanism is established by the supplied verified evidence.

20. Sources & verification

Verified
Show all 24 verified sources
Tesla DI_f138: Front motor disabled - OK to drive Vehicle power may be… | EV Diagnostics