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Tesla DI_w138

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

Common search variants: DIw138 · DI-w138 · DI w138 · Search ignores case and common separators.

DriveYes. Tesla documentation for DI_w138 says: “Continue to your destination. Your vehicle is OK to drive.” Expect that power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced.
ChargeNot yet established by verified evidence.
ServiceSchedule Tesla service if DI_w138 persists across drives. The supplied documentation does not establish that immediate service is required for every occurrence.
Confidence95%

Quick answer

Tesla alert DI_w138 means the front motor is unavailable. Tesla documentation states that the vehicle can continue using the rear motor(s), but power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced. Continue to your destination; the alert says the vehicle is OK to drive. The alert may be temporary, but schedule Tesla service if it persists across drives.

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_w138 mean?

Tesla alert DI_w138 means the front motor is unavailable. Tesla documentation states that the vehicle can continue using the rear motor(s), but power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced. Continue to your destination; the alert says the vehicle is OK to drive. The alert may be temporary, but schedule Tesla service if it persists across drives.

2. Technical explanation

The verified Tesla owner-documentation evidence identifies DI_w138 as “Front motor disabled - OK to drive Vehicle power may be limited.” It means the front motor is unavailable. The vehicle may continue driving with its rear motor(s), with possible reductions in power, speed, and acceleration. Verified evidence does not establish the specific underlying component or failure mechanism for an individual vehicle.

3. What system is affected?

Front motor / vehicle propulsion system.

4. How serious is this code?

The supplied diagnostic record lists severity as unknown. Tesla’s documented alert instructs that the vehicle is OK to drive, while warning that available power may be limited.

5. Symptoms you may notice

  • Front motor unavailable.
  • Reduced power may occur.
  • Reduced speed may occur.
  • Reduced acceleration may occur.
  • 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.
  • Any more specific cause is not yet established by verified evidence.

7. Can I still drive the vehicle?

Yes. Tesla documentation for DI_w138 says: “Continue to your destination. Your vehicle is OK to drive.” Expect that power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced.

8. Can I charge the vehicle?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

9. What you can safely do

  • Continue to your destination as stated in the Tesla alert guidance.
  • Allow for reduced power, speed, and acceleration while driving.
  • Monitor whether the alert persists across drives.
  • Schedule Tesla service if the alert persists across drives.

10. Step-by-step troubleshooting

  1. Check whether DI_w138 clears after subsequent drives; Tesla documentation identifies a possible temporary condition.
  2. Do not attempt high-voltage or motor repairs yourself. Specific diagnostic procedures are not established by the supplied verified evidence.

11. When to contact service

Schedule Tesla service if DI_w138 persists across drives. The supplied documentation does not establish that immediate service is required for every occurrence.

12. What the service center may check

  • Confirm the alert history and whether DI_w138 persists across drives.
  • Diagnose why the front motor is unavailable. Specific test steps are not established by verified evidence.

13. Possible repair or resolution

  • Not yet established by verified evidence.

14. Affected vehicles

15. Related TSBs / service bulletins

  • NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253658: Index373, published March 26, 2024: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10253658-9999.pdf
  • NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10253660: Index381, published March 26, 2024: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10253660-9999.pdf
  • NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250483: ManualC, published December 1, 2023: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250483-9999.pdf
  • NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10250482: ManualB, published December 1, 2023: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10250482-9999.pdf

16. Recall information

  • Not yet established by verified evidence.

17. Official manufacturer information

Verified NHTSA-hosted Tesla owner-documentation communications cover this alert for US Tesla Model 3 (2017–2023), Model S (2012–2023), and Model X (2016–2023). Source example: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-10253658-9999.pdf

19. Frequently asked questions

What does Tesla DI_w138 mean?

It means the front motor is unavailable. Tesla states that power, speed, and acceleration may be reduced as the vehicle uses the rear motor(s) to continue driving.

Can I drive with DI_w138?

Yes. Tesla’s documented guidance says to continue to your destination and states that the vehicle is OK to drive.

Does DI_w138 require service?

Tesla documentation says the alert may result from a temporary condition. If it persists across drives, schedule service. Whether a specific vehicle requires repair is not yet established by verified evidence.

Can I charge with DI_w138?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

20. Sources & verification

Verified
Show all 24 verified sources
Tesla DI_w138: Front motor disabled - OK to drive Vehicle power may be… | EV Diagnostics