Tesla 504 Vehicle Server Error | Gateway Timeout

A 504 Vehicle Server Error (often labeled “Gateway Timeout”) means the Tesla app sent a command to Tesla’s servers, but the servers timed out while waiting for your car to respond.

Essentially, the “chain of command” broken: Phone App → Tesla Servers → [BREAK] → Your Vehicle

This is usually a connectivity issue, not a mechanical failure. Here is a step-by-step guide to fixing it, ordered from the easiest solutions to the most involved.

Phase 1: Quick Checks (Do these first)

1. Check for a Tesla Server Outage: Before troubleshooting your car, check if Tesla is having a widespread issue. Sites like DownDetector or checking “Tesla” on X (Twitter) can confirm if other owners are seeing the same error. If servers are down, you just have to wait.

2. Turn Off Your Phone’s VPN: If you use a VPN on your phone, turn it off. Tesla’s security protocols sometimes flag VPN IP addresses and block the connection, causing a timeout.

3. Force Close the App:

   • iPhone: Swipe up to view open apps and swipe the Tesla app away.

   • Android: Long press the app icon > App Info > Force Stop.

   • Relaunch the app and try to connect again.

Also Read : 503 Server Maintenance Tesla

Phase 2: Wake the Car Manually

If the car is in “deep sleep” to save battery, it may not be waking up fast enough to respond to the server’s request.

1. Physically go to the vehicle.

2. Open a door or the trunk. This forces the vehicle’s computer to wake up and reconnect to the cellular/Wi-Fi network.

3. Check the signal bars on the car’s screen (top right). If the car has zero bars of LTE/5G, it cannot talk to the server. You may need to move the car to a location with better reception.

Phase 3: Reboot the Vehicle Systems

If the car has a signal but still refuses to connect, its modem might be “stuck.”

1. Two-Button Reset (The “Scroll Wheel” Reboot):

   • Park the car and close all doors.

   • Press and hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel.

   • Keep holding until the main screen goes black (usually 10-15 seconds).

   • Release the buttons and wait for the Tesla “T” logo to appear.

   • Note: You can do this safely while parked; it reboots the infotainment/connectivity computer, not the drivetrain.

Phase 4: Advanced Troubleshooting

If the issue persists after a reboot:

• Toggle Wi-Fi/Cellular: Inside the car, go to controls and turn Wi-Fi OFF (to force it to use cellular data) or connect it to a strong Wi-Fi network (like your phone’s hotspot) to see if the issue is specific to the car’s LTE connection.

• Re-Login to the App: Log out of the Tesla app on your phone and log back in. This refreshes the “security token” between your phone and Tesla’s servers.

• Allow Mobile Access: Ensure this setting didn’t accidentally get toggled off. In the car, go to Controls > Safety > Allow Mobile Access.

When to contact Service: If this error persists for more than 24 hours and you have strong cellular coverage, the vehicle’s connectivity module (modem) may require a diagnostic check by Tesla Service.