Tesla Model 3 Complaints

2,178 consumer complaints on file.

#11458326March 25, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When putting the car into reverse, the rear camera comes on, while reversing pulling up the climate controls to turn on heated steering wheel, after exiting the climate control screen (while still reversing) the camera doesn’t come back on automatically… there is risk for crash
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11458306March 25, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While driving on the highway or freeway, the vehicle suddenly slowed dramatically as if the brakes had been heavily applied. It did this three times over the course of two days, always while the car was set on cruise control (not auto pilot).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11458280March 25, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
There have been 3 separate instances in unexpected and sudden braking when using cruise control. All instances occurred when there were no nearby vehicles present. The first incident occurred on a 2 lane road when I was driving in daylight. I used the cruise control and twice over 10 min the car suddenly and unexpected slowed/braked startling me. After 2 times, I turned off the cruise control. Another incident occurred when I was driving on the interstate. Same experience. Sudden unexpected emergency braking as if I was about to hit something and there was nothing there, again daylight. Most recent occurrence my husband was driving, it was night on interstate and he had cruise control on and the car suddenly braked startling everyone in the car. There were no other vehicles present. He turned off cruise control for the remainder of the drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11458074March 23, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I'm reporting a "phantom braking" incident that occurred while driving approximately 75 mph in the left lane of Interstate 10 just west of Casa Grande, AZ. (This section of the road had two westbound lanes.) "Traffic-aware cruise control" was set at approximately 75 mph. The Tesla slammed on the brakes for no reason (no vehicles were in front of me.) This was terrifying - luckily the vehicle that was directly behind me noticed and reduced their speed while I quickly pushed down on the accelerator. A collision was thus avoided. However, this could have been deadly for both my vehicle, the vehicle behind me, and so on. There was absolutely no reason for the car to apply the brakes - there were no obstructions in the road. My passenger can confirm the situation. I have had "phantom braking" occur with this Tesla including slowing down almost to a stop when a semi truck is in the coming lane of a two-lane road. The "traffic-aware cruise control" is inconsistent in its performance and travelling at high speeds, incredibly dangerous. We could not operate this function during the rest of our travels on the interstate due to this issue and limited operation of "Traffic aware cruise control" to 55 mph & under roads when there was no traffic behind us. I've been reading up on the Tesla "phantom braking" phenomenon and am really disappointed in this very unsafe safety feature which I didn't know about before purchasing my Tesla. My Model 3 is newer and has "Tesla Vision" instead of radar like older Model 3's. I think "Tesla Vision" is messed up and needs more work. This "automatic braking" could have caused a serious collision.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457968March 23, 2022
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The passenger side headlight has stopped functioning on repeated occasions, both the high and low beams stop functioning simultaneously each time. I have been on long distance road trips now each time that this has occurred. Tesla service techs insist that it's software related in both instances and provide a software update. This alleviates the problem temporarily. I am currently insisting that they replace the unit completely, as these are not standard headlights that a consumer is able to purchase and replace at a parts retailer or any auto service center. Today, I got another service update, no replacement yet. The inherent danger in this practice is the amount of days and weeks required to schedule a service appointment, while operating the vehicle with one headlight and a complete inability to source an alternative resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457828March 22, 2022
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The model 3 no longer turns on the headlights automatically when the windshield wipers are on. It requires the operator to search through menus to turn the lights on manually. This is required even if the headlights are in automatic mode. Voice Command doesn't turn the headlights on either. I believe it is dangerous to be diverting eyes to a menu screen to turn the headlights on while driving in the rain. In addition, failure to turn on the headlights in my state is a moving violation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457822March 22, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
There is serious issue with automatic emergency braking. My Tesla Model 3 2021 applied automatic emergency braking while on auto steer or cruising on single lane highway as well as on 4 lane freeways without anything ahead which required to brake. Fortunately, we were not being followed or tail gated closely. The speed reduced from 65 mph to 30mph suddenly on a freeway. This has happened to me 3 times. twice on single lane highway and once on 4 lane freeway. Tesla's cruising and self driving is worthless if I can't use them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457714March 21, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was driving on a divide highway at 70 mph in the HOV lane with cruise control activated, not auto steering, when the car abruptly slowed down. No car was visible in front of me. If someone was following closely behind me an accident could have occurred. I reported this to Tesla.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457654March 21, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Report Phantom braking. It happened multiple times on Thru way from last 3 days. There were nothing in the front of the car but it applied brakes on thru way, lucky no vehicle on the behind. I am concern about safety of my family.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457620March 21, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 65-70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The calibration in progress message was displayed. The failure nearly caused a collision. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment. The dealer later canceled the appointment and informed the contact that the vehicle performed as designed and advised him to review the owner's manual. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457554March 20, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The Tesla will slam on the brakes unexpectedly while using cruise control. It does this for no apparent reason and has almost cause several accidents including me being rear ended while cruising at 60mph.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457545March 20, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
This vehicle's basic "autopilot" and adaptive cruise control is dangerous. The vehicle is unable to pass a truck on the highway while either system is active without slamming on the brakes. This is major safety hazard on the highway as following cars do not expect any vehicle to slam on the brakes at highway speeds. Further, using the cruise control on two lane road is also dangerous. Any large vehicle in the opposite oncoming lane will cause the vehicle to slam on its brakes. These systems are essentially unusable and are very dangerous to use.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457470March 20, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Using adaptive cruise control the car will often brake for no reason. This has caused me to not trust a system I was promised and paid for and I can't use any form of cruise control as there is no option for standard cruise control on the model 3 Multiple times during a trip the ACC will lightly apply the brakes when there is no objects in front of the car. About once per week of heavy use of ACC the car will slam on the brakes unexpected and for no reason. This has caused me to be honked at and almost rear ended on multiple occasions. I no longer use the system because of this. My ask is for the NHTSA to recall the model 3 and force Tesla to install radar on affected Model 3's. Vision only is a terrible system and Tesla greatly downplayed the pitfalls of it when I was purchasing the vehicle
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457467March 20, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
While using auto-pilot, the vehicle suddenly applied brakes without apparent reason. E.g. while crossing an intersection and another vehicle crossing the same intersection in opposite direction, Another occasion was when climbing a steep slope on a two lane road. Yet another was on a four lane highway. I was in the right lane and another vehicle was in the left lane and ahead of me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457452March 19, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
While driving with cruise control set to 90 mph, my vehicle rapidly decelerated to 70 mph — with no other vehicles around. The vehicle suddenly braked for no reason at all, multiple times. Autopilot was not engaged and I was steering the vehicle myself. This while driving West on HWY 76 in Colorado a clear sunny day around mile marker 141, near Proctor, CO. The middle of nowhere. I have a 50 second video I would be happy to share but no video upload option.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457434March 19, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
No one around me on the interstate with my cruise control on. With no cars near me or any recognizable object to detect, the car phantom broke for me without warning. Nearly caused an accident for the car behind me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457425March 19, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
No specific incident, but potentially dangerous. Several of the font sizes used on the Touchscreen, but especially the ones displaying the time, the temperature, and the miles remaining on the charge, are very difficult, if not impossible, to read if you need reading glasses. This is especially true for seniors. In order to get that information, you need to either pull out and put on your reading glasses or move your face to the right and closer to the screen, both potentially dangerous if you’re moving, especially at high speeds. This problem has been complained about repeatedly online for several years, but so far no response from Tesla. I don’t think it would be difficult or expensive either to give owners the option to increase font size or to make a one time increase of, say, 30% or 60%. The change would make driving a lot safer for those of us are on the wrong end of 60.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457424March 19, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was driving on interstate 8 from Tucson to San Diego. In a matter of 2 hours my Tesla activated the brakes on its own 5 times, sometimes in a rapid series of 2 to 3 times, causing me to lurch while going 75 mph so I immediately disengaged the adaptive cruise control. I was on a 2 lane divided highway with no cars in front of me, see picture attached. Since taking possession of my new 2021 model 3 in November 2021, it has happened about 11 times. I just had my wife research it. I will not be using this feature. A semi truck behind me almost swerved off the road because of my braking. This is unacceptable that Elon Musk is not recalling vehicles. His arrogance is going to kill people for this clear safety issue. Please take over and do the recall. They sold me this car knowing this was an hazard since June 2021.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457418March 19, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Was driving and automatic braking system engaged when there was no impeding incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457385March 19, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Phantom braking occurs often when using traffic aware cruise control. I have not been able to determine a pattern, as the malfunction is not consistent. It can occur on a 2-lane road (with lines) as well as on a 6-line divided highway. I can tell the difference between phantom braking and the vehicle adjusting speed for an upcoming curve, as normal adjustment occurs in the same spot each time. Phantom braking is unpredictable, and may not occur in a location that it previously had. There are days it never happens, or sometimes once a day, or has occurred 5 times in an approx 6 mile trip. During a phantom braking event, the car unexpectedly applies the brakes hard. I react by pressing the accelerator, which usually results in a speed greater than the speed limit. I use the bug report feature each time it occurs, so Tesla would be able to view each event. As I'm sure you can tell from the VIN, this is a camera-only Tesla system. I do not have full self driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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