Tesla Model 3 Complaints

2,178 consumer complaints on file.

#11687032September 13, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Tesla’s full self driving did not react to emergency vehicles approaching from behind.. vehicle was a police cruiser emergency lights, and sirens were active on freeway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687029September 13, 2025
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Steering rack failure. Steering assist, auto pilot and lane departure prevention failed and would not work properly so this is a safety issue. Manual steering worked fine but the safety and auto pilot functions would no longer function. Paid for Tesla service over $3,000 to replace steering rack and now is working properly. Reporting this as this may happen to others and probably should be a proactive recall on the steering racks so others don't lose these safety features. Maybe related to computer as it failed, worked again and then failed again and was then repaired by Tesla service center.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11686758September 11, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On September 7, 2025 at ~7:53 PM, my 2025 Tesla Model 3 operating with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged performed an aggressive, uncommanded turn while under computer control. The maneuver occurred so abruptly that I could not safely override steering before impact, and a crash resulted. The Tesla app Trip View for Trip 3 (7:34–7:53 PM) shows “Vehicle on FSD” for 18 min 54 sec and records an “Aggressive Turning” event at 7:53 PM (2.0 sec) immediately before the trip ended (screenshot attached). This reflects a steering/driver-assist control defect in FSD’s turning behavior and a failure of collision-mitigation to prevent the crash. I sustained bodily injuries and the vehicle incurred significant damage. I request that this incident be treated as a safety-critical malfunction warranting investigation and corrective action.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11686613September 11, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the front trunk opened inadvertently, blocking the visibility of the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had recurred several times upon shifting to drive(D), which required the contact to exit the vehicle and manually close the trunk. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla service center and to Tesla Service Sunnyvale(680 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087), where unknown repairs were performed several times; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of the garage, the contact was unaware that the garage door was closed, and the vehicle hit the garage door. The contact did not recall whether the rearview camera activated; however, the contact stated that the rearview camera pedestrian warning alert failed to engage prior to the incident. The contact stated that the garage door and the rear end of the vehicle were damaged. The manufacturer was contacted through the Tesla mobile app and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a Tesla service center for service. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11686262September 10, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The central computer in my 2022 Tesla Model 3 failed unexpectedly. This is a critical component that controls essential vehicle functions, including safety alerts, battery management, regenerative braking, Autopilot features, navigation, and over-the-air updates. The failure makes the vehicle unsafe to operate. The car is only 2–3 years old, and such a major systems failure in such a short time frame suggests a defect or premature failure in a component that is expected to last the life of the vehicle. Tesla has not offered a remedy despite this being a safety-critical system. I believe this failure presents a serious safety risk to myself and others on the road and should be investigated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685809September 8, 2025
SEATS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Resistive occupancy sensor consistently failing causing: -Bluetooth to not automatically connect anytime the vehicle is entered - vehicle puts itself in park to prevent rollback if seatbelt is not applied - car does not recognize when driver is in seat These are serious safety concerns as it could cause a domino effect in safety features if not applied when needed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685682September 8, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; AUTOHOLD BRAKE SYSTEM/BRAKE HOLD:SOFTWARE
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle jerked hard with several alerts for the "Traction Control, ABS, Lane Departure feature displayed. Additionally, the Stability Control System was disabled, and the message “Brake Hold Unavailable” was displayed. The contact stated that the “Automatic Emergency Braking Unavailable" and an orange triangle with an exclamation light were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,380.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685384September 5, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Then forward collision warning system inaccurately reported and reacted to a park car that was not in my lane. This caused my car to slam the brakes and subsequently almost cause an accident behind me. This also raised my car insurance premium so they can charge me more money
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685309September 5, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
While exiting the front passenger cut her leg on the door. It appears she contacted the inside bottom, rear edge of the door when closing. This cut her leg requiring immediate medical attention. It took several stitches to close the wound.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11685290September 5, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Horn does not work in the rain. I reported this. they sent a technician to replace it. the issue is not resolved. this is extremely dangerous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685171September 4, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Three times while driving at low speed and attempting to reduce speed—even while pressing the brake pedal—my 2023 Tesla Model 3 unexpectedly accelerated. During the first incident, the Dynamics screen did not allow me to change the Deceleration Mode. After rebooting the touchscreen, the options reappeared briefly, but later that same day they became unavailable again. Incident Times: 2nd incident: September 3, 2025, at approximately 4:15 PM EST 3rd incident: September 4, 2025, at approximately 4:50 PM EST
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684673September 3, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Tesla Model 3 while using the “FSD” or auto pilot mode will do what’s called “phantom breaking” with its emergency breaking system. This is very scary and has almost caused more accidents than preventing them in my experience. Tesla had not addressed or fixed this issue even with their constant software updates. How is this FSD considered legal I wonder.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684553September 2, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The car was parked in a campground for a night and several systems issues came up, including traction control disabled, steer assistant disabled, staibility control disabled, and the car was keeping accelerating even though I did not step on the accelerate pedal. The acceleration was out of control. This was happening in a remote area when we drove half way out of the campground to a city. We called the Tesla roadside help and they just told us they could not help because it was too late to find a toll provider and we were left in the middle of nowhere and no help. We searched Google and found a few very similar issues on Tesla cars that had been reported. We don't know what happened but those issues just disappeared themselves in the next morning and we have not get the chance to send it a service center for further investigation. We are certain that this is very serious safety issue and the car was basically out of control.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684448September 2, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact's daughter owned a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving during rain at 60 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle as the vehicle spun in a circle at hit a highway wall barrier. The barrier wall was damaged as a result of the accident, and the contact was given a bill for $3,222.15. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact did not seek medical attention but suffered from both back and head pains. A police report was filed. Due to the accident, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle remained in their possession. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer about the failure, but had yet to receive a response. The vehicle was deemed a total loss as a result of the accident. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11684327September 1, 2025
SEAT BELTS
Driver belt latch failed while driving
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683845August 29, 2025
WHEELS, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have experienced multiple tire failures on my 2022 Tesla Model 3, with at least 7 tires needing replacement due to air bubbles. These issues have occurred on both front and rear tires, and currently I have 3 more tires with visible bubbles and one tire is actually leaking air. Most of these tires failed within 2,000-6,000 miles of use, which is far below normal tire lifespan of 25,000-40,000 miles. Despite repeated service visits, no alignment or suspension inspection has ever been performed by Tesla to determine why this keeps happening. The tires are just replaced at my cost, with the problem recurring again and again. Despite the pattern, Tesla service advisors continue to blame road conditions or driving habits. I want to be clear: I actively avoid potholes, drive cautiously, and have never experienced anything like this with any previous vehicle. Something is clearly abnormal here. In addition, I have noticed strange clicking and popping noises while driving, which seem to come from the chassis or steering area. It worries me that there may be a deeper mechanical or build quality issue. The vehicle often feels unstable, and I am genuinely concerned that a failure of a suspension component, battery mounting, or other structure could lead to a fire or loss of control. No warning lights have appeared, but the pattern of repeated air bubbles showing in my tire after just driving not even 1,000 miles and abnormal noises makes the vehicle feel unsafe to operate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683817August 29, 2025
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Vehicle Information: 2023 Tesla Model 3 VIN: [XXX] Incident Date: [XXX] Location: [XXX] Summary of the Problem: On [XXX], while Autopilot was active, my 2023 Tesla Model 3 suddenly accelerated without driver input. I was pressing the brake pedal, but the vehicle surged forward uncontrollably, struck a fence and a tree, and caused major property damage. Both I and my wife (passenger) required urgent care treatment after the crash. Details / Safety Defect Evidence: •Tesla’s own raw logs show the accelerator spiked to 100% immediately before impact. •Brake pressure was recorded prior to impact, proving the brake pedal was applied. •Despite this, Tesla’s official Vehicle Data Report falsely states “manual brake not applied.” •Autopilot did not disengage when the brake was pressed, contrary to Tesla’s design claims. •The vehicle logged a “Near-Deploy Collision” at ~27 mph, yet the airbags did not deploy. Why This Is a Safety Defect: This incident reflects multiple critical failures: 1.Sudden unintended acceleration. 2.Failure of brake-override safety design. 3.Airbag non-deployment in a crash severe enough to trigger “Near-Deploy.” 4.Inaccurate Tesla reporting that conceals braking input. This defect created an extremely dangerous situation that could easily have resulted in fatalities. I am requesting NHTSA investigate Tesla vehicles for unintended acceleration, brake override failure, and airbag non-deployment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11683804August 28, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On [XXX], at just 9,526 miles, my brand-new 2025 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered a front motor/inverter failure. The vehicle displayed the warning “Front Motor Disabled.” Tesla Vallejo Service confirmed this and replaced the front drive inverter (3DU). A catastrophic drivetrain failure at under 10,000 miles is unacceptable and raises serious concerns about reliability and safety. It still doesn't not accelerate as before. In addition, since delivery on [XXX], this vehicle has had persistent rattling and vibration issues in the cabin. I have returned to Tesla Vallejo multiple times (April, June, July, and August 2025). Each time, the service manager, Steve McNerney, dismissed or minimized my concerns, blaming “seatbelt rattling” or claiming the issue could not be replicated. After July, I even sent three separate videos clearly documenting the noise, yet the most recent service invoice still instructed me to “provide a video,” showing Tesla ignored or failed to record my evidence. This ongoing defect has been reproduced and confirmed at Tesla service but remains unresolved. Tesla’s dismissive handling and failure to fix the defects create both safety risks and loss of confidence in the vehicle. A front motor failure while driving could result in loss of power, reduced acceleration, or unsafe driving conditions. Tesla has failed to provide a reliable or safe resolution despite repeated repair attempts and clear evidence. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683770August 28, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Tesla odometer discrepancy) combines the energy to run the car to count against the mileage. The car is often sitting parked and all of a sudden the mileage is shorter… Basically the odometer reading is wrong because weekly added miles are attached to odometer because the air is on or screen is used and that’s not fair for us because it’s incorrect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683464August 27, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 65 MPH, and was driving on the exit ramp, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's daughter stated that the brake pedal felt hard. The contact's daughter used the emergency brake but failed to function as intended. In addition, the steering wheel locked. The contact's daughter, to avoid hitting the vehicle in front, was able to pull over to the side of the road using excessive force on the steering wheel, and hit a tree, where it came to a stop. The driver-side air bags and side curtain air bags deployed. Three of the contact’s daughters were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact's daughter suffered three fractures in her left eye, three fingers on her left hand were fractured, and the seat belt left a burn on her neck. The contact's three other daughters were passengers inside the vehicle. The daughter who sat in the front passenger seat suffered hematomas on the abdomen and had bruises on her face, legs, and arms. The daughter who sat behind the driver in the back suffered injuries, scratches on the legs, the glass debris from the window caused cuts on the head, and had bruises on her chest and back. The daughter who sat in the front passenger seat was not seriously injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the towing yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company was notified. The contact filed a claim, and it was denied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance. The failure mileage was 13,816.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0

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