Tesla Model 3 Complaints

2,178 consumer complaints on file.

#11679129August 7, 2025
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver's side seat belt warning chime was inoperable, failing to alert the driver that the front driver’s side seat belt was not secured while driving. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 35,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678889August 6, 2025
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The 2017-2020 Tesla model 3's have a recall for the rear camera wiring harness. The recall ends with cars built until September of 2020. My car was built in December of 2020 and my 2021 tesla model 3 was just repaired and had the exact same issue. The coaxial cable wore out and my rear camera didn't work. Because my car wasn't included in this recall, i had to pay for it. This recall needs to be expanded to other year models of the tesla model 3. The problem isn't isolated to vehicles prior to 2020.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678356August 4, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING
Subject: Safety Hazard – Turn Signal Button Placement on Tesla Model 3/Y (Newer Models) Hi there, I am reaching because the newer Tesla models have eliminated the turn signal stalks and instead incorporated the turn signal controls as buttons directly on the steering wheel. This became a critical safety hazard multiple times when taking a turn and had to give the turn indication. The issue happened because the turn signal buttons are not fixed and they rotate along with the rotation of the steering wheel. It makes us look for the turn signal buttons every time the steering wheel is turned and becomes a safety hazard when in motion. Also, it is very challenging when we have to make a right/left turn while on the ramp to take an exit because the buttons are not fixes unlike the turn signal stalks. There were times when we were unable to give the turn signals. It is not only dangerous for the Tesla drivers but also for the other drivers on the road to effectively communicate. Please, I request you to re-assess this configuration. Thank you!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678328August 4, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Had ACC set on 80 MPH on the hiway yesterday. A vehicle was passing me and the Tesla suddenly applied heavy brake pressure to the point of tires screeching. Speed dropped very quickly to about 50 MPH. I had not touched the brake pedal. Brakes released and speed resumed to 80 MPH. VERY SCARY and high risk of rear end collision. Lucky nobody was behind me. Don’t want to experience that again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677958August 2, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Automatic Emergency Braking, for no reason, occurred twice while on autopilot. Driving on a remote interstate, during the day, no one and nothing in front of me (and I had a passenger that can confirm), and suddenly the car rapidly braked extremely hard. If I hadn't slammed the accelerator immediately I would have been rear ended the first time. The second time, no one was near me. I am attempting to report this to Tesla, although that is somewhat difficult as I am just getting bounced around their automated systems. My passenger and I, and the car behind us were put at serious risk of collision at ~ 85 mph, due to the completely unexpected and extremely rapid braking. This was under simple autopilot, no FSD or other driving assist. Nothing has been inspected yet, or reproduced past these 2 incidents. No warnings or symptoms occurred before or after this issue. Slightly terrified to use autopilot now, as if a semi-truck had been behind me, we would have been flattened. It is also difficult to turn off this so-called "assist" with emergency braking, it auto-reverts to on every start up, which is also dangerous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677921August 1, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
While driving to work on a local road, I approached a red light where there were no vehicles immediately ahead. However, my vehicle unexpectedly steered off the road in front of a construction sign, entering a ditch. Despite my attempts to regain control of the steering and braking systems, I was unsuccessful. The vehicle subsequently stopped automatically on an incline. Fortunately, I avoided a collision with a gas station and intersecting roadway, but sustained damage to my car’s front bumper. Law enforcement and a towing service were contacted to remove the vehicle. I tried calling the dealership almost half day without an answer, then I went to the dealership where they told me that the hardware is fine but they can’t do anything about the possible software issues which leaves me in a situation where I’m nervous to drive the car. I reached out to the company about the accident and didn’t hear back yet from them. I request a thorough investigation into this incident to determine the cause of the unexpected, highly dangerous, autopilot behavior. I am disturbed mentally and emotionally due to the accident. I also require confirmation of the vehicle's roadworthiness and assurance that it is safe to operate before resuming driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677290July 30, 2025
STEERING, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - ABS, Automatic Emergency Braking, Traction Control, Stability Control failed while braking using the regenerative braking. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - While coming to a stop using the regenerative braking, the regenerative braking immedietely ceased to work, and the driver had to immediately apply the hydraulic brakes to avoid a rear end collision Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - No, they appeared while braking. This issue is not new to this vehicle and has happened in the past, however the errors cleared themselves out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677008July 29, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While driving on AutoPilot the I-10W on Wednesday July 16, 2025, the car suddenly and very harshly braked for no reason at all. The vehicle in front of me was visible on the vehicle's display, meaning it was keeping it distance and was actively adapting to its speed and distance, and at no time did I press the brake or move the steering wheel for the vehicle to use its emergency braking. It was so harsh, I felt the blood throughout my head and body lunge forward, and AutoPilot immediately turned off. If I wasn't aware of this sudden braking, I would have assumed AutoPilot would still be active, but knowing of Tesla's "phantom braking", I immediately took control once I noticed AutoPilot turned off on its own. I have a video of the dash cam available (over 10MB) if needed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676617July 28, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Autopilot (adaptive cruise control) will freak out and slam on the brakes when a motorcycle passes by splitting lanes. This is a serious safety issue as cars and motorcycles behind me may not be able to react in time and cause a rear end collision or into the wall or vehicles next to them. It is impossible to override the braking with the accelerator as it will be too late by the time the car accelerates. Flooring the accelerator is also not a safe option.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676548July 28, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On [Wednesday, 07/09/2025], I was driving my Tesla Model 3 in rainy conditions when the vehicle suddenly swerved and crashed into a sidewall. The road was wet but not flooded, and I was traveling at a moderate speed. As I lifted my foot off the accelerator to slow down, the car's regenerative braking system engaged abruptly, which I believe shifted weight forward and caused the rear tires to lose traction. This led to hydroplaning and complete loss of control. There were no warning lights or alerts prior to the incident. The road surface did not have visible hazards or standing water that would typically explain a spinout. The tires were moderately worn but within usable limits. As a result of the crash, the car was declared a total loss. The insurance company now has possession of the vehicle. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the crash was severe. After the incident, I researched similar cases and found multiple reports and articles (e.g., AutoEvolution) linking Tesla’s regenerative braking to increased risk of hydroplaning or loss of control in wet or slippery conditions. The regen system eliminates coasting and applies braking force immediately upon throttle lift-off, which appears to be a safety risk in reduced-traction environments like rain, snow, or ice. I believe this issue deserves investigation, as it may affect the safety of other Tesla drivers in similar weather conditions.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11675374July 22, 2025
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
Correction: Retrofit SBR in OCS Equipped Front Passenger Seat - Remove and Replace. FIRST ROW - SEAT BELT REMINDER SENSOR BOX CLIP (1130363-00-B), FIRST ROW OCCUPANCY SENSOR(1099592-00-F) FIRST ROW SEAT HARNESS ASSEMBLY - RIGHT HAND (1489060- 03-G). This car has 69k miles and I'm informed this is out of warranty and has a cost of $696.75 to repair on a car that is less than 4 years old. Saying the sensor failed is not accurate as the error does not exist unless there is someone in the passenger seat which tells me the sensor is working somewhat. Tesla will not inform me of what will and will not work in the event of a collision but that these items need to be replaced to ensure safety of occupant's. I am skeptical since safety is your number one concern and should be the concern of every auto manufacturer. Unless damage by the owner specifically, how and why is this not covered for the life of the vehicle?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675256July 22, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph and making a right turn, due to a blind spot, another vehicle driving at full speed almost crashed into the contact. The contact quickly steered the vehicle away, avoiding a collision with the other vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The contact ultimately crashed into a nearby light post. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The light post had fallen to the ground. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a local Tesla dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed with a cause for failure. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,571.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674805July 19, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The rear motor became completely disabled while driving. The rear motor suddenly made noise and locked up when I was driving about 10 mph. I received a red alert on my screen saying to pull over now and another alert saying the car is shutting off. The car suddenly stopped on its own before I could do anything. I then got a yellow warning message saying that the rear motor is disabled. I was luckily driving slowly in a parking lot when this occurred but if it happened on a public road, things could have gone much worse. I contacted Tesla support when it occurred but I cancelled the support request because the alerts went away once I exited the car. The vehicle drives normally but not sure if it will happen suddenly again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674647July 18, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My Tesla Model 3 disengaged cruise control while going 68 mph and braked hard for no apparent reason. I was driving northbound on I-405 at 3:45 a.m. going to LAX airport in the number 3 or 4 of six or seven lanes. Cruise control had been activated for at least 10 minutes before the incident at a speed of 68 mph. There was no traffic within half a mile before or after me due to the time of day. Neither my left or right foot were near either the brake or acceleration pedal, nor were they in motion. Both hands were on the steering wheel and no control was being activated. The only noticeable environmental condition is that the road surface had just changed from a dark gray asphalt to a bright white new concrete roadway. No emergency braking alert was seen or heard, so I do not think it was a false collision detection, and there was no car within a half mile. However, I do believe the severity of braking could have caused an accident if there had been someone behind me. Tesla Model 3 Software Version was v12 (2025.20.6 046c4575d120).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673629July 15, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The problem is with the horn. Tesla instead of a regular horn has a SPEAKER under the car. So whenever it rains, the speaker gets wet and the horn gets muffled and barely audible, it’s a major concern. Not sure how anyone hasn’t done anything about it yet. Another thing is: the 2024 and 2025 tesla model 3 have blinkers on the steering wheel, the blinkers operate via capacitive buttons, which stop working for a few seconds if you accidentally rested your fingers on them, making you unable to use blinkers in a situation that quickly requires it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673405July 14, 2025
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact rented a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH in the rain, a vehicle in front of him abruptly slowed down. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle jerked to the side. The contact stated that the emergency braking system unexpectedly activated ("slams on") while he was driving due to the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system falsely detecting a potential collision. There were large rocks in the roadway, and there was no traction, causing him to crash into an embankment. The driver's side airbag did not deploy. The other airbags in the vehicle had deployed. The contact sustained a fractured rib, and medical attention was provided at the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a towing company. There were no reported fires. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an unknown diagnosis was completed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11673307July 14, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Newer Tesla Model 3s (2024+ Hihgland) removed the physical turn signal and drive shift stalks. This creates serious safety concerns: 1. Inconsistent or Difficult/Impossible Signaling: In certain turning maneuvers, especially while driving with a sharp wheel angle, such as on curves, roundabouts, or a turn immediately following another, it becomes physically difficult or impossible to reach and activate the appropriate touch signal. This failure to clearly signal intentions to other drivers increases the likelihood of collisions and endangers both the driver and others on the road. 2. More Frequent Signaling Errors: The touch buttons for left and right turn signals are placed side-by-side, with no tactile distinction. This can lead to frequent accidental activation of the wrong signal, especially in high-pressure or fast-response situations. Misleading or absent signals confuse surrounding drivers and pedestrians, increasing the risk of sideswipes, intersection crashes, or pedestrian strikes. 3. Delayed or Failed Emergency Shifting: The removal of a physical gear shift stalk in favor of an on-screen interface causes dangerous delays when quick, instinctive gear changes are needed, such as switching from Drive to Reverse to avoid a crash or recover vehicle control. Because there is no tactile control, blind muscle-memory responses are difficult or impossible, and looking away from the road to the display may be necessary, increasing the likelihood of a collision in time-critical situations where every second counts. Tesla has since reintroduced turn signal stalks in the updated Model Y (Juniper), and older Model 3s had them, proving this is a design choice, not a limitation. These changes reduce the ability to safely operate the vehicle under pressure and should be reviewed for compliance with safety standards.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673159July 13, 2025
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
I took my car to Tesla service to have 3 tires changed. On the drive home for the service, the car automatically pulled the to right several times with the final time pulling so hard, the car jumped the curb and damaged the car. Speaking with the Tesla service associate after the accident, they admitted that they did not complete alignment of the tires and that the automatic lane correction mechanism uses the alignment to gauge if it should correct or not. Tesla service will not take responsibility for causing the issue.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672330July 9, 2025
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
The frunk keeps opening while driving or parked without me pressing the control to open the frunk
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672299July 9, 2025
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to open the trunk and the trunk inadvertently closed on the contact's finger. The contact was taken to a medical specialist and sustained an injury to a finger that required stitching, causing medical leave. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 19,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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