Tesla Model 3 Complaints

2,178 consumer complaints on file.

#11634318January 6, 2025
TIRES
Both front tires are loosing chunks of tread toward the outside of the tire near the sidewall. I’ve never seen chunks of tread come off of a tire. These have quite about of tread life left as well. 235/40/R19
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634160January 5, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Turn signal buttons become inoperative. On occasion, the turn signal buttons cannot be engaged, they appear to be stuck and eventually become operative again. Also I believe the placement of the turn signal operators on the steering wheel instead of on stalks is a safety hazard as they are often difficult to engage like when the steering wheel is being turned and the buttons are therefor not in a position where they are easy to engage
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634158January 5, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint •Vehicle Information: •Make: Tesla •Model: Model 3 •Year: 2022 •Summary of Incident: On November 28,2024, I experienced an incident involving my 2022 Tesla Model 3 while it was stationary just outside my garage. I accidentally pressed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake. The car surged forward and crashed into the back wall of my garage. Despite Tesla’s advertised safety features, such as Collision Avoidance Assist and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), none of these systems intervened or activated during the incident. I expected the safety systems to detect the garage wall and mitigate the collision, but they failed to respond. Additionally, Tesla’s Obstacle-Aware Acceleration system did not seem to function as intended to limit acceleration in this scenario. •Injuries or Property Damage: There were minor injuries to passenger, but the vehicle and the garage sustained significant damage. •Steps Taken Post-Incident: I have contacted Tesla to request an analysis of the vehicle’s event data logs to determine why the safety features did not activate. I am waiting for their response. •Concern: I am filing this report because I believe this may indicate a potential safety issue with Tesla’s collision prevention systems in low-speed scenarios involving stationary obstacles. This raises concerns about the reliability of these features in real-world situations, particularly for drivers who may accidentally press the accelerator. •Supporting Information: If needed, I can provide photographs of the damage, repair estimates, and additional details.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11634087January 4, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Tesla is refusing to correct this recall on my vehicle for free
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634004January 3, 2025
STEERING
The turn signal often fails to operate. It features haptic feedback instead of a physical button. This design is impractical, potentially dangerous, and unwise for use in vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633910January 3, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The turn signal buttons stick when pressed sometimes and don’t activate the turn signal. You have to keep pressing repeatedly which causes a hazard
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633765January 2, 2025
WHEELS
Rims cracked with normal usage. Current mileage under 17,000. This should not occur, and poses a safety risk with loss of tire pressure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633563January 1, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Turn signal button frequently gets stuck and will not activate. This prevents driver from being able to properly signal when changing lanes and causes very dangerous situations, particularly when trying to exit the highway. My vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, but this issue is very common across owners' forums. No warning signs or messages prior to failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633501January 1, 2025
STEERING
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The steering system appears to have malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to consistently pull to the right, even after multiple alignments with perfect specifications. This issue is ongoing, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The pulling to the right affects the vehicle's handling and requires constant manual correction by holding the steering wheel tilted to the left. This compromises my ability to control the car safely, particularly during acceleration or regenerative braking when the issue becomes more pronounced. I am concerned that this could lead to an accident or further mechanical failure. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issue has been demonstrated and reproduced during test drives with Tesla service technicians. Despite this, I was told the behavior is "normal" or attributed to road crown, which does not align with my driving experience. Multiple alignments have not resolved the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by Tesla service centers. Technicians have confirmed the pulling during test drives, but no definitive resolution or explanation has been provided. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps or error messages have appeared. The problem began in September 2024 after I returned from a 4-month military deployment. During this time, the car was parked in my garage and not driven. The issue was first noticed immediately upon resuming use of the vehicle, which had approximately 12,000 miles on the odometer at the time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633279December 30, 2024
SUSPENSION
My car experienced a problem with the control arms and based on my research this is a known problem with Tesla Model 3 yet a recall hasn’t been issued
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632963December 29, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
the vehicle consistently has pillar camera blockage warnings. I have had this repaired once but it still happens. this would not be a problem except the vehicle offers no other cruise control than adaptive. my concern is the vehicle consistently has phantom braking ( listed in a separate complaint I have made). I am concerned the two issues are related. the last time this happened is reported below.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632959December 29, 2024
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
the car consistently has phantom braking. the speed will drop around 15 miles of speed immediately. it also will slow on rolling hills and random long turns on cruise control. most recent date listed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632939December 29, 2024
SEAT BELTS
The passenger seat belt no longer latches. The mechanism that pushes out the pin to hold the belt in is no longer working.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632784December 27, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The new steering wheel design has buttons for left and right turn signaling. These buttons often get stuck/jammed and prevents the driver from successfully signaling. This is dangerous on the freeway where you are having to fiddle with the jammed buttons while lane changing at high speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632699December 27, 2024
STEERING, SUSPENSION
At low/no speed, turning the steering wheel to the extreme left or right produces a low-end creaking noise as if something is rubbing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11632501December 26, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING
The contact owned a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH with the full self-driving mode activated and making a right turn off the highway, the vehicle collided with the wall of the exit ramp and spun out. The contact stated that there were no prior alerts and or warnings of the collision. The contact sustained a right shoulder injury. Medical attention was not needed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision shop where it was deemed totalled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,669.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11632235December 24, 2024
STEERING
Vehicle Information: 2024 Tesla Model 3 Description of the Problem: We purchased a brand-new 2024 Tesla Model 3 just seven days ago, and we’ve already encountered a serious safety issue: the turn signal frequently fails to function. This problem compromises our ability to signal lane changes or turns, putting our safety and the safety of others at risk, particularly in high-traffic or highway conditions. Inspection and Reproduction: We took the car to Tesla Service, and the service advisor confirmed that this is a known issue with the vehicle. The malfunction has been reproduced and verified by Tesla Service. Safety Risks: The inability to use the turn signal effectively creates a significant safety hazard, as other drivers cannot anticipate our intended movements. This increases the likelihood of accidents, especially during lane changes or turns. Inspection by Authorities: The vehicle has been inspected by Tesla Service, but no inspection has been conducted by any other authorities, such as insurance representatives or law enforcement. Warning Signs: There were no prior warning lights or error messages. The issue became apparent when the turn signal intermittently failed to activate. Request for Action: We are requesting an immediate resolution to this issue, including a repair or replacement of the faulty system, as well as updates on Tesla’s efforts to address this known defect. If no fix is currently available, we request clear communication regarding the timeline for a resolution and any interim safety measures that can mitigate this risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11631537December 18, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Entire screen froze. FSD stopped working completely. The system GPS stopped working, auto wipers stopped working, auto park, anything related to the cameras stopped working. After trying multiple resets, it didn't help. It luckily started working again in the morning. Others have reported this issue to Tesla and all over Reddit. News articles are starting to come out about it now. The entire motherboard dying is a massive safety issue, especially if there are any safety systems linked to it (like auto wipers, speedometer, ABS or AEB, FSD, etc.). Tesla refused to replace my computer after I showed them the issue. [XXX] 552(B)(6) 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
#11631508December 18, 2024
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This incident is the result of poor operation of safety warning and navigation systems in a Tesla Model 3 leading to an accident. I rented a Tesla Model 3 from Hertz at Seattle Tacoma airport. At a traffic light I followed navigation directions making a left turn into Southcenter Mall in Tukwila WA. This turn placed me in the direction of a Subaru which hit me in the driver side rear side. The Tesla safely warning visual and audible system did not activate as designed. I owned a similar Tesla Model 3 at the time and was very familiar with its operation. The navigation and collision warning systems in this rental vehicle did not in any way act or engage like my personal vehicle, and therefore I was placed in a dangerous situation causing an accident to occur. This was a low speed accident, as I was beginning to accelerate after the light turned green, with sufficient time for the systems to react and provide warning, which they did not. I was not cited in the accident. This may be a Hertz maintenance issue or a Tesla issue I'm not sure. I am loading both the Tukwila Police report and Hertz accident summary which contradict: Please note the Hertz report is correct in the Subaru hitting me and the damage on the left side
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11631278December 17, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while his daughter was driving 30 MPH at night with Full Self-Driving(FSD) Supervised mode engaged, the vehicle suddenly made a left turn. The contact stated that the vehicle drove over a curb and onto the grass, and the vehicle drove into a residence's driveway, where the front of the vehicle crashed into the rear passenger's side of three unoccupied vehicles that were parked in the driveway. The front passenger's side and driver's side air bags deployed. The exterior hazard lights were illuminated. The contact's daughter did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed but the contact did not have the police report information available. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was waiting to be picked up by a certified Tesla autobody repair shop. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 219.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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