Tesla Model 3 Complaints (2025)

123 consumer complaints on file.

#11681259August 18, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The design of the turn signals has several severe driver distracting safety issues. This is ultimately a design issue due to the choice of buttons on the steering wheel instead of a turn signal stalk. The buttons do not always activate the turn signals. Deactivation of the turn signals is counter intuitive, pressing the opposite direction does not deactivate them, instead activating the direction pressed. The significant departure from a standard stalk is dangerous. This is opposed to the other digital modifications tesla has made, as they are not in, or do not need to be in active use during driving activity, but the turn signals are a different matter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680657August 14, 2025
STEERING
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the turn signal switch failed to function as intended. The turn signal switch located on the steering wheel was stuck while attempting to indicate a left turn. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering column control module had failed. The steering wheel and steering control module were replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who refused to repair the vehicle and stated that the vehicle was already been repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679887August 11, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I am NOT the owner of this Tesla. I am the owner of the car behind it that hit the Tesla because the Tesla went into Emergency Automatic Braking and the sudden additional deceleration happened too quickly to react to it and contact occurred while I was still doing about 5-ish MPH. The Tesla driver obviously wasn't braking effectively, and the car took over for him to avoid hitting the car in front of him. But there is no consideration for the car behind. I do not know how far back the Tesla stopped from the car in front of it, but all I needed was 2-3 feet. (When I get into these 60 to 0 deceleration, when I know "I'm good" I ease up on the braking to give the guy behind me as much space as possible for HIM to get stopped so I don't get hit.) Tesla's Emergency Automatic Braking caused this accident.
Crash:
Yes
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
#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
#11671587July 7, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The horn does not work properly when it gets wet. It will either not make noise at all, or it is extremely muffled. This is a major safety risk. Also, horn is required to work for Massachusetts state inspections. If I bring the car to be inspected on a rainy day, or after a car wash, it will fail because it does not work. I brought the vehicle to the dealer twice. The first time 5/28/25, the technician was able to replicate the issue and replaced the horn and claimed everything was working properly. The next time it rained, I tried to use it and it would not make any noise once again. I brought it to the dealer a second time 7/7/25, and they claim they could not replicate it. They went ahead anyways and replaced it. Also they claim “this is normal, expected behavior due to the location of the horn and eventually it will drain out”. This is an unacceptable answer. The horn should work all the time. There has been no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. First symptoms were approximately 5/6/25
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671495July 6, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While parked at home, my Tesla Model 3 developed a spontaneous windshield crack with no known cause. The car had not been driven recently, and there was no visible chip, impact, or external force involved. I believe this is a stress or pressure crack, which compromises visibility and may reflect a structural flaw in the glass or how it was mounted. I submitted a warranty claim through Tesla’s app and preserved the vehicle in its exact state for inspection (no washing, no driving, no impact). Tesla denied the claim without conducting a physical inspection or providing any supporting evidence. This kind of uninspected warranty denial is unacceptable, especially for a crack that can impair driver visibility. I have found similar reports from other Tesla owners online, indicating a potential pattern. If this issue is systemic, it could pose a broader safety risk related to poor windshield durability or design tolerances. I am asking the NHTSA to investigate this issue and Tesla’s handling of it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670119June 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Horn sound is extremely low after driving through hard rain, since there is no real horn in the car, I suspect the speaker that mimics a horn sound becomes muffled. This is a huge risk, it can cause me to crash in the future if no one can hear my horn.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669732June 27, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
On June 19, 2025, while parking my brand new 2025 Tesla Model 3 in a residential lot, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated forward over a curb, crashed through a iron fence, and struck an outdoor A/C unit and patio furniture on the back of a neighbor’s unit. The car became stuck and had to be towed. On June 19, 2025, while parking my newly delivered Tesla Model 3, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lurched forward, resulting in a crash. I was parking slowly and cautiously with my foot on the brake at all times. According to a neighbor who witnessed the incident, I was moving at a very slow speed when the vehicle suddenly surged forward without warning. I did not intend to accelerate, and I firmly believe this may have been the result of a system malfunction—possibly involving the vehicle’s sensors, software, or misinterpretation of pedal input. Tesla Service reviewed the driving log and stated that it showed I “stepped on the accelerator.” I respectfully dispute this conclusion, as the vehicle’s behavior was completely inconsistent with my actions. I am a careful, experienced driver with no prior accidents in over 30 years of driving. This incident raises serious concerns about Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA), a known issue that has been reported by other Tesla drivers in past years. If the vehicle misinterprets driver input or experiences a sensor/software glitch, this can lead to property damage or bodily injury, especially in tight parking situations or near pedestrians. I am submitting this complaint to ensure this matter is documented and investigated appropriately. Safety should not rely on logs alone — real-world behavior, driver feedback, and potential software/hardware flaws must be examined carefully.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669559June 26, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FSD lane‑selection defect: vehicle moves into far‑left lane and remains there, forcing right‑side passing. Vehicle: 2025 Tesla Model 3, FSD v13.2.9 (current production build) Behaviour (100 % reproducible): • On every non‑interstate roadway with two lanes in each direction, the car self‑selects the far‑left lane and stays there at or just below the posted speed limit even when the right lane is completely clear. • If I disengage FSD, manually steer into the right lane, and immediately re‑engage FSD, the system moves back into the far‑left lane within seconds. This occurs on every attempt. • The freeway/interstate stack exits the left lane correctly, proving the capability exists and the defect is limited to surface‑street logic. Legal conflict: • Violates Massachusetts General Laws, ch. 89 § 4B, which requires drivers to keep to the right‑hand lane except when overtaking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669087June 25, 2025
STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
2025 Tesla Model 3 the follow distance is too close to front vehicle (only 1 to 2 car lengths) while in full self driving mode and there is no way to adjust it like in cruise control mode. Also, while in auto cruise control or full self driving the forward collision warning has too many false alarms from overhead tree branches to nothing in front of car for more than 500 feet. Finally, the car takes turns too late and at unsafe speeds when autosteer and cruise control are both activated. This also happens during Full Self driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668060June 20, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, STEERING
Automatic emergency braking and steering is unavailable along with a few other features. Service center and car manufacturer not doing anything about it.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667591June 17, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I have had this happen twice, once on city streets going to work the car was not in auto pilot and it went from 40mph to 0mph instantly. If there was a car behind me I would have gotten slammed into. The second time, my mother was in the passenger seat and I was on the freeway going about 75 to 80mph and it was on auto steer and the car went from the speed I was going to almost 0 and I instantly took control of the vehicle. We both could have been killed because of the last incident and I thought the cameras saw something on the road but there was nothing there. No cars were near me when both events occurred.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667418June 17, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I went to drop my son to a summer program to a park. After dropping him, as soon as I started, car just accelerated very fast and went on the sides. I was able to turn the steering back into road but it kept speeding and went on the other sides. In the process, cars tires got impacted. Within 5-10 secs, car got from one side walks to the other side walk and then car stopped somehow. Fortunately, it did not impact any other cars parked or other cars on the road. But the whole thing was very scary.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665191June 5, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My vehicle is equipped with Supervised FSD and has had couple of issued on the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] in Portsmouth, Virginia. It seems every time I stop at the light, the system recognizes the red light and stops, but shortly after it wants to keep advancing forward although the light is still red and has not changed. The vehicle has also had a problem staying on lane at light on the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] in Suffolk as it is getting ready to turn left prior to entering the entrance road to [XXX] . The image in the screen is correct and the lines are in place, but the vehicle has trouble staying with in the line and needed to be corrected. 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
#11664926June 4, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Phantom braking from freeway speed to almost a stop, with no other vehicles presenting issues nearby. Three occurrences so far.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664631June 3, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
FSD Malfunction, inspection available. Yellow double lines were not recognized around a turn, causing the car to steer towards oncoming traffic. UNKNOWN. Vehicle was declared fully functional by Tesla Dealership. No warnings, vehicle had many symptoms prior to the last event in which I decided to service the vehicle. First critical malfunction May 21, 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661756May 19, 2025
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
While making a wide right turn at an intersection I heard three warning beeps before the steering wheel locked. I was unable to correct the steering. When I realized it wasn’t allowing the steering to correct, I began to brake, causing me to drive over a curb, ultimately stopped by a fence and cactus in someone’s yard. This is a huge safety concern, as children could’ve been playing in the yard, or farther up the road where a curve has a 30 foot embankment I could have rolled into. I have scheduled a service appointment with Tesla to have it looked at. I have had this issue occur multiple times before and am sure it can be reproduced.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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