Tesla Model 3 Complaints

2,178 consumer complaints on file.

#11636905January 19, 2025
SUSPENSION
Front and rear suspension bushings wear and rip at very low mileage
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636893January 19, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
There has been numerous false Forward Collision Warning reports from my car over the past two years. Over 100 to be exact. These false collision warnings cause the car to brake abruptly increasing the change of being rear ended, causing accidents behind me or even causing my car to swerve. This has been witnessed by at least 3 different passengers of mine. Tesla refuses to acknowledge that their software can be flawed in any way despite my attempts to contact Tesla Service, Tesla Insurance, Tesla Support and Tesla Internal investigative services. I have requested a complete list of all Bug Reports and no one is able to reproduce them for me or give me a list. No my vehicle has not been inspected because Tesla claims that this is working as intended. Which, if that is the case, they're doing/using it to arbitrarily raise people's premiums and make them pay more with Tesla Insurance. No warnings. Just abrupt stops due to the camera improperly reading a situation, seeing something that isn't there, or simply activating out of thin air.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636379January 16, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
Dear NHTSA, I am filing a formal complaint regarding Tesla's refusal to properly address a critical safety recall on my vehicle (Recall Number 24V554). This recall involves a significant safety issue that Tesla is legally obligated to remedy free of charge under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The required over-the-air software update associated with this recall repeatedly fails to install, getting stuck at 50% completion. I scheduled a service appointment and took the vehicle to Tesla for assistance. However, Tesla informed me that they will not diagnose the issue or investigate why their software update fails to install unless I agree to pay $255.00 for a general diagnosis. Additionally, they require me to pre-approve a total of $2,658.28, including the diagnostic fee, in case the computer needs to be replaced. This approach leaves me unable to proceed with a mandatory safety recall and directly contradicts Tesla’s legal obligation to repair safety-related defects at no cost to the consumer. I urge the NHTSA to investigate Tesla's practices concerning this recall and their apparent refusal to adhere to their obligations under the law. This situation raises concerns about Tesla’s commitment to addressing safety-critical issues in a manner that ensures public safety and compliance with federal regulations. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636311January 16, 2025
BACK OVER PREVENTION: AUTOMATIC SYSTEM BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
When backing out, software doesn’t emergency brake or scream/beep/siren etc (no audible sound) when car is coming, just shows a red light on the screen. Every other manufacturer has this audible and emergency feature. My relative had hit their Tesla with another car since there was no beep or emergency braking with another car behind them. I have talked to many other people and they have said the same thing. It’s just a tiny red line that’s on the screen camera which makes no sense for a high tech car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635926January 14, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was driving east on [XXX] in Bourne MA using the Tesla adaptive cruise control system called "Autopilot" in very light traffic conditions. The sun was low on in the sky (behind and to the right). The system automatically engaged the brakes while crossing the bridge without obvious reason, decreasing the car speed about 10 MPH in less than a second before I overrode by pressing the accelerator. I believe the car vision system mistook a shadow cast by the vertical girders on the bridge onto the road as an obstacle. The sudden deceleration was a hazard to those behind that had to brake, but there was no collision or loss of control. The manufacturer seems acknowledge and accept that the defect exists, but has not been able to resolve the problem. 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
#11635441January 11, 2025
WHEELS
This is an ongoing issue since I bought this car. There is a vibration felt in the steering and throughout the entire car when driving both at low and high speed. It is felt more when driving at higher speeds.Does not seem to be an alignment issue. Car was taken to service center multiple times and will be going again in a few days to attempt to diagnose this issue. I do not know the source of this issue but it causes a lot of concern while driving. Unsure whether something will break apart or will lose control of car etc.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635319January 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Touch activated car signal buttons often cease to work or allow input preventing safe and legally required signaling to show intended path of car to pedestrians and other vehicles. Tesla say it’s normal behavior and won’t repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635305January 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Rear Display (1875931-00-D) glass breaking without any impact. Tesla Service Center refused to honor warranty repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635280January 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In instances of rain or snow. The horn along with the pedestrian warning system do not function properly and aren’t audible. It appears to me that there is water intrusion into the speaker of which the horn and pedestrian warning system both use and that is what muffles the sound.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635250January 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In rainy conditions the horn does not perform as expected
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635245January 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The horn does not work when wet or in snow. I was driving in a snow storm and needed to use the horn, but it did not work at all. I tried multiple times throughout the day and it still did not work. Once the snow was gone, the horn started working again. This seems like a serious safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635234January 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car horn is muffled or no sound when driving in rain or exposed to water. It takes 30min-4h to dry out to be fully functional again
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635232January 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car horn is muffled or no sound when driving in rain or exposed to water. It takes 30min-4h to dry out to be fully functional again
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635219January 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When vehicle is in rain or sub-freezing conditions, the horn completely stops functioning. Took vehicle to Tesla Service and was told, "Technician inspected and found the vehicles horn to be working as expected at this time. Technician noted that under heavy rain/snow the vehicles horn may not work as expected due to water accumulation in the cut out for the horn." The issue is reproducible every time the vehicle is exposed to rain or snow.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634987January 8, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I'm not quite sure what component was affected, some module of some sort got water in or near it that wasn't supposed to. It is available for inspection. Yes my safety and others was out at risk. Yes the problem was fixed by service center supposedly. Yes the car has been inspected by the manufacturer. There were no warnings. What happened was on 12/29 I was driving the car and out of absolutely nowhere a bunch of warnings came up including loss of ABS, any and all safety features. And more importantly lost usage of brakes almost entirely when car came to a stop it was grinding and shakey. This problem all arises due to teslas negligence when it came to installing a new windshield on the vehicle. As stated in messages below, they made a mistake while installing my windshield that caused this major issue to arise. They have offered nothing as a solution but saying that their error is supposedly fixed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634962January 8, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My Tesla has full self driving supervised. When I use this feature, since about three updates ago, my Car has started braking for no reason. It hasn’t happened on a freeway, but, but on secondary roads, it will brake and try to come to a stop. It seems to do this, when there is a shadow across the road, or when there is a puddle in or near the road. Sometimes it will brake for no reason at all. I I have come close to being hit from behind. I think this is a dangerous situation that needs to be looked into.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634787January 8, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS
12/26/2024 around 5-6pm, Full Self Drive abruptly tried to accelerate into the intersection while sitting at a stop light. I stopped it immediately but was very surprised as FSD v13 has been exceedingly reliable and a pleasure to drive. This is the 2nd time this has happened after the holiday update of FSD 2024.45.25.5 (v13.2.2). Both times mine was the lead car at the light with no others ahead of me. This behavior has been reported multiple times in social media groups this past week by other FSD users. I entered a Tesla service request but have not heard back other than an automated appointment scheduled at the service center 8 weeks from my request and the incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634754January 7, 2025
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
during a hydroplaning incident on a ramp, the tesla refused to budge or give any steer. Major issue was no air bags deployed during collision.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634753January 7, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Any time I get into the car and immediately start driving before the car has time to catch up with what I am doing, the NHTSA mandated safety sounds played when the car is in reverse or drive does not play until the cars computer can catch up and begin playing the sounds. Most times this can take 3 seconds or so but today I had an incident where it took over 30 seconds before it would start playing. The same issue can be detected when restarting the infotainment screen by holding down both scroll wheels on the steering wheel. When doing this the car will cease playing the sound for around 5 seconds while the computer reboots.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634391January 6, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while using the right turn signal, the signal seized and failed to turn off and remained engaged. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla Service Center; however, the service tech was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The Tesla Service Center declined to provide a steering wheel replacement. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 1,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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