Tesla Model 3 Complaints

2,178 consumer complaints on file.

#11452530February 17, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The auto emergency braking consistently brakes for no apparent reason while using adaptive cruise control or autopilot. The Tesla Model 3 will consistently slow and brake while passing a semi or larger vehicle while myself and the vehicle I am passing are both within our lanes with no abnormalities. This "phantom braking" is the worst on a two way (one lane each direction) highway at night. It was so bad I could not use and trust the autopilot/cruise system because it was more unsafe to use it than to just turn if off. I feared that I would get rear ended or it could aggressively brake in a corner causing me to loose traction. I also had the vehicle brake with no vehicle approaching and no one behind. It just randomly applied the brakes and the collision warning went off. Literally nothing in front or behind me on a two lane highway (one lane in each direction). My cameras were clean
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452526February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
On several occasions, while using adaptive cruise control and/or autopilot, the vehicle sharply slowed or braked with no apparent obstruction or threat. It once happened while cruising at 80 MPH on freeway 10W in Phoenix, in the carpool lane. There were no vehicles within a concerning distance in front or behind me, so I was not necessarily at risk - but certainly would have put myself or others if there had been more traffic in the lane. The same happened while on a 3-lane road (Queen Creek Road between McQueen and Arizona in Chandler) this morning. Adaptive cruise control was set at 56 MPH when vehicle suddenly braked and slowed without any visible threat or danger. Again, there was not traffic near me (front or rear), so no significant risk. No warning chimes or messages were given prior to any instance of braking. The problem has not been inspected/reproduced/confirmed by a dealer or service center.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452523February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My car suddenly braked for no reason. I was at risk of a rear-end collision. I called Tesla and they instructed me to reboot my computer. They said an engineer would review the computer records and get back to me. No follow-up has happened yet. No, the vehicle has not been inspected. Before the incident, I heard a warning signal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452522February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My 2021 Tesla model 3 when on auto pilot or adaptive cruise control some times on a 2 lane road and meeting a large truck in the on coming lane will suddenly apply the brakes. Another case is where there are heavy shadows across the road. Should someone be following closely there could be a rear end collision. Perhaps this problem started after Tesla stopped using radar on the 2021 Model 3 teslas Anyway, this is very concerning to me and my passengers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452515February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
When using the traffic-aware cruise system on the interstate, the car will sometimes dramatically reduce its speed (within seconds)/apply the brakes for what appears to be no reason at all (often referred to as phantom braking). The most recent incident occurred while accelerating up an interstate entrance ramp. The car had reached the target speed of 75 MPH before suddenly braking and reducing the speed down to around 65MPH before I hit the accelerator to prevent it from slowing down any further. Within a few seconds, the care went back to accelerating normally again. There were no warning indicators on the display that would explain why the vehicle slowed down. I've noticed that sometimes there are certain spots on the interstate where this behavior will happen repeatedly. I will be cruising along at a set speed and the vehicle will suddenly slow down for a few seconds then continue back at the set cruise speed. This occurs when there are no other vehicles or objects in front of the car. Available for inspection upon request: Yes Safety Risk: Rapid deceleration on the interstate at high speeds risks a rear end collision Reproducible: Yes, but it seems to occur mostly at random, has not been confirmed by the dealer Inspected By Others: No Warning Lamps/Messages: Only once has it generated a pre-collision warning, all other instances generate no warning/alert Only once have I had the system falsely generate a pre-collision warning and dramatically slow the vehicle while the vehicle had just entered the interstate from an entrance ramp (traveling at 70 MPH) and no other objects or vehicles were around me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452510February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My Tesla in auto pilot brakes randomly while on the highway or in a lanes roadway. I almost got rear ended last week.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452503February 17, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Have had several phantom braking espisodes when driving with cruise control on both at 45 mph. It brakes by itself and there is nothing in front of me that would of caused this
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452499February 17, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Sudden unexplained braking while in cruise control on an interstate. Unexplained very, very loud warning alerts out of the blue. Usually happening when there was a an adjacent white truck in daylight conditions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452487February 17, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On two occasions I've been driving on a highway using autopilot at 70 MPH and the car started to brake for no reason. During one of the incidents the car also started to steer to the right and also cause a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452481February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would brake without warning while autopilot mode was engaged. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452478February 17, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
When using the autosteer function and also the adaptive cruise control, the vehicle seems to have a phantom braking issue. The car will apply brakes in an aggressive manner when the vehicle is faced with oncoming traffic in the opposite lane headed the other direction on a 2 lane road. This seems to occur when a large truck such as UPS or semi tractor trailer is approaching in the other lane headed the other direction - the vehicle seems to recognize that as an imminent forward collision and begins to aggressively brake the vehicle, which could cause a following vehicle to rear end me. This has happened on several occasions with varying degrees or severity (how hard it applies the breaks)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452472February 17, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was driving on highway 70 in Florida which is one lane in each direction. When in cruise control the car braked on its own multiple times when car or truck approaced from opposite direction
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452456February 17, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
We have experienced 6 or more incidents of phantom braking in the few weeks we have owned the car. This mostly seems to occur on sunny days when there are distinct shadows in the road. This mostly occurs on highways at high speed and typically slows the vehicle down well below the speed limit prior to correcting itself. It has also occurred once at lower non-highway speeds. It is concerning mostly because it could easily cause an accident whereby the person behind me is unable to stop in time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452450February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On multiple occasions while driving at highways speed on freeways, vehicles adaptive cruise control activates emergency braking when there are no obstacles in front of the vehicle. Cause of braking appears to be caused by high contrast shadows from overhead signs, billboards, and other tall vehicles that are on the road. This has caused moments where an accident could occur from the vehicles emergency braking activating when there is no actual reason that the system should activate. It also creates concern for the use of the cruise control system and autopilot while driving on the freeway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452447February 17, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
There are two problems with our new 2022 Model 3. 1) The car randomly "phantom brakes". I counted on Monday-- 5 times in roughly 50 miles including twice from 75 MPH to under 40 MPH with maximum braking. All events were on a wide open freeway in a rural area with very light traffic and no movement or vehicles that would possibly explain it. The phantom braking is so bad that the car isn't safe to drive. 2) ABS malfunctioned resulting in a very slow speed impact. A car stopped abruptly in front of me, I hit the brakes where ABS kicked in, the car also automatically braked, but the deceleration was no more than just lifting my foot of the throttle. The ABS was chattering audibly and pulsing through the brake pedal so the ABS was definitely triggered but it appears it was falsely sensing wheel lockup when there was none. If I had been able to just lock the tires up or modulate the brakes myself to prevent lockup, the accident would not have happened. For ref, I'm 52, I've been driving since I was 15, and I have roughly 1,500,000 miles of driving experience. I ride motorcycles and am also a commercial pilot. This is the first accident involving another car I've ever had (never been hit or hit anyone). Tesla has refused to provide the crash data recorder info stating that they are not required to do so in Texas. Based on a conversation in person with a Tesla technician, it appears this is a very new policy with Tesla. At the risk of being accusatory, there are very few reasons Tesla would refuse to provide this data and most if not all of those reasons are to prevent owners from getting data that shows the car malfunctioned. I do have the camera video showing the accident and you can see at 20-25 MPH, I was in full ABS roughly 3 seconds before impact. This was on a dry, clean roadway. I'd guess I should've stopped in 1-2 seconds easily and my 8,000 truck can stop much shorter than what the Tesla stopped in.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452443February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
This issue happens only on one side of an highway (I-76E), otherwise I have not noticed it elsewhere. When using cruise control or autopilot, the vehicle changes the max speed from like 65 to 45 or 50 mph (in 65 mph highway). It happens in 4/5 places on the highway where it reduces the speed of the car abruptly. This may cause rear ending of the vehicle if there is a closely following vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452432February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While in Autopilot, with adaptive cruise and lane assist active, the car will randomly brake despite there being no object or vehicle in front of it that would require braking. It has happened over a dozen times over the past 6 months, primarily on two-lane country roads (where I've stopped using Autopilot) but also at least three times on the expressway. Despite no potential collision incidents ahead, the car abruptly braked and I had to disengage Autopilot to resume normal speed. Luckily in all cases there was no car directly behind me. On more narrow two-lane roads, I know twice the car has perceived a stopped car on the shoulder as a hazard and has abruptly braked, but most incidents have been on open roads with no obvious hazards ahead.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452429February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
car will put on brakes when in cruise control with no warning and without a danger of collision happens fairly frequently
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452421February 17, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I have approximately 3300 miles on the car since new. I cannot safely use the adaptive cruise control feature because the car randomly applies significant braking. This has happened about 10 times in a variety of conditions including completely clear with the car recently cleaned.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452415February 17, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Phantom braking on highways, multiple times on full self driving (auto pilot)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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