Tesla Model 3 Complaints (2024)

222 consumer complaints on file.

#11608629August 15, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Turn signal button on the steering wheel gets stuck occasionally (it is like a mouse button, and when this happens it cannot “click”). This effectively disables the turn signal and I am thus unable to indicate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607645August 9, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Turn signal buttons on steering wheels. Place finger over turn signal toggle area continuously without pressing on the steering wheel for less than a minute or longer, unable to engage the turn signal after when pressing. Able to reliably and repeatedly replicate the event. Could be a hazard if unable to signal turn direction when needed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11607131August 7, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The right turn signal button was disabled while highway driving. I tried pressing the top/bottom/left/right and center of the turn signal button and could not engage the right turn signal to indicate a lane change. Google search suggests this is a common issue for this model/year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606952August 7, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This vehicle lacks a stalk for turning signals. Instead, there are two buttons on the steering wheel that are used to activate the turning signals. When the steering wheel is far from its regular position (i.e. with the front wheels pointed straight ahead), it is difficult to quickly figure out where the buttons are and which is which. This is dangerous in avoidance maneuvers. It also makes using the signals difficult in other situations, such as roundabouts. I believe that this lack of a stalk will eventually lead to accidents as users will occasionally have to change lanes or turn without signaling because they can't quickly activate a turning signal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606930August 6, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The turn signal buttons on the steering wheel stick at random. It is extremely dangerous and doesn’t allow for communicating to other drivers when needing to quickly turn or merge. You also have to feel around for these buttons as they’re very small and are not user friendly. You often need to take your eyes off the road to find them, and it’s increasingly dangerous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606838August 6, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When I indicate to turn right, the indicator sometimes indicates to turn left. This happens randomly but approximately once every eight times that I indicate to turn right. I reported the issue to Tesla in April 2024 and they replaced the steering wheel to verify if there was a hardware issue. This did not fix the problem. Tesla Service then informed me that it was a known software issue and that I would have to wait for a software update to fix the problem. I have been waiting for four months but no software fix has been forthcoming. I took the car back to Tesla today, and they told me that they had no ETA on the software fix. This is a dangerous issue because if I indicate to go into a right hand lane and the car signals left, then another car can turn into me from the right hand lane, which has happened on one occasion.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606598August 5, 2024
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The turn signal buttons on the wheel frequently fail to turn on the turn signals when pressed. It always seems like when I most need to use them, they fail. I already had the wheel replaced by tesla and was told "this is just how they are" To be clear, when I press the turn signal button on my steering wheel, it will feel like the button will not depress, the turn signal will not turn on, and attempting to lift my finger and place it in other locations to try to press the button will not enable the turn signal. Pushing extremely hard does not work either. It seems like I need to press the opposite direction turn signal button or randomly wait sometimes for it to resolve itself and for the turn signal buttons to work again
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606236August 3, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Several times while using Traffic Aware Cruise Control, the system will suddenly brake severely for apparently reason. At these times, I was on a lightly traveled Interstate with no vehicles ahead of me. Each time, it was during daylight hours and it was sunny. This has also occurred while using Autopilot with Autosteer and with Full Self Driving. Once, there was a vehicle close behind me, so this sudden braking can be dangerous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606235August 3, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
While driving in the right lane of an Interstate using Full Self Driving (Supervised) mode (version 12.3.6), I was behind a motorcycle that was traveling slower than I. FSD was gaining on the motorcycle, but failed to move to the passing lane. I had to disengage the system so that the car didn't get too close to, or strike, the motorcycle. I manually moved to the passing lane and reengaged FSD. The car eventually decided to move to the right lane, behind the motorcycle. Again, it was gaining on the motorcycle and got too close, so I once again had to disengage FSD. It seems like the system didn't recognize the motorcycle or didn't recognize that it was traveling than slower than my vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11605916August 1, 2024
STEERING
The right turn signal button has become stuck for a few seconds at random times and on multiple occasions. While driving on the freeway, I pushed the button to turn the turn signal on, but the button won't push down. I keep trying to push the button, but it is stuck for a few seconds. I either have to change lanes without a signal or wait until the button works again. It is unsafe because I look down at the steering wheel to see why it isn't working. There is no warning for it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11605649July 31, 2024
STEERING
On July/30/2024 at around 6:15pm EST I got inside my vehicle to drive it and the steering wheel was extremely hard and difficult to move. A message popped on my screen saying "Steering assist reduced" error UI_A020. This made it completely impossible to drive my vehicle and ended up having to call a tow truck to take it to the dealership. If this incident had occured while I was driving I consider it lethal to my safety since I was unable to steer the vehicle. Called Tesla on the phone, they tried to reset the error but unfortunately they couldn't and suggested calling a tow truck instead. On July/31/2024 Tesla reached out to me saying the car had been fixed and it was a firmware bug resulting in the issue (fin report attached)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11604925July 27, 2024
STEERING
2024 Model 3 Highland LR, right and left blinker buttons stuck occasionally.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11604656July 26, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Turn signals are not reliable. They get stuck from time to time and I've already had a couple of close calls
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11604498July 25, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In addition to the previous problem I reported concerning the intermittent failure of the back-up camera (which was replaced but the problem continues to this date) leading to Park Assist not working, the touch screen freezing and showing no movement of the car, and the speed control not working, I've also discovered on a freeway trip after putting the car into reverse first that navigation was not usable and the turn signals failed to automatically turn off when the lane change was made. After a rest stop, though, everything worked just fine again. This time I'm writing about the pedestrian warning sounds which do not play when reversing or driving forward at a slow rate of speed. Two of my neighbors have Tesla Model Ys that sound properly; it dawned on me that even with the windows open, I'd never heard the sounds coming out of my car since I took delivery of it on March 30, 2024.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11603942July 23, 2024
STEERING
the left and right turn signals are not functioning at times. My car is very new. I did not get into any accidents that would compromise the car's hardware. It is dangerous when I need to switch lanes or make a turn because I am unable to apply the indicator button on the steering wheel. the button gets stuck and I am unable to use it at the time of need. sometimes when I try to press the button, instead of the turn signal, radio starts. It is both stressful and such a headache. it is illegal to switch lanes without turn signals. it is frustrating to drivers on other cars, sometimes dangerous even. in high traffic areas like the bay area, california(where I drive) it is bound to cause some accidents if this is left unresolved. I am sometimes afraid I would cause harm to others because of this system failure and also get cited by the cops. Also, I spent a hefty money on this car. I think it is ridiculous that they did not get this basic part right that cars that were manufactured before the 1900s also manage to have a proper left/right indicator.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11603300July 18, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STEERING
The steering wheel buttons on the left include left/right signal indicators buttons that get stuck. This is a problem that is discussed by multiple drivers on online forums. Others are indicating that there isn’t a fix when reported to Tesla. The left/right indicator design is distracting at best and dangerous when not working properly. The approval of the design should be revoked.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11603295July 18, 2024
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Tesla removed the physical stalks for turn signals and replaced with buttons on the steering wheel that get stuck when pressed preventing you from indicating at all. Further, putting turn signals on a steering wheel means that the orientation can change when trying to indicate in any situation other than driving on a straight away. This is incredibly dangerous for the driver and other surrounding vehicles. There are numerous blog posts out there with similar driver experiences. Most people who report this issue also report that after Tesla replaces their wheel, the same problem happens again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11603060July 18, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
Occasionally the turn signal button cannot be pressed down to make a turn signal. This event has happened quite a few times during some urgent moments when I need to exit the highway and gives us a big concern. I heard from many other owners that Tesla just replace your steering wheel, but it dose not fix the problem. It is not because of pressing on the wrong area of the button. This should be a systematic issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11602680July 16, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The right turn blinker button on the steering wheel freezes in many occasions while the vehicle is in motion. Unable to signal right turn when the button freezes randomly. It happened four times to my vehicle during a 40 minute driving trip on Sunday [XXX]. Prior to the incident on [XXX], the same issue had occurred occasionally while driving but with less frequency compared to [XXX]. This issue was brought to the attention of Tesla service center in Syosset NY on [XXX] and I have been told that it was a firmware issue and there was nothing they could do at the moment other than waiting for firmware update. 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
#11602628July 16, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Turn signal buttons on steering wheel fail to activate turn signals at times. Intermittent problem. When it works, I can feel a click from the button. When it doesn’t work, no haptic feedback received.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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