Tesla Model 3 Complaints (2023)

429 consumer complaints on file.

#11565545January 15, 2024
SEATS
When involved in a rear-end collision the drivers seat malfunctioned. It went into a laid down position and twisted causing a back injury.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11564833January 11, 2024
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds and making a turn, the vehicle suddenly accelerated unintendedly. Then the vehicle resumed driving normally. While her husband was driving at unknown speeds and approaching a stop, he crashed into an unknown Tesla. There were no reported injuries. A police report was not filed. There was no fire or air bag deployment. The vehicle was taken to a collision center. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, where an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,048.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11564763January 10, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Once the main battery dies the 12 volt dies within 15 minutes. I ran out of charge on a dark highway. Put on my flashers and within 15 minutes the 12 volt died and so did my emergency flashers. Reason being is Tesla uses the 12 volt for the main battery temperature mgmt which draws a lot of power. So in turn once your main battery dies your emergency flashers only have 10-15 minutes of use This is very dangerous especially being disabled on the side of the road
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11564335January 9, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Repeated "phantom braking". With cruise control engaged and zero traffic in front of the vehicle, false readings on the collision detection system will cause strong, sudden, and unpredictable braking. Highly unsafe particularly in conditions where there is traffic behind the vehicle. In my first 900 miles of driving the vehicle there have been 20-25 of such incidents. When triggered, breaking force is strong and deceleration is sudden.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11564205January 8, 2024
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
The Occupant Classification System (OCS) in the passenger front seat has displayed an error multiple times and airbag turns on even when a toddler sits in seat. I’ve taken it to Tesla twice going a third time this week and have owned the car for three months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11563812January 5, 2024
STEERING
The car lost power steering while driving
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11562929January 1, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Driving down the highway on a clear day with nothing in front of me, with adaptive cruise control turned on, the car suddenly started braking as if it was in full regen braking. I had to hit the accelerator pedal to override the braking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11562742December 30, 2023
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
Car at low mileage started having suspension issues and felt out of alignment. Took car to Goodyear where they found car was out of alignment as of car was not set up correctly at factory when made. Goodyear spend a few hours fixing alignment and tire setup. Car is having issues again
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11562430December 28, 2023
AIR BAGS
I was rear ended and pushed into the car in front of me. My car was totaled and no airbags went off.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11562401December 28, 2023
ENGINE
The contact rented a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50-60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The Engine Lost Power message was displayed, instructing the contact to pull over immediately; unable to drive, exiting and re-entering the vehicle may restore operation. Following the directions, the contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to the destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11561884December 26, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was pulling the car in to a parking lot in a mall. I was driving very slow to bring the car to a halt. All of a sudden the car just accelerated and went and hit a pillar right in front of the parking lot. I don't know what caused the vehicle to suddenly accelerate. I am pretty sure I did not step of the gas pedal. I checked the dashcam for recordings but couldn't find any. We have experienced this sudden unintended acceleration before on the road as well. I think I must have engaged auto-pilot or auto-steer by mistake which caused this.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11561856December 26, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated after leaving the dealer for a previous issue with a locked steering wheel, the contact was driving 50 mph on an entrance ramp as he accelerated to merge onto the highway, the steering wheel seized to the right in non-autopilot mode causing the contact to crash into the guardrail on the right side. The contact injured his neck and received medical attention. The emergency respondent was not called, but the contact obtained a police report. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but remains unrepaired, and needed engineers' diagnosis and legal investigation by Tesla. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,798.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11561449December 22, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Recent recall update makes auto pilot more dangerous and distracting. I am getting alerts while my hands are on the steering wheel and paying attention to the road, which then causes me to take my eyes off the road to see the alert. Which I then get kicked out of autopilot. Was using autopilot and got an alert the max speed was reduced due to road conditions and when I looked at the alert got another alert to pay attention to the road, then was immediately kicked out of autopilot. This is extremely dangerous especially if road conditions are deteriorating and to have to constantly be looking at all the new and frequent alert. The recent recall has made me constantly have to take my eyes off the road. I can even check my side view mirrors without getting a pay attention alert.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11561373December 21, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
So thanks to YOUR interference my Autopilot on my Tesla is broken... You guys THINK you are making our cars safer by getting your controlling poorly educated stupid hands into Tesla systems that are DESIGNED TO BE MORE SAFE. On paper Tesla Autopilot is factually proven to be more safe than a human driver, these reports are publicly available perhaps your team was too lazy to read them. My car disengaged Autopilot randomly while driving with 2 cars behind me and freaked out and told me I was not paying enough attention to the road just because I reached to unlock my phone screen...not even pick it up off the wireless charging pad...just unlocked the screen. So thanks to YOUR agencies interference and forcing Tesla to levy this bogus "recall fix" on us I almost got rear-ended...in the car I work so hard to pay for, the car that I love because it keeps me and my family safe because guess what we are humans and not robots. Just as YOU do and everyone in your agency we ALL have to look at our phones briefly while driving because we live lives where we have to make sure those we love are ok or make sure our phone is charged for when we reach our destination. You are going to do exactly the opposite of your agencies supposed mission of keeping us safe. You will kill people with this stupid "recall". Get your crap together and tell Tesla to reverse Autopilot back to its normal safe operating parameters and STOP BANNING PEOPLE FROM AUTOPILOT otherwise there are going to be a lot more wrecks and deaths. I'm not saying you should be taking duck selfie pictures for social media with your phone while in Autopilot on a rural back road...that person deserves to be a victim of modern natural selection. But what your doing is over-controlling and you have no right to dabble in things you obviously don't understand. Your agency should be ashamed of itself, you are about as efficient as our government is at managing money...FIX IT BACK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11561220December 20, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Subject: Safety Concerns Regarding Recent Model 3 Autopilot Update To Whom It May Concern at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am writing to urgently express my concerns about the latest software update for the Tesla Model 3’s autopilot system, which, in my view, significantly compromises safety. As a Model 3 owner, I have generally found the vehicle and its features to be reliable and safe. However, the recent update has introduced an overly stringent hands-on-wheel detection mechanism that is not only inconvenient but also potentially hazardous. The new update requires frequent and often forceful interaction with the steering wheel to assure the system of driver presence. This change is drastically different from my previous experience, where I received only one hands-on-wheel violation in two years. The current sensitivity of the system disrupts the smooth operation of the autopilot, leading to frequent and abrupt disengagements. I have found myself struggling to maintain the system’s activation, inadvertently causing the vehicle to exit autopilot mode multiple times. This issue goes beyond mere inconvenience; it actively detracts from driving safety. The need for constant and sometimes aggressive adjustments to satisfy the system’s requirements is distracting and can lead to erratic vehicle behavior. The irony is stark: a system designed to enhance driving safety and ease is now a source of potential danger and stress. The unpredictability and over-sensitivity of the updated system could lead to dangerous situations, especially on highways or in heavy traffic, where sudden disengagement of the autopilot can be particularly risky. As a driver, I now find myself more focused on keeping the autopilot engaged than on the actual driving conditions and surroundings, which is surely contrary to the feature’s intended purpose. Please fix this issue. It is bad for everyone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11561073December 20, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Subject: Concerns Over NHTSA-Forced Changes to Tesla Model 3 Autopilot I am a Tesla Model 3 owner writing to express concerns about recent autopilot updates, seemingly implemented following NHTSA directives. These updates have significantly altered the system's operation, leading to potential safety risks. Previously, the autopilot required minimal, intuitive steering interaction. However, the new update, presumably in response to NHTSA's safety requirements, demands frequent and forceful steering inputs. This has caused abrupt and frequent accidental autopilot disengagements, a stark contrast to my earlier, safer experiences. It is extremely dangerous when it is not clear to the driver that the system has been disengaged and the nags from the system frequently cause accidental disengagements that don't always get noticed by the driver who is more focused on paying attention to the road than the screen. The heightened sensitivity of the system is not only inconvenient but hazardous. The need for constant, sometimes aggressive adjustments is distracting and can result in unpredictable vehicle behavior. Ironically, a system designed for safety is now a source of danger and stress. In heavy traffic or on highways, the risk of sudden autopilot disengagement has increased, diverting my attention from driving conditions to maintaining system engagement. This is contrary to the autopilot's intended purpose. I urge the NHTSA to reevaluate these changes. It appears the effort to enhance driver engagement has compromised the autopilot's operational safety. Modifications are essential to prevent potential accidents and ensure the system aids in driving safety, rather than detracting from it. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. Sincerely, [XXX] 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
#11561030December 20, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The most current "safety" recall software 2023.44.30 which made the autopilot more alert to the driver has made the car less safe. Before the update, autopilot would work as intended and kept the car safe in the lane. Now, even when doing everything correctly, I get nothing but alerts which takes my attention away from the road. The car was safer before the mandatory government update. Honestly not surprised that NHTSA made the car less safe. Let Tesla do what's best for their cars, they had it working great before you got involved. Thanks.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11561004December 19, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Autopilot now requires so much force to confirm you have your hands on the wheel it’s disengages causing rapid deceleration and steering into the other lane or shoulder. Also requires confirmation at times when the driver should be looking at mirrors when passing etc instead of watching the display.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11560965December 19, 2023
SEAT BELTS
After Tesla upgraded their insurance driving behavior to raise rate when the driver side seat belt is not engaged; the car doesn’t warn the driver through visual or audio alert about driver side seat belt not engaged. The car clearly indicates if any of the passenger seat is not engaged; but not for driver side. I had driven for many miles until I realized seat belt was not engaged and car never alerted me. I have already created a service request with Tesla but I feel this is just not an isolated incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11560473December 16, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent rear drive unit internal part failure in my new Tesla Model 3. The incident has left me fearful that this issue may occur again, and I am genuinely worried for my safety. I implore you and all the employees at Tesla to be honest and transparent about this defect or failure. The gravity of the situation became apparent when I realized how fortunate I was that the car did not come to a halt on the train tracks. The potential consequences could have been catastrophic, not only for myself but also for the passengers on the train. It is alarming to think that such a dangerous situation could arise in a vehicle that is merely five months old. This level of negligence is unacceptable. The rear drive unit failed and the car stopped. I was instructed to reset. I did it twice but still not working. I am lucky it happened on a not busy street and was able to steer the car to the side of the road before it became disabled.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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