Tesla Model 3 Complaints

2,178 consumer complaints on file.

#11718376February 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While I was making a left turn my steering wheel suddenly got stuck. A vehicle almost hit me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718285February 16, 2026
SUSPENSION
A bolt securing the rear subframe assembly is loose and missing its nut. This condition has caused damage to the rear subframe assembly, which now requires replacement. The vehicle was inspected by a licensed dealer who confirmed on video that no impact damage, scraping, bending, or collision damage is present on any surrounding components. The only affected area is the bolt and nut connection point. The dealer's professional assessment is that this is consistent with a factory assembly defect — either the nut was never installed or was not properly torqued during manufacturing. No routine service or alignment would require access to this fastener. Tesla's service records for this VIN should confirm no prior work has been performed in this area, meaning the fastener has not been touched since the vehicle left the factory. Factory-installed suspension bolts of this type are typically secured with a locking mechanism or thread locker; a properly installed nut does not detach through normal vehicle operation. This constitutes a safety defect. A rear subframe fastener that was not properly secured at the factory could lead to suspension component failure, loss of vehicle control, and a serious accident. Tesla's service center has denied warranty coverage for this repair despite the vehicle being within its warranty period, citing that "a manufacturing defect would have presented itself earlier" and that because I am not the original owner, they "don't know what might have happened." Tesla quoted $2,812.49 to replace the damaged rear subframe assembly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717870February 13, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECURRING 12V LOW-VOLTAGE SYSTEM FAILURE AND DEFECTIVE REAR DEFROSTER HEATER GRID VEHICLE: 2022 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [XXX] ). ODOMETER: 114,093 miles at time of third service visit. SUMMARY OF DEFECT: Vehicle has experienced recurring low-voltage (12V) system alerts since late December 2025. The 12V battery has been replaced three times by Tesla service. After each replacement, the low-voltage alerts return within days. Tesla's diagnostic system detected a DCR (DC resistance) reading of 16.8 milliohms against a threshold of 16 milliohms, indicating the battery's internal resistance is too high for the vehicle's electrical system to function properly. A brand-new 12V battery showed "Degraded - Replace" status within one week of installation. These low-voltage errors did not exist before Tesla replaced the 12V battery during the first service visit. DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS: During the third service visit (February 2026), Tesla technician performed a resistance check on the rear defroster heater grid and described it as "out of spec but not significantly." Ground straps were also described as "out of spec but again not significantly." The technician stated there was "no smoking gun yet" and it was "maybe a combination of all leading to the 12V warning." Tesla proposed replacing the rear backlight glass at a cost of $1,265 to the customer. Additionally, severe rodent damage was discovered in the front wiring harness with chewed wires and nesting material. Despite this confirmed damage to the electrical system, the service manager stated the rodent damage was "not associated with the error" while the technician simultaneously stated there was no confirmed root cause. SAFETY CONCERN: The recurring 12V low-voltage condition presents a safety risk. The 12V system powers critical vehicle functions including exterior lighting, hazard lights, door locks, windows, the vehicle's computer systems, and safety features. Repeated system alerts include DIF_a018_hwLVSupplyUV (ha INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717809February 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
HVAC system which provides cooling/heating for all the systems including the powertrain, battery, inverters, Full-Self Driving computer malfunctions randomly shutting itself off due to a known issue of failing pressure and temperature sensors. Tesla is aware of this issue where the sensors may fail prematurely and in 2021 they issued a service bulletin SB-21-18-002. I was told It would be fixed with a software update... In other words it was never fixed. Now my car says that cooling and heating may randomly be unavailable due to invalid readings from the pressure and temperature sensors. They want me to pay to have the sensors replaced despite them acknowledging that they have a defect causing premature failure. This issue is safety related because in the event that I was supercharging and the HVAC system shuts down it could potentially lead to a battery fire or thermal runaway. Not to mention that the car left me without heat in subzero temperatures on a roadtrip.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717616February 12, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
COMPONENT: Battery and Charging System SUMMARY: 2023 Tesla Model 3 Long Range lost 15% battery capacity (345→300 miles) in 2 months at 9,816 miles. Comparison vehicle shows this is a defect, not normal wear. DESCRIPTION: Vehicle: 2023 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, VIN: [insert VIN], 9,816 miles Defect: Between September 2025 and November 2025, displayed range at 100% charge dropped from 345 miles to 300 miles—a 15% loss in just 2 months. Evidence This Is A Defect: I own a second 2023 Model 3 (base model) with 66,680 miles that only dropped from 272→260 miles (4.4% loss). The Long Range with 7x FEWER miles has 3x MORE degradation, indicating a battery pack defect. Service Refusal: Tesla Service ran “range analysis” but refuses to test battery capacity or check for dead cells. Only provided scripted responses about EPA vs real-world driving, which doesn’t explain why my high-mileage vehicle has healthier batteries. Safety Concern: Rapid cell degradation may indicate failing cells, thermal management defect, or fire risk. Unpredictable range loss creates stranding risk. Request: Investigate 2023 Model 3 LR battery packs for systemic defects. Require Tesla to perform cell-level diagnostics and replace defective packs. Documentation available upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717070February 10, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Tesla has completely removed the rear door manual release latch in my late 2023 Model 3 Performance. This elevates the concern of the ongoing NHTSA Defect Petition DP25002 (opened December 2025), which investigates similar issues with emergency egress controls on Model 3 vehicles, citing them as "hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive." Again, in my late 2023 Model 3 Performance, these are entirely absent in the design. For some reason, Tesla has doubled down on the defect issue and completely removed the manual door release mechanism.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716718February 9, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving with the Autonomous Self Driving feature activated in rainy weather, the vehicle suddenly turned towards the left onto railroad tracks. The contact regained control of the vehicle and was able to drive off the railroad tracks. The tires and rims were damaged due to the failure. The vehicle was taken for repairs, and the tires and rims were replaced, and an alignment was scheduled to be performed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 14,469.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716577February 8, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) drove the vehicle onto a curb inadvertently, a few days after a software update. The incident caused a scratch to the wheel and a cut in the tire. Tesla has refused to cover the repair, stating that FSD requires driver attention. The issue is that the vehicle had never driven into a curb on a 90-degree turn before. I had my hands on the wheel and did not anticipate the software making an incorrect decision and striking the curb. Full Self-Driving was engaged at the time, and the software made an incorrect calculation that resulted in the impact. Tesla should replace the damaged tire and repair the wheel. I have the 1 min recording of the incident but could not upload the video due ot its size being more than 10 MB.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716471February 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There is no manual door release for rear doors in the Tesla model 3 RWD. This can pose a safety issue if the car has no power and passengers need to evacuate the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715697February 4, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
I wrote several months ago about my 2021 tesla model 3 that the rear doors do not have any mechanical door handle release and is a big safety concern also how can a manufacturer get away with this and also not informing the consumer that anyone sat in the back may perish if involved in a accident and can't get out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715178February 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Full self driving system (fsd) has ran a red light twice. It slows almost to a stop then takes off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715170February 2, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When cabin heat is enabled, visible vapor/smoke emits from the front trunk area under the windshield cowl and is pulled directly into the cabin through the HVAC intake. The vapor has a chemical/sweet odor consistent with coolant or refrigerant. Smoke enters the passenger compartment, especially when stopped or idling. This occurs repeatedly in cold temperatures and stops immediately when HVAC heat is turned off. No warning lights appear. This appears to be a heat pump or coolant system leak upstream of the cabin intake, allowing chemical fumes to enter the cabin air stream. Occupants are exposed to fumes while driving. This is a safety concern due to inhalation risk and lack of driver warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714778February 1, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Horn does not work properly during heavy rain and/or splashing from ordinary puddles. The sound produced by the horn is barely audible for a couple of hours until presumably it dries out. Service center declined to repair the problem as they could not reproduce it with their tests. Service center acknowledged that it is a known problem but Tesla has not provided a fix. No warning messages occured during the problem, which occured during two separate rain events,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713633January 27, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
am reporting an issue involving unexplained cracking of my Tesla windshield with no known impact or debris strike. Last night at approximately 6:20 PM, while in Chapel Hill, NC, I entered my vehicle and noticed a crack on the driver’s side of the windshield. The outside temperature at that time was about 28°F. There was no audible rock strike and I have no recollection of anything hitting the glass. The morning low temperature was approximately 14°F. To my awareness, the passenger-side crack was not present earlier that morning. Approximately 15 minutes ([XXX]EDT) before writing this statement, I was seated in the passenger seat and noticed a second crack on the passenger side. The temperature had risen to about 34°F. Again, there was no strike event that I recall while driving or parked. Both cracks appeared within a short time span during an unusually cold period with temperature changes between 14°F and 34°F. The passenger crack visually resembles an impact point, but I cannot identify any incident that would have caused it. My concern is that these cracks may indicate thermal stress, structural flex, a material defect, or bonding/installation issue. Windshield failure without impact presents a safety hazard due to reduced visibility and potential compromise of structural integrity during a collision. I am requesting that NHTSA document and evaluate this issue for potential safety implications. 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
#11713524January 27, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Tesla’s Obstruction of Repairs Tesla deleted my original service complaint and annotations regarding these delivery defects. The associated service appointment was cancelled without notice or rescheduling. No repairs were performed despite the issues being raised during the warranty period. This prevented reasonable repair attempts and allowed the defects to persist. Current Nonconformities and Repair History The same or substantially similar defects continue and have worsened: • Recurring misalignment/alignment issues from delivery, impairing value and potentially safety. • Safety-related camera system failures: Persistent error codes on the camera(s) [specify if known, e.g., front/rear/ADAS-related], reducing visibility and affecting safe operation (e.g., backup, navigation, Autopilot/FSD if equipped). These are known Tesla issues potentially subject to recall (e.g., rearview camera display loss). • Power windows failure: Unresolved for at least 2 weeks despite service request; windows do not operate properly, impairing use and safety (e.g., emergency egress). Cumulative out-of-service time and failed repair attempts (including the obstructed initial one) meet or approach presumptions under § 1793.22(b): multiple attempts for the same nonconformities, with safety impacts. The vehicle remains nonconforming despite reasonable opportunity for Tesla to repair. nonconformities in the above vehicle that qualify it as a “lemon” under California Civil Code §§ 1793.2(d) and 1793.22 (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act). These defects originated at delivery, were reported within the express warranty period, but Tesla failed to repair them—by deleting my original service complaint, annotating delivery issues without resolution, and cancelling the associated appointment—preventing conformity to warranty. The same issues persist and recur post-warranty expiration, substantially impairing the vehicle’s use, value, and safety
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713076January 24, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The driver’s side belt makes a “click” sound when latch is inserted into the locking component but at times does NOT remain lock and the belt is released shortly after. The issue is sporadic. The belt is released with a low amount of force i.e. adjusting the body in the seat or twisting body to look over the shoulder
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712810January 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Screen is black and no app access. No power to accelerate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712202January 20, 2026
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I purchased a 2024 Tesla Model 3 a little over a year ago. Recently, and after an update, myself, and other drivers in my life, noticed the self-driving feature was malfunctioning - to the point I used the audio reporting feature to report this problem twice to Tesla. The car would veer off the road when flasing lights appeared and would jerk suddenly for no reason when it thought there was a obstruction in the road (sticks, plastic bags, etc.). Last month this malfunction has caused an accident, and my car has been totaled, my insurance will not cover it, and I have been advised by two separate attorneys to sue. This has been litigated in court with lawsuits against Tesla (See Benavides v. Tesla; see also IN RE: TESLA ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS LITIGATION). I had notified Telsa twice of this issue, the car left the lane and did not notice a concrete barrier on the left side going north on I-95 in or around Broward County. To my knowledge no one has inspected the car. I was not warned that this car would cause an accident, the problem first appeared when I reported the issue using the voice reporting feature around November 2025. It is currently located at a tow facility in Broward County, FL and can be inspected there.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11711847January 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The high-voltage traction battery pack has failed twice on my 2021 Tesla Model 3, both times while the vehicle was under the original battery warranty. The failures occurred on: • 08/30/2022 at approximately 15,100 miles • 11/08/2025 at approximately 57,222 miles The exact error code by Tesla was bms_a079, which doesn’t let the vehicle charge at all. The vehicle was drivable before the battery depleted. The defect has been reproduced, confirmed, and repaired by the manufacturer twice, but the same critical system has failed again after replacement, raising concern of a recurring defect. The failed component is the high-voltage battery pack. The component was inspected by Tesla, and in both cases Tesla confirmed battery failure and replaced the entire HV battery pack with a remanufactured unit under warranty. The failed components were retained by Tesla and are available for inspection by the manufacturer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711565January 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On January 16, 2026, I noticed the vehicle's horn was extremely quiet and would not be audible to another driver. This puts the safety of the Tesla driver and other roadway users at risk because another driver or pedestrian would not hear the horn if the Tesla driver needed to get their attention. This problem occurred after receiving approximately 6-8 inches of snow and driving in the snow. It is possible the design of the Tesla allows for snow/rain to block the horn speaker causing it to not function correctly during and after snow/rain conditions. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I've submitted a service request via the Tesla app. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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