2019 Tesla MODEL 3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
610 owner complaints analyzed
22 distinct recall campaigns
10,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 134 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 125 of 610 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 135 | 22.1% |
| Steering behavior | 65 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 55 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 125 |
| Electrical System | 85 |
| Air Bags | 82 |
| Suspension | 82 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 77 |
| Unknown Or Other | 77 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 70 |
| Lane Departure: Assist | 60 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 125; Electrical System: 85; Air Bags: 82; Suspension: 82; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 77; Unknown Or Other: 77; Vehicle Speed Control: 70; Lane Departure: Assist: 60
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 94 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 94; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (94). 476 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2021 | 44 |
| 2022 | 166 |
| 2023 | 103 |
| 2024 | 109 |
| 2025 | 54 |
| 2026 | 45 |
2019: 32; 2020: 57; 2021: 44; 2022: 166; 2023: 103; 2024: 109; 2025: 54; 2026: 45
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 135 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 55 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11228522 · 2019-06-30 (June 30, 2019)
WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE AND A VEHICLE CROSSES MY TRAFFIC LANE FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO POSE NO HAZARD TO ME, MY CAR SLOWS VERY SUDDENLY. THIS SLOWING FOR NO APPARENT REASON PUTS ME IN DANGER OF BEING REAR-ENDED BY FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. A SIMILAR SLOW DOWN HAPPENS IF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MAKES A RIGHT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET AND MY CARS SLOWS DRAMATICALLY EVEN IF THERE IS NO REASON TO BRAKE; AGAIN CREATING A DANGER OF REAR END COLLISION.
Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11246677 · 2019-08-27 (August 27, 2019)
I WAS MOVING FORWARD AT ~15 MPH OVER A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS ON A CITY STREET WHEN BOTH ELECTRIC MOTORS STOPPED WORKING BRINGING US TO A HALT ON THE TRACKS. THE CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO NEUTRAL TO ALLOW IT TO BE PUSHED OFF OF THE TRACKS NOR WOULD IT RELEASE THE BRAKES UNTIL PUT INTO TOW MODE WHICH REQUIRED 4-5 PEOPLE TO PUSH AT THAT POINT. THERE WERE NO STEPS DISPLAYED TO GET THE CAR INTO A MODE THAT WOULD ALLOW IT TO MOVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,028 miles reported. Look up ODI 11246677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11290459 · 2019-12-21 (December 21, 2019)
MODEL 3 WITH SNAPPED OFF FRONT SUSPENSION. HTTPS://POCTRA.COM/2019-TESLA-MODEL-3/ID-BXL6PUF0QJYECCJY/MARTINEZ-CA/PHOTOS ALL BALL-JOINTS SNAPPED. ALLOY STEERING KNUCKLE CRACKED IN HALF. ISAME OLD THING. OVER AND OVER. HOW MANY EXAMPLES DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11290459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297939 · 2020-01-08 (January 8, 2020)
MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING WIRE ISSUES RESULTING IN ERROR MESSAGES SUCH AS "POWER REDUCED, FRONT MOTOR DISABLED, ETC" THAT DISABLE SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS THE TURNING SIGNALS AND ISSUES WITH BRAKING AND STEERING. THE VEHICLE WILL POWER OFF/SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND RESTART. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS AND OTHER THAN NOTIFYING ME THAT THERE ARE "WIRE ISSUES," TESLA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OR FIX IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221856 · 2019-06-22 (June 22, 2019)
THIS IS FOR THE 2019 TESLA MODEL 3. PART NUMBER 1131205-00-C >PP-GF20< LOCATED IN THE FRUNK (FRONT TRUNK AREA) NEAR THE AIR INLET / 12VOLT BATTERY. I REMOVE THE SHROUD PART ABOVE THE ARE INLET AND BATTERY AND NOTICED THERE WAS PLAY (UP/DOWN) MOTION BY A PANEL FASTENER. UPON CLOSER OBSERVATION , I FOUND THE NOTED PART LISTED ABOVE PARTIAL BROKEN OFF HOLDING ON TO ONE OF THE VERY THIN ATTACHMENT POINTS. I BELIEVE THIS PART IS TO HOLE THE SHROUD MATING/FASTENING PART UP BY RESTING ON THE LOWER PART ASSEMBLY. AS YOU SEE IN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11266187 · 2019-10-04 (October 4, 2019)
I JUST BOUGHT THE NEW TESLA MODEL 3 LAST WEEK FOR LONG RUN BATTERY BUT IT'S NOT GIVING ME FULL RANG OF MILES AND DROPPING CRAZY AMOUNT OF BATTERY . THE WAY TESLA IS TELLING THE PEOPLE ABOUT MILEAGE , IT'S NOT WORKING THAT WAY , I HAVE LONG RANG MILEAGE AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO GIVE 310 MILEAGE AFTER FULL CHARGE AND THAT'S ONLY REASON I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE EVERY DAY I'M DRIVING AROUND 200 TO 270 MILEAGE . BUT TRUE IS IT NOT GIVING ME THAT MILEAGE AT ALL AND JUST GIVING ME ONLY 230TO 250 ALL TOGETHER AFTER MY FULL CHARGE WHOLE NIGHT , AND S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11266187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11515905 · 2023-04-07 (April 7, 2023)
The lane keeping assistance will send the car jerking left or right without reason or warning. (I’m not sure if the car is reacting to a shadow on the road or for some other reason.). This has occurred a number of times with an abrupt and violent movement. The last time this occurred was at around 6:50pm on Wednesday April 5, 2023 while driving westbound approaching the northernmost Palm Beach Island bridge. The car made a violent and completely unnecessary shift out of the lane and I had to make a forceful corrective steering response that s…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11515905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11622793 · 2024-10-30 (October 30, 2024)
I am submitting a complaint regarding an unresolved safety issue with the front passenger restraint system in my 2019 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [XXX] ). Since February 2024, I have encountered recurring alerts for this system, despite multiple service visits to address it. Service History and Concerns: The initial repair attempt on February 27, 2024, involved Tesla replacing the Occupant Classification System (OCS) filter module. However, the alert returned shortly after, showing the issue was not resolved. On October 14, 2024, I returned to Tesla, …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11622793 at NHTSA ↗