2020 Tesla MODEL 3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
449 owner complaints analyzed
21 distinct recall campaigns
3,650 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 107 of 449 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 145 | 32.3% |
| Steering behavior | 54 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 1.1% |
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 | 107 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 82 |
| Unknown Or Other | 81 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 67 |
| Service Brakes | 46 |
| Steering | 45 |
| Suspension | 45 |
| Electrical System | 38 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 107; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 82; Unknown Or Other: 81; Vehicle Speed Control: 67; Service Brakes: 46; Steering: 45; Suspension: 45; Electrical System: 38
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 59 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 59; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (59). 373 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 | 3 |
| 2020 | 33 |
| 2021 | 35 |
| 2022 | 115 |
| 2023 | 94 |
| 2024 | 85 |
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2026 | 40 |
2019: 3; 2020: 33; 2021: 35; 2022: 115; 2023: 94; 2024: 85; 2025: 44; 2026: 40
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 145 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 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 11291194 · 2019-12-25 (December 25, 2019)
DRIVING IN FREEWAY FAST LANE IN LIGHT TRAFFIC AT 10:30 AM ON OVERCAST MORNING WITH TESLA ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 70 MPH AND 4-CAR FOLLOWING DISTANCE. THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED 1 LANE TO THE RIGHT LEAVING NO CARS AHEAD. MY CAR ACCELERATED GENTLY TO 70 AND THEN AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED (OR WENT TO REGENERATION) AND SLOWED INSTANTLY TO ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE ACCELERATOR AND RETURN TO SURROUNDING TRAFFIC SPEED AND MOVE RIGHT TO THE NEXT LANE AND RECOVERED FROM THE SHOCK AND SURPRISE OF WHAT OTHER …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297042 · 2020-01-04 (January 4, 2020)
THE AUTO STEER IN MY TESLA MODEL 3 FAILED TODAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING ON A CURVY DOWNHILL ROAD. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THE LANE MARKINGS ON THE RIGHT SIDE ENDED JUST BEFORE THE CURBING STARTED. THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT AND HIT THE CURB BRUSHING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT IF I HADN'T TAKEN OVER. AUTO STEER TECHNOLOGY IS NOT YET READY FOR USE ON ALL THE ROADS AND IT SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED BY DEFAULT IN ALL THE TESLA MODELS. MY CAR DID NOT BRAKE BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ON. I AM STILL IN SHOCK AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363279 · 2020-10-07 (October 7, 2020)
MODEL 3 MAKES A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. IT DOES HAPPEN WHEN YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND STAND STILL ON HOLD. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING NOR WHILE IN PARK.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366213 · 2020-10-24 (October 24, 2020)
HERE IS A 2020 TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37237764?ROWNUMBER=40 THE FRONT WHEEL HAS GONE WHOMPY. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE POPPED OUT BUT WORSE STILL THE STEERING ARM HAS SNAPPED OFF FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. LOOKS LIKE THE USUAL FRACTURE OF A LOW QUALITY ALLOY CASTING. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL CRASH. ELON MUSK BLAMES CHINESE DRIVERS FOR DRIVING IT WRONG. THIS ONE IS IN MIAMI NOT CHINA. PERHAPS ELON WILL BLAME THIS ONE ON A LATINO ALSO DRIVING IT WRONG. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO TAKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11327846 · 2020-06-08 (June 8, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT. DUE TO THE FAILURE, CONDENSATION FORMED INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT SOCKET WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT TO BE DIM. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED A CONCERN THAT THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING PORT WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE TAILLIGHT REPLACED, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11397146 · 2021-02-20 (February 20, 2021)
HERE IS A 2020 TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/39123018?TENANT=US&ROWNUMBER=1 THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS. THE WHEEL IS DISPLACED BACKWARD SO THAT THE TIRE IS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME AND THE BATTERY. THE TREAD ON THAT TIRE IS WORN AWAY WHICH IS AN INDICATION THAT IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING AND BEFORE THE WHOLE SHEMOZZLE TURNED TO FECULENCE. THIS IS NOT GOOD. THIS IS NOT GOOD AT ALL. IF IT IS NOT TOO MUCH BOTHER FOR YOU WOULD YOU MAKE INQUIRIES INTO WHY…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11306855 · 2020-02-03 (February 3, 2020)
WHEN I SHIFT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND USE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD AND IT WORKS FINE. WHEN I RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATE AND REQUIRES ME TO BRAKE. THIS OCCURS AT LOW SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO TESLA AND THEY SAID USER ERROR. THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES WHEN I SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11306855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11460984 · 2022-04-16 (April 16, 2022)
Shift stalk also serves as fsd disengagement- to Shift into reverse with a regular car, it’s a very explicit mechanical shift with either the manual or automatic gear box. So consider this scenario where I nearly back crashed into the car behind me. In fsd, it can be disengaged either by 1) braking, (2) breaking torque with the steering wheel or (3) lifting the gear selector stick. So, I arrive at a stop light, I brake because fsd driving is producing an alarm that it came too close to the car in front of me (not me, fsd too close). Being human…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11460984 at NHTSA ↗