2022 Tesla MODEL 3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
764 owner complaints analyzed
18 distinct recall campaigns
4,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 model year. Data snapshot: . 58 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 389 of 764 complaints (50.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 454 | 59.4% |
| Steering behavior | 55 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 28 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 0.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 0.3% |
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 | 389 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 306 |
| Service Brakes | 166 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 165 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 91 |
| Unknown Or Other | 91 |
| Electrical System | 50 |
| Steering | 36 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 389; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 306; Service Brakes: 166; Vehicle Speed Control: 165; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 91; Unknown Or Other: 91; Electrical System: 50; Steering: 36
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 706 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 443 |
| 2023 | 140 |
| 2024 | 73 |
| 2025 | 61 |
| 2026 | 37 |
2021: 10; 2022: 443; 2023: 140; 2024: 73; 2025: 61; 2026: 37
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 454 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 28 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 11442690 · 2021-12-04 (December 4, 2021)
Forward collision avoidance system triggered 4 separate times in a 70 minute/60 mile drive on a stretch of highway and rural roads. The highway consists of 40 miles of divided and undivided highway, with up to 2 lanes per side. Occasionally, the undivided section has center turning lanes. Junctions and turnoffs are common. 3 incidents of forward collision detection automatic braking were triggered by semi trucks in the oncoming lanes on 1 lane per side undivided highway. The vehicle automatically applied the brakes, taking the vehicle from rou…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442803 · 2021-12-06 (December 6, 2021)
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with the cruise control activated, the vehicle would independently brake with the Forward Collision Avoidance warning chime being audible. The contact stated that the failure would occur when oncoming large vehicles or as another vehicle in the opposite lane would drive past the vehicle. The contact called a service center where an appointment was made; however, the contact received an email that informed him that the appointment was cancelled. The co…
Owner-reported narrative. 16 miles reported. Look up ODI 11442803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11443709 · 2021-12-13 (December 13, 2021)
While driving on freeway at 75mph the car for unknown reasons applied braking and steering and brought the car down to 45mph before I could disengage the autopilot function. This has happened multiple times with just cruise control and both cruise control/steering. All instances happened for unknown reasons, sometimes on a 2 lane highway or multiple lane freeway with nobody around except behind me. I had a very difficult time controlling the car when this happens and the vehicle behind me had to slam on their brakes and swerve around me. Th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11448951 · 2022-01-26 (January 26, 2022)
On 1/24/22: 9:11 am eastbound Redden Road east of Bridgeville, DE. This is flat terrain with mostly open fields on east side of the road. On a straight Regular 2 lane road, center yellow strips and white edging. West bound truck triggered braking and swerve to left. 9:14 Another truck and same circumstances further east and same result. Turned off steering assist and cruise control. 10:42 westbound on Redden Road roughly same area. Truck eastbound. Slight braking 150 yards in front of me then brakes slammed on while passing each other. Br…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11448951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11448347 · 2022-01-21 (January 21, 2022)
Last night I plugged in the car (2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range) as I normally do and, via the Tesla app, scheduled the car cabin to be heated and the battery to be pre-conditioned by a specified time. When I entered the car at that time, the cabin had not heated up - the message on the display screen stated that the cabin heater was not functioning properly and that I should seek service. The temperature here in northern Wisconsin at the time of this incident was -13 F. Since I had planned to take a long trip across Michigan's Upper Peninsula t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11448347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11451270 · 2022-02-09 (February 9, 2022)
A warning displayed on the screen of the car alerted me to the vehicle having low coolant, recommending that I drive the car to a service center despite being unsafe to do so as the container that recycled the closed loop coolant system was completely empty. The warning caused me to check underneath the vehicle housed in my garage, which displayed a puddle of bluish liquid with a foul smell. There was a leak that was caused by an impact unknown to me to the aero shield protecting the high voltage battery pack. The impact ruptured the coolant li…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11451270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455347 · 2022-03-05 (March 5, 2022)
Drive Unit inverter failed. Yes my safety and the safety of my passenger and drivers behind me was at risk Problem was confirmed by Tesla repair center. They diagnosed this as the problem. No accident happened so no police, insurance reps, etc. Warning lamps came up after the car stalled. Or at least that's when I noticed them. while I was driving the car started jerking and came to a complete stop in traffic. No warning, just stopped. It wouldn't start or roll or anything and I was blocking traffic until I could get Tesla Roadside servic…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11469224 · 2022-06-14 (June 14, 2022)
Driving on freeway, very little traffic, no cars near me. Speed 73 mph. Sudden loss of power, coasting to stop making a lane change and seeking shoulder space. At about 30 mph power was regained. Sudden loss of power. ( electric motor, motor controller, battery or software failure ) Difficult rapid maneuver to get to side of road. Dealer has made an appointment. Nor warning lamps or warning sounds. There was another incident 2 days earlier when the cruise control would not engage. Two trips no cruise control. yellow warning symbol with "Crui…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11469224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11614883 · 2024-09-16 (September 16, 2024)
All has been reported in writing to Tesla Corporate and Tesla Service Center SoDo Seattle, WA. Has not been repaired to date, with multiple attempts to bring car in for service: Emergency brake failed to engage on two occasions, [XXX] it was first reported that the car lost control of steering and emergency brake did not engage. Second time on [XXX]; car would not shift into any gear. Tesla Roadside said to have it towed (we did), Tesla had car for two weeks and did not address issues reported. Tesla has received extensive documentation for bo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11614883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11629438 · 2024-12-07 (December 7, 2024)
The car's steering wheel locked unexpectedly, rendering the vehicle undrivable. Additionally, multiple alerts appeared, indicating that the car's hold feature, traction control, and steering assist were reduced. This issue occurred while the car was parked but still running. When I shifted into drive, the car unintentionally rolled backward, forcing me to press the brake pedal to prevent a collision. If this had happened while driving, it could have resulted in a serious accident.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11629438 at NHTSA ↗