2023 Tesla MODEL 3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
417 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
3,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 111 of 417 complaints (26.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 159 | 38.1% |
| Steering behavior | 94 | 22.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 0.7% |
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 | 111 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 95 |
| Steering | 84 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 66 |
| Unknown Or Other | 57 |
| Service Brakes | 52 |
| Electrical System | 45 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 30 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 111; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 95; Steering: 84; Vehicle Speed Control: 66; Unknown Or Other: 57; Service Brakes: 52; Electrical System: 45; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 30
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 378 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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 211 |
| 2024 | 104 |
| 2025 | 55 |
| 2026 | 36 |
2022: 11; 2023: 211; 2024: 104; 2025: 55; 2026: 36
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 159 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 94 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 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 11493392 · 2022-11-13 (November 13, 2022)
Picked up car from the dealership same day and had only 40 miles total on odometer. The car was running smooth. I was driving with my daughter in the passenger seat (12 yrs old) and got 2 error codes and my car went limp in the carpool lane. Basically went into neutral. Deceleration from 75mph .I had to avoid cars next to me to get to the shoulder and was driving at most 30-40 mph hoping a car would not slam into my rear. By the grace of God I made it to the shoulder safely. “Acceleration and Top Speed Reduced” and “Automatic Emergency Braking …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11493392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11494121 · 2022-11-18 (November 18, 2022)
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model-3. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and abruptly stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there were no vehicles or objects around the vehicle at the time of the failure. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and was able to continue driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the forward Collison Avoidance camera might need to…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11494121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11520126 · 2023-05-02 (May 2, 2023)
The steering wheel was received misaligned from the factory. When the steering wheel is held straight the vehicle veers to the left.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11520126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11520382 · 2023-05-04 (May 4, 2023)
During a road trip, autopilot started pulling to the left and right because the autopilot was struggling to center the car in the lane. Driving without autopilot showed that the car was pulling to one side. A wheel alignment by Firestone showed alignment specs consistent with a strike, however the car was not actually struck during the trip. The rims and wheel look intact and brand new, without cracks or bubbles. A visit to the Tesla service center showed that the right hand rear control arm has an enlarged hole, indicating abnormal wear and te…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11520382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523987 · 2023-05-26 (May 26, 2023)
2023 Tesla Model 3- Consumer wrote about comparison of braking mode to non-EV's, experience driving a rented EV (Electrical Vehicle) w/ braking mode and suggestions to make EV's braking mode safer. When EV's accelerator is NOT pressed the EV goes into regenerative braking mode. No brake lights are triggered because brake pedal wasn't pressed. Consumer listed two "real world dangers". Consumer recommendation- The regenerative braking of EV's should also trigger brake lights notifying vehicles behind the EV that the pace of the vehicle is slowing…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11534463 · 2023-07-25 (July 25, 2023)
The rear door jammed shut. It would not open and we discovered there is no mechanical way for a passenger to open the back doors of a Tesla model 3. The car’s electrical system has to be on and functioning properly in order to exit from the back. This is terrifying.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11534463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11527936 · 2023-06-20 (June 20, 2023)
The contact's son owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 386.
Owner-reported narrative. 386 miles reported. Look up ODI 11527936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11535812 · 2023-08-01 (August 1, 2023)
I just read an article on Yahoo Finance detailing steering issues with a few Tesla Model 3 and Model Y's. This issue involves loss of steering completely or loss of power steering. Additionally the screen says "power steering is reduced or disabled". Well, I had this exact thing happen to me. I bought the car on May 6, 2023. Two weeks later, May 20th, I went to leave the house and my Model 3 had no steering. I literally could not turn the steering wheel and the screen said "power steering is reduced or disabled". I tried everything to f…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11535812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11590171 · 2024-05-22 (May 22, 2024)
I was turning onto a busy street and the car suddenly stopped and would not respond to the gas pedal. A message said "shift into drive". I had been driving for about a mile already and had not touched the shifter. I then tried to shift into drive and it would not change. I tried multiple times. I then opened the driver door, shut the door, pressed the break to put in my pin, and then it would shift into drive. This was very dangerous as it stopped with the car partially in the road. Luckily there were no cars around.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11590171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11686613 · 2025-09-11 (September 11, 2025)
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the front trunk opened inadvertently, blocking the visibility of the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had recurred several times upon shifting to drive(D), which required the contact to exit the vehicle and manually close the trunk. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla service center and to Tesla Service Sunnyvale(680 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087), where unknown repairs were performed several times; however, the fa…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11686613 at NHTSA ↗