vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Tesla MODEL 3 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4,285 owner complaints analyzed

36 distinct recall campaigns

11,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2017 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 586 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,204 of 4,285 complaints (28.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1,49534.9%
Steering behavior54812.8%
Electrical and battery issues2906.8%
Engine operation260.6%
Transmission and shifting240.6%

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.

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1,204
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
940
Unknown Or Other
688
Vehicle Speed Control
618
Service Brakes
554
Electrical System
498
Steering
386
Suspension
363
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control1204
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking940
Unknown Or Other688
Vehicle Speed Control618
Service Brakes554
Electrical System498
Steering386
Suspension363

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1,204; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 940; Unknown Or Other: 688; Vehicle Speed Control: 618; Service Brakes: 554; Electrical System: 498; Steering: 386; Suspension: 363

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
410
25,000 to 49,999
94
50,000 to 74,999
47
75,000 to 99,999
25
100,000 to 149,999
10
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000410
25,000 to 49,99994
50,000 to 74,99947
75,000 to 99,99925
100,000 to 149,99910
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 410; 25,000 to 49,999: 94; 50,000 to 74,999: 47; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (410). 3,699 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.

2018
30
2019
98
2020
155
2021
236
2022
1,303
2023
866
2024
731
2025
510
2026
356
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201830
201998
2020155
2021236
20221303
2023866
2024731
2025510
2026356

2018: 30; 2019: 98; 2020: 155; 2021: 236; 2022: 1,303; 2023: 866; 2024: 731; 2025: 510; 2026: 356

Pattern summary

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1,495 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 548 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 290 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 11445122 · 2021-12-27 (December 27, 2021)

Tesla vehicles have driver profiles to adjust seats automatically when a driver taps the brake pedal after entering the vehicle. A recent software update 2021.44.25.2 took away any on-screen indication of what profile the car is trying to set the seats to. There is no longer an on-screen STOP button, nor does a menu pop up giving a driver a chance to select a different profile. The result is that a driver has no expectation that seats might continue to move past the expected point, and since there's no longer an on-screen STOP button, nor way…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11445122 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11446684 · 2022-01-07 (January 7, 2022)

Essentially all of the safety and convenience features repeatedly shut off. Lane departure, autopilot, regenerative braking, VSC, emergency braking, airbags, traction control, automatic vehicle hold, stability control, and a few others stopped working on multiple occasions. This definitely put my life and my family's life at risk. The problems were reproduced and confirmed by the dealer and the vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer. All of the warning lamps and messages only popped up when the failure occurred. Tesla initially "fixed" a…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11446684 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11414426 · 2021-04-29 (April 29, 2021)

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT RECEIVED A SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD CALLED EMERGENCY LANE DEPARTURE AVOIDANCE WHICH IS TESLA'S FANCY NAME FOR A LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THEIR SERVICE CENTERS 3 TIMES TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BECAUSE IT ONLY WORKS <50% OF THE TIME - NEVER WORKS DURING RAIN, SHADOWS ON THE ROAD, AND VARIOUS OTHER NORMAL ROAD & WEATHER CONDITIONS. EACH TIME I GET THE CAR BACK FROM THE SERVICE CENTERS I'M INFORMED THAT THAT SYSTEM IS WORKING NORMALLY. IN LATE JUNE OF 2020 I PURCHASED THEIR BASIC AUTO-PILOT SO…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414426 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11509183 · 2023-02-26 (February 26, 2023)

Feb 25 around 4pm PT we were driving north on US Hwy 101 using the basic cruise control feature of our Model 3. Based on our settings I believe this would be considered adaptive cruise control, but I'm not sure. Enhanced Auto-Pilot was not in use. On a largely open highway, in particular with no one in front of us, and thankfully, no one close behind us, the car suddenly started to lose speed, not brake, just lose speed. I pressed the right-hand button on the steering wheel and called out "report bug" so there should be an incident record wit…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11509183 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11481876 · 2022-08-29 (August 29, 2022)

The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11481876 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11608226 · 2024-08-13 (August 13, 2024)

My car has been having this issue since it was purchased in 2018. An alert appears on the screen which says, "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault/Service is Required." I had the car serviced four times by Tesla under warranty. It has now appeared a fifth time and Tesla says the airbags need to be replaced for over $1,600. The prior repairs included replacing wiring harnesses and occupancy sensor.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11608226 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11300204 · 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)

ON JANUARY 10, 2020 APPROXIMATELY 09:30 AM, WHEN IN A PARKING GARAGE I STOPPED THE CAR AND WENT TO PUT IT INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO A STALL WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD IMPACTING A PILLAR WHEN I LOOKED DOWN THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ON. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE AND IT WAS DEEMED 'AT FAULT' REPAIRS TO BE DETERMINED

Owner-reported narrative. 27,241 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300204 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11301634 · 2020-01-24 (January 24, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL S. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED, JERKED AND STALLED. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT FAULT MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TESLA 6701 AMADOR PLAZA RD, DUBLIN, CA 94568, (925)361-1173 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SAFETY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,241 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301634 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11203866 · 2019-04-26 (April 26, 2019)

VEHICLE HAS A "BRAKE HOLD" FEATURE. THIS FEATURE IS ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR, STOPPED, AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AN ADDITIONAL DISTANCE. THIS FEATURE KEEPS THAT VEHICLE AT A STANDSTILL WITHOUT A NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. PER THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL, BRAKE HOLD CAN BE RELEASED BY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, BRAKE, OR BY SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO "NEUTRAL". THE RIGHT STEERING COLUMN STALK, HOWEVER, CAN BE USED TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE FROM BRAKE HOLD INTO THE OPPOSITE TRAVEL DIRECTION (D TO R OR R TO D) BY M…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203866 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11217590 · 2019-06-03 (June 3, 2019)

IN ORDER TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL OR AUTOPILOT IN A TESLA MODEL 3, THE PRIMARY MECHANISM IS TO PUSH THE RIGHT STALK UPWARDS AS FAR AS IT WILL GO. HOWEVER, PUSHING THE SAME STALK UPWARDS ONLY PART OF THE WAY WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IT IS UNDERWAY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN A TESLA BECAUSE IF THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL REGENERATIVE BREAKING IS DISABLED AND IT IS THE COMMON DRIVING HABIT TO USE REGENERATIVE BREAKING AS THE PRIMARY BRAKING MECHANISM. ESSENTIALLY, A DRIV…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217590 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2017
16
2018
19
2019
22
2020
21
2021
22
2022
18
2023
12
2024
5
2025
3
2026
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
201716
201819
201922
202021
202122
202218
202312
20245
20253
20261

2017: 16; 2018: 19; 2019: 22; 2020: 21; 2021: 22; 2022: 18; 2023: 12; 2024: 5; 2025: 3; 2026: 1

Year-by-year records

Tesla MODEL 3 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20172616Not available
20181,01219+3
201961022+3
202044921-1
202165722+1
202276418-4
202341712-6
20242165-7
20251143-2
2026201-2