2019 TESLA MODEL 3

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    adas collision warning

    114 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    115
    incidents

    Mileage not reported in 87% of these reports - too few people reported an actual figure to show a reliable typical mileage.

    • "AUTOPILOT WAS ENGAGED. THE TESLA VEHICLE SENSORS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE 2 PARKED VEHICLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET WHILE DRIVING, AND COLLIDED WITH THEM. ANTI-COLLISION MECHANISM AND AUTO-BRAKING FAILED TO APPLY, RESULTING IN COLLISION."~3,370 mi, complaint #1641280
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE SPECIAL FEATURE ADAPTIVE AUTO PILOT BACK IN 06/2020. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALMOST BRINGING THE V…"~14,000 mi, complaint #1701452
    • "WHILE DRIVING IN THE LEFT-MOST LANE ON MOPAC EXPRESSWAY IN AUSTIN (ALTHOUGH HAS HAPPENED OTHER TIMES AND PLACES AS WELL) WITH "FULL SELF DRIVING" AUTOPILOT ENGAGED (AND WITH THE CAR HAVING BEEN IN CONTROL FOR QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE THIS), THE VEHICLE SLAMMED…"~19,950 mi, complaint #1697965
    • "The contact owned a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 57 MPH during rainy weather conditions, when hitting a puddle the vehicle then drastically slowed down and fishtailed veering to the left. As a result, the contact crashed into th…"~27,140 mi, complaint #1795969
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the Forward Collision-Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking was disabled independently. The contact stated that the Forward Collision-Avoidance warning light was illuminated. The…"~89,500 mi, complaint #1817963
  2. #2

    suspension arms and bushings

    58 unsafe, 3 broken, 4 annoyance

    65
    incidents
    Typical range: 5,000–30,000 mi

    Median 10,000 mi, based on 27 reports (69% had no usable mileage)

    • "HERE IS A MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/61748319/PHOTOS THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS. THE UPPER BALL JOINT HAS POPPED OUT OF ITS SOCKET. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAS SNAPPED ITS STEM. THERE IS VERY LITTLE IMPACT DAMAGE TO THAT…"~985 mi, complaint #1638972
    • "HERE IS A 2019 MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37069661?ROWNUMBER=1 IT HAS BEEN IN A MAJOR CRASH. THE TREAD ON THE FRONT RH TIRE HAS BEEN RUBBED COMPLETELY AWAY. THE TOP BALL-JOINT HAS POPPED APART. IT IS UNUSUAL FOR GOOD QU…"~5,000 mi, complaint #1683999
    • "THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT FRAGILE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN TESLAS. PLEASE NOT THAT I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER TESLA MODEL 3 TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SINCE THE VIN OF THE AFFECTED CAR IS UNAVAILABLE. HERE IS A TESLA SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY LISTED FOR SALE ON…"~10,000 mi, complaint #1678481
    • "HERE IS A TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/39201645?TENANT=US&ROWNUMBER=8 IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH. THERE IS NO IMPACT DAMAGE AND NO AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS SIMPLY FALLEN TO BITS. THE STEM OF THE BALL…"~10,000 mi, complaint #1729981
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the front su…"~56,000 mi, complaint #1909977
  3. #3

    airbag system

    63 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    64
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS ON JUNE 3 2020 THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. AT A CROSS STREET, AN SUV FAILED TO MAKE A STOP AT A POSTED STOP SIGN AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER REAR QUARTER, SPINNING IT 2…"~7,000 mi, complaint #1669448
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the air bags deployed without impact. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was sent to the manufacturer who was investigating the fa…"~50,100 mi, complaint #1795483
  4. #4

    adas autonomous driving system

    39 unsafe

    39
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 280, THE AUTO-PILOT STOPPED WORKING AND DRIVING BECAME ERRATIC AND UNSAFE WITH RANDOM ACCELERATIONS/DECELERATIONS. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP ON DRIVING. TESLA KEPT CONFUSING ME WITH THEIR SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS WHILE I NEEDED TO USE THE CAR…"~3,496 mi, complaint #1703508
    • "WHILE DRIVING AT ~70MPH ON THE FREEWAY, WE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE WEB BROWSER APP. THE ENTIRE UI FROZE, DURING THIS TIME I COULD NOT EXIT AUTOPILOT BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE, HOWEVER AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE…"~13,000 mi, complaint #1645612
    • "IN THEIR NEWLY RELEASED AUTONOMOUS DRIVING PACKAGE CALLED FULL SELF DRIVING, MY CAR IS ACTING VERY ERRATICALLY AND DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SAFE. SPECIFICALLY ON NARROW STREETS THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY FOLD THE MIRRORS MEANING I CAN'T EVEN SAFELY MONITOR THE VEH…"~16,000 mi, complaint #1702707
    • "The contact owned a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving with the autopilot feature enabled, the vehicle slid across the road and crashed into a concrete barrier. The contact stated that it was raining at the failure occurred. No Polic…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1967102
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that his wife was driving approximately 30-40 MPH at night with Full Self-Driving(FSD) mode engaged. The contact stated that the driver was exiting the highway to merge onto another highway that would c…"~111,725 mi, complaint #2138021
  5. #5

    adas lane keeping

    29 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    30
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 32,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the Lane Departure, steering assist, and braking assist warning lights illuminated. During the failure the steering wheel had become difficult to turn in either directio…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1802847
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN AUTO PILOT AT 65 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND THEN IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A MEDIUM GUARD RAIL. THERE WAS NO OTHER VE…"~34,000 mi, complaint #1734456
    • "ON 3/15/2021, MY CAR SUDDENLY TURNED 90 DEGREE TO THE RIGHT UNDER AUTOPILOT ON HIGHWAY 210 WHEN HIT A PUDDLE. THE RAIN IS VERY SMALL. I THINK THE HIGHWAY HAS RISK AS ACCUMULATED A PUDDLE UNEXPECTED AT ALL. TESLA 3 HAS ISSUE AS WELL SINCE IT SHOULDN'T TURN 90 D…"~39,000 mi, complaint #1743157
  6. #6

    unintended acceleration

    28 unsafe

    28
    incidents
    Typical range: 3,000–5,500 mi

    Median 4,500 mi, based on 33 reports (28% had no usable mileage)

    • "WHEN PARKING THE CAR, THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE DRIVER DEPRESSING THE PEDAL CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN INTO A BUILDING AND CAUSE DAMAGE. DESPITE THE SPEED, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY"~1,350 mi, complaint #1639036
    • "I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED FROM WHAT HAPPENED LAST DECEMBER 10, 2019 (TUESDAY). AT AROUND 5:50 AM, I AM SLOWLY DRIVING AT THE PARKING LOT OF MY OFFICE AT STRYKER CORPORATION IN SAN JOSE, CA. I AM SLOWLY PARKING MY CAR AND THEN THERE'S A SUDDEN UNINTE…"~3,056 mi, complaint #1632861
    • "CAR TURNING AND PULL UP TO THE GARAGE DRIVE WAY, IT SUDDENLY UNINTENDED ACCELERATE AND CRASH INTO THE GARAGE GATE. (VIDEOS AVAILABLE)"~5,008 mi, complaint #1638696
    • "WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY STRIKING ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE AND A SIGN POLE IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE THEN COMING TO A STOP ON TOP OF A BOULDER. THE PRIVATE SECURITY PATROL AT THE SCHOOL FILED A…"~5,743 mi, complaint #1650046
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at 3 MPH and slowing the vehicle into his residence driveway, as he took his foot off the accelerator the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed forward. The vehicle crashed into the…"~35,000 mi, complaint #1869744
  7. #7

    other

    1 stranded, 14 unsafe, 1 broken, 5 annoyance

    21
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "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…"~3,700 mi, complaint #1577393
    • "TESLA MODEL 3 THE MID AERO SHIELD WAS DAMAGED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. TESLA HAD PREVIOUS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SB-19-12-001) TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE MID AERO SHIELDS BUT IT APPEARS THE NEW PIECE IS AS SUSCEPTIBLE TO RAIN WATER DAMAGE AS T…"~4,110 mi, complaint #1596657
    • "THIS WAS NOT AN EVENT, BUT A FEATURE THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT HAVE MECHANICAL RELEASE LEVERS SHOULD THE CAR LOOSE POWER. THAT MEANS I COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR IF I AM IN THE BACK SEAT. I AM 65…"~7,502 mi, complaint #1653744
    • "THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER MODEL 3 OWNERS. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE NEAREST TESLA SERVICE CENTER AND WAS…"~15,380 mi, complaint #1726437
    • "WHEN GET WET, UNDERCARRIAGE COMPOSITE TRY GETS HEAVY WHEN WATER IS ABSORBED AND FALL/ TEAR AND GET DRAGGED ON THE STREET, SOMETIMES RESULTING IN FRICTION SPARKS."~20,000 mi, complaint #1652380
  8. #8

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    19 unsafe, 1 broken

    20
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY WIFE HAS A TESLA MODEL 3 CAR, PURCHASED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HAVING ABOUT 8000 MILES ON IT. THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN AND CANNOT INSERT THE SAFETY BELT TO THE BUCKLE. MY WIFE SCHEDULED A SERVICE FROM THE APP. THE COMPANY SENT AN INVOICE FOR OVER…"~8,500 mi, complaint #1609957
  9. #9

    backup camera

    17 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    19
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=14, median 20,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "THE BACK UP CAMERA VIDEO FEED HAS PURPLE AND GREEN VERTICAL LINES THAT GOES THROUGH IT INTERMITTENTLY LIKE THERE IS A SHORT. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO SERVICE VIA EMAIL WITH A PICTURE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT A FUTURE SERVICE A…"~1,500 mi, complaint #1618644
    • "The contact owns a 2019 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 while st…"~15,000 mi, complaint #1797491
    • "B PILLAR CAMERAS TEND TO GET CONDENSATION IN THEM CAUSING THEM TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TESLA SERVICE IN ROCKVILLE, MD, TO NO EFFECT. ACCORDING TO TESLA, THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR IT, YET THE CAMERAS CONTINUE TO INTERMITTENTLY FAI…"~25,000 mi, complaint #1740005
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rearview camera became inoperable while opening the trunk. The message “Camera Not Available” was displayed. The contact stated that the rearview camera functional…"~81,952 mi, complaint #2175767
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera frequently failed to operate as designed with a blank screen being displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehic…"~88,000 mi, complaint #1966125
  10. #10

    steering electric assist

    16 unsafe

    16
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "I WAS PARKING IN MY DRIVE WAY. I THOUGHT I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK . MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. SO I OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF BRAKE THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD.THE DOOR WAS OPENED AND I HAD BOTH FEET OUTSIDE THE DOOR. I TRIED TO PUSH THE PAR…"~1,700 mi, complaint #1620394
    • "WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT INTO MY DRIVEWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 10MPH THE STEERING COMPLETELY DISENGAGED AND WOULD SPIN COMPLETELY AROUND WITHOUT MOVING THE FRONT WHEELS AT ALL. I STOPPED AND CALLED SERVICE BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING. THE CAR IS BEING SERVICED…"~9,500 mi, complaint #1663344
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while parked, the valet could not drive the vehicle out of the parking garage because the steering wheel was firm. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. Th…"~33,359 mi, complaint #1920717
  11. #11

    brake hydraulics

    12 unsafe

    12
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "I TURNED INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE IN A HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT. I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AS THE CAR INCHED CLOSER TO THE CURB. AS I BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB, C…"~1,265 mi, complaint #1618240
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving approximately 12 MPH, there was a rattling and grinding noise coming from the front passenger’s side tire. The contact pulled over and noticed that the front brake caliper bolts had detach…"~38,000 mi, complaint #1844765
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while approaching a stop, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the generator braking was able to stop the vehicle. The contact stated whi…"~58,000 mi, complaint #1911359
  12. #12

    glass and windshield

    12 unsafe

    12
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "REAR WINDSHIELD GETS DISTORTED AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO VIEW THRU REAR MIRROR WHEN TURNING ON REAR DEFROST AFTER 2 MINUTES. THIS IS A REPEATABLE/REPRODUCIBLE DEFECT. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE TESLA REMEDY/REPLACE REAR WINDSHIELD TO NO AVAIL. THEY VERIFIED THE DISTOR…"~2,000 mi, complaint #1597898
    • "I HAD AN A/C REPAIR PERSON AT MY HOUSE, HE WAS ADMIRING THE CAR SAYING HOW NEW IT LOOKED. I ASKED HIM IF I SHOULD MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE SO HE COULD WORK, HE SAID "YES". I STARTED TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE, I MOVED IT 4-5 FEET, THE WHEELS HADN'T EVEN…"~6,533 mi, complaint #1747098
    • "REAR WINDSHIELD GETS DISTORTED EVERY TIME THE DEFROST IS TURNED ON. TESLA HAS SEEN AND NOTED THE DEFECT, STATED THIS IS NORMAL ON ALL TESLA MODEL 3 VEHICLES, AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT NORMAL AS NO OTHER CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN IN HAS THIS KIND OF DI…"~9,000 mi, complaint #1609171
    • "DO TO A LARGE BACK WINDSHIELD (ENTIRE VEHICLE ROOF IS MADE OUT OF CLASS) I BELIEVE THAT THE HEAT MAKES THE WINDSHIELD CRACK. I POSTED A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE EXPLAINING HOW MY VEHICLE WINDSHIELD BROKE DOWN BY THE INTENSE HEAT, A PERSON REPLIED WITH THE SAME PROBLE…"~13,428 mi, complaint #1657728
  13. #13

    software or update

    10 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    11
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "MY CAR WAS FIVE WEEKS OLD. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME ON MY COMMUTE I REALIZE THE SCREEN HAD FROZE, AND THEN SUDDENLY BLACKED OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE AS I AM A FAMILY THAT OWNS TESLA, BUT IT WASN'T BECAUSE SUDDENLY THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BREAK…"~3,500 mi, complaint #1590461
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the manufacturer had provided a new software update for the vehicle. The contact stated that the update made it difficult to use some functions. The contact was concerned that he had to take his ey…"~18,000 mi, complaint #1785586
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the recall to be performed would not disable the "Auto-steer" function, however the Over the Air software…"~71,817 mi, complaint #1955521
  14. #14

    adas adaptive cruise

    9 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    10
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "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…"~950 mi, complaint #1579634
    • "WHEN I'M DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH HOT LANE TO THE LEFT OF MY DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, THE CAR ERRONEOUSLY SENSES THE SPEED LIMIT AS 65 MPH (THE SPEED LIMIT FOR THE ADJACENT HOT LANE) RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED LIMIT OF [REDACTED ADDRESS]. THE RESULT…"~8,967 mi, complaint #1746344
  15. #15

    hv battery and range

    10 unsafe

    10
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE HAS BEEN A TESLA MODEL 3 CRASH IN RUSSIA. HTTPS://WWW.THESUN.CO.UK/NEWS/9700731/TESLA-CAR-EXPLODES-AUTOPILOT-FAILURE-DRIVER-TRUCK-RUSSIA/ IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER AUTOPILOT OR DRIVER DISTRACT…"~1,000 mi, complaint #1593080
    • "THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY THE NEW CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH HAD DAMAGE TO THE 4 JACK POINTS THAT REQUIRED THE BATTERY PACK TO BE REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WOULD CHARGE TO THE FULL RANGE PURCHASED, HOWEVER, THE NEW BATTERY THAT WAS INSTALLED WILL NOT CHARGE TO…"~1,211 mi, complaint #1618646
    • "I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE INTEREST OF HUMAN SAFETY. THIS IS CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF BATTERY FIRES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS SO FAR GONE UNREPORTED. HERE IS A MODEL 3 IN THE SALVAGE AUCTION YARD THAT HAS BEEN ALMOST TO…"~5,000 mi, complaint #1624086
  16. #16

    ev drive unit or inverter

    1 stranded, 8 unsafe

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "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…"~6,028 mi, complaint #1597888
    • "I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A CONCERN WITH THIS CAR THAT OCCURRED IN DECEMBER 2019. TESLA IN MILFORD, CT HAD THE CAR IN SERVICE FOR 23+ DAYS BECAUSE OF ERRORS WITH THE CAR: ALERT MESSAGES INCLUDED (BUT WEREN'T LIMITED TO) POWER REDUCED, FRONT MOTOR DISABLED, ETC. T…"~8,500 mi, complaint #1646171
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while charging the vehicle at a supercharging station, the vehicle shut off once the battery charge reached 250 miles. The contact attempted to move the vehicle to another charging station, and the vehi…"~85,000 mi, complaint #2009019
  17. #17

    steering rack mechanical

    8 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "My 2019 tesla model 3, with 41158 miles, started making a strange noise when I turned the steering wheel left or right. I scheduled service at a tesla service center. The tesla technician confirmed the noise from the upper control arms. They replaced the pair…"complaint #1942226
    • "Heard rattling in the front of the car over a period of weeks. Finally checked and saw a bolt that secures the front wheel hinge to the body frame was very loose. Then I tried turning the wheel (while stationary) to test the front steering. After a few times,…"complaint #1973864
    • "Power steering reduces, steering rack required replacement"complaint #1975866
    • "Power steering and regenerative braking was intermittently work. Steering fully locked up while driving 70 m/hr on a freeway when I was on my way to service appointment. Very scary!! Service detected full steering rack replacement. When they took off the cab…"complaint #1976693
    • "I started to notice a noise that kind of sounded like rusty hinge on door every time I turned the steering wheel. It did not matter whether it was left or right. I took the car into the dealer because I was concern it could be something serious. The Tesla s…"complaint #1983322
  18. #18

    suspension struts shocks

    8 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    9
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THIS TESLA WITH A SNAPPED SUSPENSION. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/39201645?TENANT=US&ROWNUMBER=8 I HAVE FILED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME FAILURE ON OTHER MODEL TESLAS THAT SHARE THE SAME SUS…"~13,000 mi, complaint #1730027
    • "HERE IS A TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/36045205?ROWNUMBER=2 NOT IN A CRASH, NO AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED.ONLY DAMAGE IS TO THE RH FRONT AREA. THE TIRE IS BADLY WORN AWAY. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH A SUSPENSION FAILURE CAUSED THE WHEEL TO R…"~16,000 mi, complaint #1690161
    • "HERE IS A TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/38603577?ROWNUMBER=11 IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BODYWORK AND NO AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. THE FRONT SUSPENSION APPEARS TO HAVE COMMITTED SEPPUKU.…"~18,000 mi, complaint #1718107
    • "HERE IS A 2019 MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37267527?ROWNUMBER=6 NOT IN A CRASH, NO AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED, NO BODYWORK DAMAGE. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS COMPETELY FALLEN TO BITS! WHAT THE FUDGE?? ARE YOU AFRAID OF ELON OR WHAT…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1688377
    • "The contact owned a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a squeaking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the front suspension system was…"~93,000 mi, complaint #1953549
  19. #19

    wiring harness

    7 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "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 DRI…"~7,800 mi, complaint #1635506
    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the rear seat warmer was active, a hole had burned through the seat due to the heat coming from the seat warmer. The contact stated that a blanket was placed over the seat which caused the bl…"~78,000 mi, complaint #2204298
  20. #20

    infotainment head unit

    5 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the indicator, self-driving feature, and music sounds were inaudible. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle…"~111,000 mi, complaint #2148397
  21. #21

    seat mechanism

    6 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the Front Passenger Restraint System Fault message was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the front passenger’s side seat…"~66,000 mi, complaint #1864139
  22. #22

    wiper and washer

    5 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "IN SUDDEN HEAVY RAIN ON BUSY HIGHWAY (I5), THE AUTO WIPERS WOULDN'T GO ON. TO SWITCH TO MANUAL OR CONTROL WIPERS MANUALLY REQUIRES DRIVER TO TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME TO MAKE 2 PRECISE SELECTIONS ON TOUCH SCREEN. IT WAS A…"~4,300 mi, complaint #1580736
  23. #23

    heater core and blower

    1 stranded, 2 unsafe, 1 broken, 1 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WHEN WARMING THE CABIN, REAR VENTS WILL OFTEN BLOW VERY HOT AIR, SOMETIMES IN EXCESS OF 100F, COMPARED TO THE FRONT VENTS. EVEN DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THE FRONT IS BLOWING COLD AIR, THE REAR WILL STILL BLOW HOT AIR."~12,000 mi, complaint #1720789
    • "THE HEAT IN THE FOOT WELL IS TOO HOT WHEN HVAC SYSTEM IS ON AUTO. FOOT WELL CAN GET AS HIGH AS 50 DEGREES CELSIUS WHICH IS NOT SAFE. THIS OCCURS DURING ALL DRIVING AND STATIONARY PARKING."~25,000 mi, complaint #1720791
  24. #24

    ev charging system

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO DOWNGRADE MY TESLA MODEL 3 CONFIGURATION FROM STANDARD PLUS (240 MAX CHARGE LIMIT) TO STANDARD CONFIGURATION (220 MAX CHARGE LIMIT), I COULD CHARGE TO 239 CHARGE LIMIT. AT THE DOWNGRADE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE, AFTER THE SY…"~4,000 mi, complaint #1656611
  25. #25

    hv system fault reduced power

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the message “Vehicle Hold Disabled” and vehicle shutting down and pull over safely. The contact was able to pull on the side…"~34,148 mi, complaint #1880475
  26. #26

    instrument cluster

    3 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "THE ONLY DISPLAY IN THE CAR LOCKED UP, TURNED OFF, AND TURNED BACK ON APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE LATER WHILE I WAS BACKING UP WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF ALL READOUT INCLUDING THE BACK UP CAMERA, MPH, ACCESS TO MANY OTHER VEHICLE FEATURES. I REPORTED THIS TO THEIR S…"~1,200 mi, complaint #1618640
    • "THE ONLY DISPLAY IN THE CAR WILL TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF ALL READOUT. YOU LOSE THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING, HVAC, BACKUP CAMERA, SAFETY WARNINGS, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TESLA AND THEY DECLINED TO F…"~7,000 mi, complaint #1671235
    • "WHITE BLOCK APPEARED ON SCREEN, WOULD NOT CLEAR. BLOCKED VISIBILITY OF ANY DISPLAYS UNDER THE BLOCK, INCLUDING GEAR SELECTOR, SPEED, ENERGY STATUS, TURN SIGNALS, MOST OF ANY OTHER DISPLAY, SUCH AS MAPS, CAMERA DISPLAY. BLOCK REMAINED WHEN WE LEFT THE CAR, AN…"~15,329 mi, complaint #1714450
  27. #27

    battery and charging

    1 stranded, 2 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and closing the driver's side door, the doors locked and failed to open because the vehicle was experiencing an electrical failure. The contact stated that he engaged the…"~23,969 mi, complaint #1921913
  28. #28

    climate control module

    2 unsafe, 1 broken

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The “auto-defogger” came on when the windshield was not fogged up and started to fog up the windshield instead of de-fogging it. It remained on the rest of the day and the only way I could figure out to get my window to stop fogging up was to turn off AC enti…"complaint #1836408
    • "Climate control unavailable. Unable to heat cabin. Ran test and received a PTC heater faulty. Vehicle is over 50K miles and no longer under warranty. Through research online. Many heating issues become available. Software and numerous PTC failures especially…"complaint #1954663
    • "Vehicles cabin heater High Current Failure after software update. Software Version: 2023.44.30.14 Vehicles cabin heater was functioning properly the morning of the software update. Over-the-air update was made and an electrical smell filled the cabin after upd…"complaint #1976447
  29. #29

    cruise control conventional

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Car is on cruise control on a two lane highway, posted speed 55 mph. It has ghost emergency stops on cruise control not auto pilot . My car doesn’t have it. It renders a simple feature unusable."complaint #1837348
    • "The car will not allow me to use the cruise control, or put the car into auto-steer. Tesla says it do to a coax cable that is damaged or gone bad. Additionally the day a camera repeater also needs to be replace. The car has only 62,000 miles and is 4 year old.…"complaint #1893012
    • "Tesla has combined cruise control with their Auto Pilot feature. Now there is no human override to what speed limit to use, Tesla determines the speed to used based on certain criteria. This puts the driver at risk who may want to lower or increase the speed…"complaint #2000555
  30. #30

    door latch and hinge

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "AS I WAS OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR, MY NAIL GOT CAUGHT IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE CAR. AS BACKGROUND, IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR ONE I HAS TO PUSH THE HANDLE ON ONE SIDE FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO COME OUT, AS I WAS DOING THIS MY NAIL GOT CAUGHT IN T…"complaint #1599389
    • "Vehicle handle will become frozen and because of the design, it is difficult to open the door. Once it is opened, the windows will not roll down far enough for the driver to close the door. Because of this, the driver will need to move or drive the vehicle wit…"complaint #1798173
    • "Drivers side rear door is stuck shut. After some research, there is no manual release. This is a significant safety issue and needs to be resolved for all cars that lack the release. I shouldn’t have to visit a service center to open a door. I will refrain fro…"complaint #1887496
  31. #31

    lighting exterior

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The high beams frequently don’t work. It has to be off auto. They only work sometimes I have to pull the left stalk forward to have them on. They should over ride the system if I push the stalk forward so I can see the road. I have allot of deer in my area an…"complaint #1855978
    • "Poor LED headlight/headlight seal caused severe condensation (water dripping) inside headlight housing, which led to the headlight and turn signal to not function. No warning/notification received from the car. The car is 3 years old, past 50,000-mile warranty…"complaint #1859899
    • "In 2020 my driver side headlight assembly stopped working then in 2023 my passenger side headlight assembly stopped working. This includes the day time running light as well as headlight and turn signal in each assembly. No warning was displayed. This can caus…"complaint #1885650
  32. #32

    tire failure

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TONIGHT MY TESLA 3 WITH 9500 MILES WAS NOTED BY THE DRIVER IN THE CAR NEXT TO MINE TO BE RIDING ON A TIRE THAT WAS SPARKING. STOPPING THE CAR I FOUND THE RADIAL MICHELIN TIRE WAS RIDING ON THE INNER MEDIAL RADIAL AS THE RUBBER WAS TOTALLY GONE. FURTHER INSPECT…"~9,300 mi, complaint #1709153
  33. #33

    abs module

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "On 3/28/22 at 4:01 pm, while in parking lot traffic traveling 2-3 mph, the vehicle lost propulsion, and steering. The vehicle's audible warnings sounded and displayed a series of errors ranging from tire pressure to driver assistance features not being availab…"complaint #1807517
    • "Recently I have been receiving warnings from my Tesla after hitting a pothole or bump in the road. ABS is disabled, power steering is disabled, power brake assist is disabled, forward collision warning and driver assistance features are all disabled. Upon a…"complaint #1915093
  34. #34

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "REAR A/C VENTS BLOW HOT AIR SPORADICALLY WHEN FRONT MAIN VENTS ARE BLOWING COLD AIR CONDITIONED AIR. THIS HAPPENS ARE STOPS OR WHEN DRIVING. BECOMES DANGEROUS FOR REAR PASSENGERS/PETS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH AND CAR IS ADDING ADDITIONAL HEAT TO REAR P…"~19,000 mi, complaint #1734610
  35. #35

    adas blind spot

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Automatically activated Blind Spot camera system view is filled over 50% with glare from blinker while driving at night. This renders the driver safety feature unusable during nighttime driving and creates additional driver distraction with the bright light f…"complaint #1788819
    • "Constantly beeps and makes me think I’m getting into an accident took to tesla they say sensors are ok. But a car shows on my blind side and sometimes there’s no car there, especially big trucks doesn’t bring up sensor correctly "complaint #1798304
  36. #36

    steering column

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TOOK MY CAR FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKE/SUSPENSION CLICKING, DRIVER SEAT NOISE (BULLETIN ALREADY AVAILABLE), AND STEERING COLUMN RATTLE ( ADVISED BY TESLA TO MOVE THE STEERING A LITTLE BECAUSE IT TOUCHING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ( BAD DESIGN AND SHOULDN'T THE CUSTOMER C…"complaint #1743824
    • "Twice in a span of six weeks my 2019 Tesla Model 3 simply stopped operating - dead stop. First incident was on a road trip over the Christmas holidays ([XXX]). We had stopped in suburban Chicago before continuing our trip home. The vehicle control screen went…"complaint #1965375
  37. #37

    throttle and pedal

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I WAS PULLING IN HEAD FIRST TO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND WAS COASTING INTO THE SPOT. THE CAR SUDDENLY JOLTED FORWARD AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. OUR CAR JUMPED OVER THE CURB, TRAVELED UP A 4 TO 5 FOOT HIGH, SLOPED EMBANKMENT, AND STRUCK A PARKED CAR I…"~6,000 mi, complaint #1701091
  38. #38

    evap system

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE VEHICLE DEVELOPS MOLDY SMELL AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT IS A POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD DUE TO BACTERIA GROWTH. THE SMELL IS DUE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF WATER ON THE EVAPORATOR AND IS A MECHANICAL DESIGN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS MOST TESLA 3 CARS."~12,000 mi, complaint #1650580
  39. #39

    mirror

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "This is my primary car and I have been driving the Model 3 for more than an year. The side view mirrors provide very limited visibility. It doesn't provide the necessary field of view needed for safe driving. Many a time I find myself missing a car in the sid…"complaint #1780563
  40. #40

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The vehicle has quite a bit of noise coming from the suspension during normal driving. Creaks and groans."complaint #2231398
  41. #41

    paint and clearcoat

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Chrome peeling on the underside of multiple door handles has created razor sharp edges that slice fingers open. Online it appears to happen with Tesla 2018-2020 models."complaint #2182675
  42. #42

    parking brake

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "On a cold day at 26F, the parking system will seized. When attempting to move, you will have to move the accelerator pedal nearly more than a quarter to break free. This is extremely dangerous if you are parking close to another vehicle ahead. "complaint #1798172
  43. #43

    power windows and locks

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "THIS OCCURRED THIS PAST SATURDAY IN A NORDSTROM RACK PARKING LOT IN DALLAS. MY REASON FOR BEING AT THIS SHOPPING CENTER WAS TO DO A QUICK RETURN AT NORDSTROM'S RACK. I OPENED THE BACK DOOR OF MY TESLA AND GRABBED MY RETURN. I WALKED AWAY FROM MY CAR, BELIEVI…"~14,600 mi, complaint #1694177
  44. #44

    stability and traction control

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Yesterday I had the most frightening driving experience of my entire life. It was raining heavily and I was going about [REDACTED ADDRESS] in my model 3 standard, 3 years old. Suddenly I lost all traction and was slipping side to side +/-90 degrees from the di…"complaint #1831197
  45. #45

    trunk or liftgate

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "FRONT TRUNK UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. MADE A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE SAYING THE TRUNK IS UNLATCHED. GOT OUT AND CHECKED, THE PRIMARY LATCH IS UNLATCHED AND THE SECONDARY LATCH IS ENGAGED."~2,000 mi, complaint #1596521
  46. #46

    wheel or rim

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I HAVE A 2019 TESLA MODEL 3 WITH PREMIUM WHEEL UPGRADE AND THE CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT RX TIRES PUT ON BY TESLA ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. THE CAR HAS 7K SOME MILES ON IT AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT RANDOMLY. THERE WAS NO IMPACT/CRASH OF ANY KIND, WE WERE GOING APPROX 3…"~7,400 mi, complaint #1672569

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for TESLA MODEL 3 directly.