Body problems of the 2023 Tesla Model 3

14 problems related to body have been reported for the 2023 Tesla Model 3. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 based on all problems reported for the 2023 Model 3.

1 Body problem

Failure Date: 09/03/2025

While exiting the front passenger cut her leg on the door. It appears she contacted the inside bottom, rear edge of the door when closing. This cut her leg requiring immediate medical attention. It took several stitches to close the wound.

2 Body problem

Failure Date: 06/04/2025

On June 4th I was in a hurry to get to work, pushed open my car door and started to slide in at which point the door unexpectedly to me swung back shut, clamping my head behind my ear pressing it against the top of the door frame. Everything stuck for about 1 second and then the door released my head. I am concerned that the door shouldn’t close so forcefully and should not bounce back closed when pushed open; that perhaps this contributed to the dangerous situation? there were other factors such as my car parking pad is slightly sloped. It seems this is an issue with the design of the car as opposed to a defect as there are no warning lights or recalls. I am still trying to figure out the effects of this injury. I have been to two doctors- not immediately because at first there were no immediate effects except for the discomfort of the pressure at the time. But less than 24 hours following the incident I developed a puffed up patch behind the ear where the door clamped, and now have developed a very swollen painless lymph node behind my other ear as well as headaches and some soreness that comes and goes. I have not contacted Tesla about the problem yet but am extremely cautious when I use the door and I don’t drive people in the car. I have included some photos but also just took some videos illustrating how the door swings back shut pretty forcefully when pushed open.

3 Body problem

Failure Date: 02/18/2025

Trunk struts snap/come off. Causing trunk to slam shut. Damaging body. Tesla states vehicle is safe to operate, however vehicle trunk does not latch down anymore and opens every time I hit a bump. The trunk allignment is also well off. The vibration of the trunk causes several electrical issues including automatic emergency braking. Original problem occured September 15th 2023. Issue was fixed and persists. Current issue has been going on since February 18th 2025. Issue is not yet resolved or fixed. Tesla is not taking any action to repair issue at all. Vehicle is unsafe to operate.

4 Body problem

Failure Date: 01/07/2025

Any time I get into the car and immediately start driving before the car has time to catch up with what I am doing, the NHTSA mandated safety sounds played when the car is in reverse or drive does not play until the cars computer can catch up and begin playing the sounds. Most times this can take 3 seconds or so but today I had an incident where it took over 30 seconds before it would start playing. The same issue can be detected when restarting the infotainment screen by holding down both scroll wheels on the steering wheel. When doing this the car will cease playing the sound for around 5 seconds while the computer reboots.

5 Body problem

Failure Date: 09/06/2024

Component or system failed: the critical safety issue involves Tesla's door locking system, specifically the lack of a readily accessible and obvious manual door release in the rear seat. This design flaw could prevent any child or passenger from knowing how to open the door or escape in an emergency. Safety risk: the absence of a clearly identifiable manual release mechanism for the rear doors creates a severe safety risk. In an emergency, such as a power failure or accident, a child or any rear-seat passenger may be trapped without an obvious way to exit, increasing the potential for injury or death. This is particularly concerning given two prior instances where the battery failed to charge, leaving the vehicle completely without power even while connected to a charger. Reproduction and confirmation: Tesla refuses to address the issue, this is a critical fire hazard. Inspections conducted: the vehicle has been inspected by Tesla service centers on at least two occasions to address charging and battery problems. However, the lack of an accessible rear door manual release remains unresolved and unaddressed. Warning signs or symptoms: there were no warning lamps or messages specifically related to the rear door safety issue. The charging and battery failure were preceded by warning messages indicating charging errors or reduced battery performance, which first appeared during the initial charging failure and notifications on the Tesla app. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request to verify the safety concerns and confirm the emergency safety issues with the rear door locks, charging, and battery systems.

6 Body problem

Failure Date: 06/11/2024

I am writing to file a claim regarding a safety issue with my Tesla vehicle, which is subject to the recall identified as NHTSA recall number 24v554. The recall involves a potential defect in the hood latch assembly, which may not detect an open condition. As a result, this defect can cause the front hood to unintentionally open while driving, potentially obstructing the driver’s view and increasing the risk of a collision. Safety concerns: although no crashes or injuries have been reported related to this issue, I experienced significant safety concerns while driving my vehicle. The possibility of the hood unexpectedly opening and obstructing my view caused considerable anxiety and distraction while operating the vehicle. Remedy and actions taken: Tesla has issued an over-the-air software update (firmware release 2024. 20. 3) to address this issue. However, despite the update, I remain concerned about the reliability of the latch system and the potential risk it poses to my safety and the safety of others on the road.

7 Body problem

Failure Date: 04/03/2024

Here’s a template for writing a formal complaint to safercar. Gov about your Tesla issue: subject: vehicle safety complaint - Tesla 2023 to whom it may concern, I am writing to report a safety issue with my Model 3 manufactured in 2023. This issue has significantly affected the vehicle’s functionality and poses a potential safety risk. Details of the issue: •VIN (vehicle identification number):5yj3e1ea7pf656021 •date of incident: 04/03/2024 •description of the problem:: “while driving, the vehicle suddenly was out of control and was under control owned all airbags and airbag scratch my hand seatbelt was not function •location of incident: everet,PA •outcome: my car being towed, emergency took me to hospital attempts to resolve: I have contacted Tesla customer service about this issue , but the problem remains unresolved. Safety concerns: this issue is not only inconvenient but also endangers my safety and the safety of others on the road. I am deeply concerned about the potential for this defect to cause accidents or injuries. I request that the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) investigate this issue and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of Tesla vehicles. Contact information: •name: shahin gafarov •address: 1577 bevan rd apt 16 pittsburgh,PA 15227 •email: sahinqafarov@gmail. Com •phone:9173255985 thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope to see this issue resolved promptly to prevent further incidents. Sincerely, shahin gafarov.

8 Body problem

Failure Date: 01/24/2024

While driving down the highway at less than 60 mph the rear drivers side window spontaneously exploded. There was no one next to me at the time. Nothing hit the window. It exploded and most of the glass blew out of the car onto the highway. I have video of the incident but can't upload that.

9 Body problem

Failure Date: 10/01/2023

The Tesla Model 3 rear bumper came off completely while driving in rain when I drove into a very light puddle. Having a rear bumper detaching completely off could be a serious hazard for someone that driving a motorcycle on the road it could result in a deadly accident. This problem has been addressed to Tesla and they do not have a service bulletin or a recall for 2023 model only 2018 model through 2021 models. The vehicle has been inspected by Tesla. No warning signs where indicated when the rear bumper detached completely while driving.

10 Body problem

Failure Date: 09/22/2023

Tesla Model 3 policy #: tla-CA-a-t-tau4lfj7 claim number: cl-64-u4lfj7-1 I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to report an incident involving my Tesla Model 3 (blue) and to initiate the process for an insurance claim. The incident occurred on September 22nd, 2023, at approximately 2:15 pm. My fiancée was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the incident. Incident details: - date: September 22nd, 2023 - time: approximately 2:15 am - vehicle: Tesla Model 3 (blue) location: the incident took place on the freeway merge from ramp 87, where it merges onto 85 southbound. Heading home. Circumstances: my fiancée was operating the vehicle in autopilot mode while maintaining her hands securely on the steering wheel. As she approached the freeway merge from ramp 87, heading onto 85 southbound, she experienced an unexpected jolt. Despite her continuous control of the steering wheel, the autopilot system seemed to be accelerating without her input. Simultaneously, my fiancée felt a sudden tire malfunction, which resulted in a significant loss of control over the vehicle. Despite her best efforts to maintain the car's position within the lane, the Tesla Model 3 veered off the freeway and entered the adjacent ravine area. Impact and airbags: upon entering the ravine area, the vehicle experienced a collision. Multiple plants/highbrush/uneven terrain as well as having to maneuver around 2 large palm trees which resulted damage to side mirror. Notably, none of the vehicle's airbags were deployed during the incident, and there were no sensor alerts, except for the tire pressure warning light. Also there wasn't any record of dashcam recording when we checked the car. We are seriously concerned that the airbags did not deploy , attached are photos concerning the damage. I would like to emphasize that my fiancée was diligently following safety guidelines and had her hands on the steering wheel while using autopilot. This incident occurred suddenly and unexpectedly.

11 Body problem

Failure Date: 08/05/2023

On August 5, 2023, my car charge got too low for me to make it to a charging station in lafayette louisiana. I had the vehicle towed on a flat bed. I put the car in tow transportation mode. While we were towing the car, I opened the car to check the battery level and somehow the frunk was activated (perhaps I accidentally hit it, I'm not sure). The frunk opened while we were going about 60 mph down the highway, the wind lifted the trunk up and it crushed my front windshield and the frunk and opening mechanics were damaged. Had we not immediately pulled over the frunk hood could have been ripped off the car by the wind and caused a major accident. This seems to be a flaw in the Tesla electronics/app system - you should not be able to open the frunk once it is put into tow transportation mode.

12 Body problem

Failure Date: 07/10/2023

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.

13 Body problem

Failure Date: 03/29/2023

I picked up my Tesla Model 3 performance less than a month ago and from day 1 it has been having vibrations from 40mph all the way up to 80-85 mph. I haven't driven it faster than that due to safety concern. I took it to Tesla and they said they needed to balance the wheels (why wasn't that done on a brand new car already?) anyways, I take the car back and I was still having the same issue. Tesla has now booked another service and said that my wheels might have been bent by me! the audacity! I gave them a piece of my mind so they will not charge me for service and will inspect my vehicle soon. Meanwhile I have driven the car 2500 miles and the vibrations have not gone away. I know this problem exists in model s plaids as well as with some other Model 3 performance owners as I reached out on the forums. Tesla has given up and accepted that they cannot repair these issues. Lets see what happens with my car. I plan on taking them to the court for lemon law.

14 Body problem

Failure Date: 03/09/2023

The undercarriage shield of my car disconnected and started dragging while I was driving in the rain. I did not collide into anything or hit a bump. I inspected my wheel well to discover a set of screws that were bunched up and not installed during manufacturing. I had to pull the shield from under my car so that I can continue to drive the vehicle. The shield is connected to the forward warning and pedestrian warning collision system which became inoperative. The faulty manufacturing that caused the shield to disconnect caused a dangerous condition while operating. After I removed it, a second dangerous condition was created since all of the safety senors were disconnected.



Model 3 Service Bulletins
Model 3 Defect Investigations