Table 1 shows one common equipment related problems of the 2025 Tesla Model 3.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Equipment problems |
This model lacks a well-tested turn signal lever, replacing it with arrows on the steering wheel. This method of activating turns signals is fundamentally unreliable and consequently dangerous. As an owner of the subject Tesla for just over one year, I find that I regularly fail to achieve correct activation, even with repeated attempts to do so. The steering wheel control may: not activate at all, even with multiple attempts to activate the signal. I find no consistent patter as to why pressing the arrow or vicinity of the arrow fails to achieve activation. Worse, may activate in the opposite direction to the pending movement. This is the most dangerous situation, misleading other drivers with regard to the intended movement. It’s also not apparent to me that the opposite direction has been activated. The problem is made worse lack of tactile feedback from the controls. The switches do not move perceptibly, nor is there any other feedback, such as a click. The ridge between left and right arrows doesn’t provide sufficient indication of correct or incorrect placement of the thumb on the controls. Pressing on the controls within the vicinity of the arrows may or may not result in activation at all or activate the opposite one. The position of the control varies depending on the steering wheel angle. The control may be very difficult to access, particularly where a sequence of turns in opposite directions must be executed. Specifically, it is essentially impossible to activate for the second movement while making the preceding turn. I understand that Tesla recognizes the problem and owner dissatisfaction in that it offers a retrofit with a conventional and well-tested turn signal lever for $600. Tesla must be compelled to recall these vehicles and retrofit them with a conventional turn signal lever or other effective control at no charge to owners.
Tesla is in a protracted battle with me over fees related to damaged property and illegal self-help repossession procedures. They have been formally notified that any trespass onto my property is not permitted because they said they sent armed repossession agents because of “angry customers” like me. I currently have a complaint for those issues filed with the attorney general of pennsylvania. Tesla’s recent attempts to repossess the vehicle were initiated approximately two hours after informing the pennsylvania attorney general’s office that Tesla had not contacted me in any way, that Tesla was not being factual. Tesla’s response to that was again to not contact me but to send me a form letter stating they intend to disable my vehicle remotely. I am a privacy-minded person, and part of choosing the vehicle was a modicum of privacy guaranteed by Tesla. Tesla publicly says they do not so this, I was told they do not so this in the course of buying the car, and recent news seems to state they say they can’t do it. They have yet to repair a windshield and cabin camera that seem to be damaged. In other words, they intend to disable and lock my car without my permission or knowledge, without verifying the contents of the car. In other words, if there happens to be an occupant at the time they illegally disable the car, they intend to kill them. I’m asking that my contact information be kept private because they have already threatened to use lethal force, make extremely reckless decisions regarding their procedures, and retaliated by initiating this process when I informed a government agency that they lied to them.
The vehicle presented an error that the audio system was offline, and that the horn, speakers, and internal safety sounds may not work. After driving on the PA turnpike and almost getting in an accident, this error causes the horn to not functioning at all. I was not able to alert the other driver due to this issue, and had to therefore slam on the breaks due to this issue which caused a safety risk to myself and other drivers on the road. This issue has been consistent since the error originally appeared a week ago. The horn does not function, as well as the reverse pedestrian safety sound that alerts pedestrians of the vehicle reversing. In the interior, no safety chimes, audio, turn signal clicks are audible and therefore are not able to be perceived. After putting in a service request and being told I was to be scheduled 2 weeks out and not provided a loaner, I called the dealership whom confirmed this, and stated they are not able to provide a loaner vehicle or move the appointment closer regardless of their being a potential safety issue. There are no other warning lights on in the vehicle, and the alert popped up out of no where, as well it does not mention the horn *does not* work, only warning that the horn may not work.
Inused Tesla to back up from my driveway and it hit my gate little damage but the car did it . Did not calculate and crash sensor sisnt work car crash the car on fss (automatic pilot).
Vibration that they said they diagnosed was not fixed per company policy they said they cannot fix it which would mean my vehicle is still unsafe at highway speeds the issue occurs after 70 mph on March 4th 2026 when rescheduling for the same issue I received this message. From a Tesla rep that they did everything they can.
I was using the vehicle's autopark feature to parallel park on a public street in a normal/spacious parking spot. I selected the parking spot on the center screen and started autopark. During the maneuver, the vehicle reversed into the parked car behind me and caused a dent (low-speed crash). I was supervising the maneuver and did not press the accelerator or brake before impact. After the incident, I reviewed dashcam footage and vehicle telemetry. The rear vehicle was clearly visible in the rear camera view. Telemetry shows the vehicle had already shifted to drive before impact, but it continued moving backward for about 1 second and then contacted the parked car behind. Telemetry also shows accelerator pedal position was 0 and brake was not applied during the impact sequence. This appears to be an automated parking/close-range obstacle stopping failure or delayed stopping response. No warning lamp or prior vehicle fault message was observed before the incident. The issue has not been reproduced since the incident. I have dashcam footage and telemetry logs documenting the event.
On January 16, 2026, I noticed the vehicle's horn was extremely quiet and would not be audible to another driver. This puts the safety of the Tesla driver and other roadway users at risk because another driver or pedestrian would not hear the horn if the Tesla driver needed to get their attention. This problem occurred after receiving approximately 6-8 inches of snow and driving in the snow. It is possible the design of the Tesla allows for snow/rain to block the horn speaker causing it to not function correctly during and after snow/rain conditions. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I've submitted a service request via the Tesla app. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
This is a new one but not new for me as this vehicle was the first under my own registration/not rental. Had passenger in car and with music down the passenger heard a very clear odd word which I can only assume was its desire, we declined. This is the umpteenth of many odd and offensive remarks that can cause odd distortion to within the immersive sound system and was what I previously attributed to rental vehicle blue tooths or dysfunctional family raising. Its offensive, distracting, and sometime low-level so unhealthy. Im awaiting the response from Tesla but it should be documented as ive seen isac section on this website, and ive dealt with it since 2018 , and ended up having to put boxing gloves in my trunk for potentially violent followers trying to pair and talk obscene. Im not sure what but its been confirmed and im awaiting the reply from manufacturer.
I drove my car today after it snowed a few inches the night before and while I was driving, I tried to press the horn, but there was no noise coming from the horn. When I went back home I noted that the speaker used for the horn is located near the passenger side wheel well. The speaker was blocked due to snow accumulation. This is dangerous because that means whenever there’s any snow on the road and I try to press the horn in an emergency then I cannot I might get into an accident because of my horn failing.
Horn does not work properly during heavy rain and/or splashing from ordinary puddles. The sound produced by the horn is barely audible for a couple of hours until presumably it dries out. Service center declined to repair the problem as they could not reproduce it with their tests. Service center acknowledged that it is a known problem but Tesla has not provided a fix. No warning messages occured during the problem, which occured during two separate rain events,.
Horn on vehicle is too quiet. Poses a safety risk for cars who will not be able to hear it. Volume needs to be increased or put an actual horn on the vehicle.
I am submitting this complaint to report a safety issue with the turn-signal buttons on my steering wheel of the 2024–2025 Tesla Model 3 highland. The turn-signal buttons are located on the steering wheel surface instead of a traditional stalk. When the steering wheel is turned at any angle, the buttons are difficult to locate by feel, often requiring the driver to look down to activate them and take his eyes off the road. Trying to signal during turns, lane changes, or roundabouts is not intuitive, and I have nearly had several collisions. This design presents a potentially dangerous safety hazard and could increase the risk of collisions. Tesla should be required to recall and retrofit these vehicles with turn signal stalks on the steering wheel column.
Using the navigation system in self driving mode the turn signal indicators start 500 feet from the intended turn, regardless of speed, and not influenced by cross streets or parking lot driveways thay are present before the intended turn. This takes place regardless of upcoming cross streets or driveways, but based on distance only, giving drivers coming out of these cross streets and driveways an indication that I intend to turn sooner. This has caused several "close calls". Reference: "the California dmv driver handbook similarly instructs drivers to start signaling about 100 feet before a turn so that other road users have time to see and react to your intention. On freeways, the dmv further recommends signaling for at least five seconds before changing lanes, which is a related but separate guidance from the 100?foot rule for turns. " I consider this a serious safety issue.
Subject: urgent safety concern – Tesla on fsd drove wrong way on one-way street message: hello, I’m reporting a serious safety incident involving my Tesla while full self-driving (fsd) was active. On 10/27/2025 at 3:33pm, my son was driving our Tesla Model 3 2025 in smithtown new york. While on fsd, the vehicle incorrectly entered and drove down a one-way street in the wrong direction, creating an extremely dangerous situation. Fortunately, no one was injured, but it could have been fatal. We have video footage recorded by the Tesla dashcam clearly showing the event. I’ve already backed up the files from the usb drive and can provide them for review. Please investigate this incident immediately and confirm how I can securely share the video footage and retrieve the car’s internal driving logs for that time period. Details: date/time of incident: October 37 2025 at 3:33pm location: smithtown new york fsd or autopilot: fsd vehicle VIN: 5yj3e1ea7sf053207 I am very concerned about the safety implications of this malfunction and would like written confirmation that Tesla is investigating and will provide a technical report or response.
On [xxx], I was driving my new 2025 Tesla Model 3 from my home in the woodlands, TX, to san antonio for a weekend trip. At approximately [xxx], while traveling on [xxx] a few miles before exit [xxx], the vehicle suddenly behaved abnormally. It appeared to take control without my input, causing the entire car to wobble violently. I completely lost control of the vehicle for several seconds. There were no obstructions, debris, or road conditions that could explain this behavior. I have video recordings from the car’s cameras clearly showing the incident. After pulling over safely, I contacted Tesla, who guided me through some reboot steps. I decided to cancel my trip due to safety concerns and began returning home. However, at approximately [xxx], near exit [xxx] on [xxx], the same issue occurred twice more. I immediately pulled over again and arranged for the car to be towed to Tesla service. This was a terrifying and potentially fatal malfunction. It appears to involve a serious defect in the traction control, steering, or drive system. I request that NHTSA urgently investigate this issue to ensure the safety of other Tesla owners. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
The horn does not work in the rain. I reported this. They sent a technician to replace it. The issue is not resolved. This is extremely dangerous.
The problem is with the horn. Tesla instead of a regular horn has a speaker under the car. So whenever it rains, the speaker gets wet and the horn gets muffled and barely audible, it’s a major concern. Not sure how anyone hasn’t done anything about it yet. Another thing the 2024 and 2025 Tesla Model 3 have blinkers on the steering wheel, the blinkers operate via capacitive buttons, which stop working for a few seconds if you accidentally rested your fingers on them, making you unable to use blinkers in a situation that quickly requires it.
While parked at home, my Tesla Model 3 developed a spontaneous windshield crack with no known cause. The car had not been driven recently, and there was no visible chip, impact, or external force involved. I believe this is a stress or pressure crack, which compromises visibility and may reflect a structural flaw in the glass or how it was mounted. I submitted a warranty claim through Tesla’s app and preserved the vehicle in its exact state for inspection (no washing, no driving, no impact). Tesla denied the claim without conducting a physical inspection or providing any supporting evidence. This kind of uninspected warranty denial is unacceptable, especially for a crack that can impair driver visibility. I have found similar reports from other Tesla owners online, indicating a potential pattern. If this issue is systemic, it could pose a broader safety risk related to poor windshield durability or design tolerances. I am asking the NHTSA to investigate this issue and Tesla’s handling of it.
Horn sound is extremely low after driving through hard rain, since there is no real horn in the car, I suspect the speaker that mimics a horn sound becomes muffled. This is a huge risk, it can cause me to crash in the future if no one can hear my horn.
Fsd lane?selection defect: vehicle moves into far?left lane and remains there, forcing right?side passing. Vehicle: 2025 Tesla Model 3, fsd v13. 2. 9 (current production build) behaviour (100?% reproducible): • on every non?interstate roadway with two lanes in each direction, the car self?selects the far?left lane and stays there at or just below the posted speed limit even when the right lane is completely clear. • if I disengage fsd, manually steer into the right lane, and immediately re?engage fsd, the system moves back into the far?left lane within seconds. This occurs on every attempt. • the freeway/interstate stack exits the left lane correctly, proving the capability exists and the defect is limited to surface?street logic. Legal conflict: • violates massachusetts general laws, ch. ?89?§?4b, which requires drivers to keep to the right?hand lane except when overtaking.
Tesla fsd incident – exton, PA ([xxx]) just sharing a scary experience I had with Tesla fsd beta yesterday — hoping it reaches the right eyes and helps others stay alert. I was driving on a main road in exton, PA, using fsd with the “avoid highways” option turned on for the first time. This is a route I know well and usually follow using google maps. At one point, fsd turned on the left indicator, and I thought it was taking a regular exit — the road it chose looked like a narrow side street, so I didn’t question it. But within 5 seconds, I realized it had actually taken me into the oncoming traffic lane. It was shocking and totally unexpected. I immediately took over, stopped the car, and when the road was clear, safely steered back into the correct lane. This happened around 3 pm on a bright, sunny day, with normal traffic. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
The horn does not work properly when it gets wet. It will either not make noise at all, or it is extremely muffled. This is a major safety risk. Also, horn is required to work for massachusetts state inspections. If I bring the car to be inspected on a rainy day, or after a car wash, it will fail because it does not work. I brought the vehicle to the dealer twice. The first time 5/28/25, the technician was able to replicate the issue and replaced the horn and claimed everything was working properly. The next time it rained, I tried to use it and it would not make any noise once again. I brought it to the dealer a second time 7/7/25, and they claim they could not replicate it. They went ahead anyways and replaced it. Also they claim “this is normal, expected behavior due to the location of the horn and eventually it will drain out”. This is an unacceptable answer. The horn should work all the time. There has been no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. First symptoms were approximately 5/6/25.
My car has turn indicator buttons on the steering wheel rather than a turn stalk. I've found that these jam from time to time. What I mean is sometimes when I push the button, it is already 'jammed in' and nothing happens. I have to kind of randomly push around the button a few times, or push the opposite turn signal direction to unjam it. This causes a few problems: 1) lane changes are dynamic and accident-prone. Having the signal indicator button jam on me is distracting and that's dangerous. 2) sometimes the reason I need to change lanes is urgent, to avoid a potential collision ahead of me. If the button jams on me while I'm signaling the lane change, my instinct is to abort the lane change until I figure out what's going on. That's dangerous itself, since I might end up colliding. 3) when I'm trying to unjam it, my turn signals visible to other drivers can be kind of erratic - they sometimes see me signaling the opposite way briefly, or on-and-off. When I reported the problem to the Tesla service center, they said they've heard about the issue before. They said that usually people will bring in their car, but they won't be able to reproduce the issue onsite so they can't so anything about it. And they suggested that it might be because I'm not being 'precise' with my button presses, causing the buttons to occasionally be wedged. The problem with this is that the buttons don't have clear outlines of where you're supposed to press them, and there's no tactile way to position your thumb in the right spots -- and the position of the buttons is kind of variable since they pivot as the steering wheel itself pivots (unlike turn stalks which remain stationary regardless of the steering wheel angle).
Steering assist reduced, traction control disabled, stability control disabled. When trying to drive steering heavy and car coasts unless holding brake pedal, which is unusual for a Tesla at it normally auto holds. Traction control and stability control also disabled, unsafe to drive.
Turn signal stalk has been removed. Directional activation is now done by pressing arrows on steering wheel spoke. I have to take my eyes off the road to locate the spot that turns the directional on or off. These arrows are next to the radio controls and I inadvertently turn them on all the time. If your turning you cannot find the flat markings that activate them. I cannot safely drive this car after weeks of trying to adjust. In addition they have placed a turn signal stalk on the new model y due to customer feedback.
Turn signal buttons on steering wheel intermittently fail to work.
The horn does not work when wet or in snow. I was driving in a snow storm and needed to use the horn, but it did not work at all. I tried multiple times throughout the day and it still did not work. Once the snow was gone, the horn started working again. This seems like a serious safety issue.
Turn signal buttons become inoperative. On occasion, the turn signal buttons cannot be engaged, they appear to be stuck and eventually become operative again. Also I believe the placement of the turn signal operators on the steering wheel instead of on stalks is a safety hazard as they are often difficult to engage like when the steering wheel is being turned and the buttons are therefor not in a position where they are easy to engage.
- autopoilt/fsd had a failure and malfunction, the car speeded up on its own and hit the divider while driving on a highway exit road, which is a u shaped road. - everyone in the car could be dead if I didn't pull the steer wheeling at the last minute to aviod fatal accident, it was horrifying - I have reported the claim to Tesla right after the incident, but they were not responsive in providing a solution, for more than month, they just kept me waiting - no, it has not been inspected - no warning or messages before the crash and the failure, the system all of sudden speed up on its own, causing the crash this is a seriously malfunction and faulty on Tesla's fsd system, they must recognize this issue and take responsibility over it. Yet they keep failing to take any responsibility on it.
My left and right turn signal buttons stick, and do not work randomly. I see that this is a very common problem on newer Tesla models with push button turn signals. Turn signals are important and this issue needs to get fixed ASAP.
Hi, my car computer completly stop(complete blackout) on the highway, no power, all doors and window blooked, reduce brake and steering wheel capacity. I changed line and went to the side of the road, but in an intersection or other road type, that could have been so much worst results. No hard reset nothing put back the power of the car.