Electrical System Problems of Tesla Model 3 - part 2

There's a problem with the airbags, and the steering wheel is hard to turn.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

While driving, the center display intermittently goes completely black. When this occurs, I lose access to the speedometer and all driver information. The issue has been ongoing and progressively worsening. The vehicle was purchased new. The issue was reported during the warranty period and initially attributed to software updates. A recent service visit confirmed the vehicle computer is failing, and the issue immediately recurred after pickup. Loss of speed and driver information while driving creates a safety concern.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk became inoperable. The contact stated that the trunk latch failed to open when the trunk release was engaged using the mobile application, the instrument panel, or the trunk release button. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21v00d000 (electrical system, visibility, back over prevention). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The contact was informed by the dealer that the cable harness was not repaired and that a zip tie was placed on the cable harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that after the dealer visit, the trunk failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,125.

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that there was a feature in the vehicle that allowed the front driver’s seat to automatically adjust according to the saved driver's profile. The contact stated that the driver’s seat back and forth movement to adjust to each driver's profile might have caused loose wire connection, resulting in error code: rcm_a021 (front left safety restraint system fault) being displayed. The contact stated that the error message had been displayed intermittently. Upon investigating the failure online, the contact related the failure to the seat adjustment feature. The failure was reported to the manufacturer through the Tesla app; however, the contact had not yet received a response. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

See all problems of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

The screen (which controls all functions of the vehicle) starts to go haywire. It's almost like there is a phantom touching the screen and pressing buttons. The screen will start zooming in and out - changing your navigation destination. The air controls will turn on full blast and then you are unable to shut them off because the screen will not respond. It becomes a giant distraction to the driver (imagine a screen that large malfunctioning) and Tesla does not think this is a safety issue. We reported it to them. They couldn't replicate the issue (is what they told us and then let us know it was out of warranty and we could just replace the screen to a tune of almost $2000). There are no cracks or issues with the screen itself. I cannot upload the videos as they are too big to share but I can send them to an email address.

To whom it may concern, I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a potentially dangerous defect in my 2024 Tesla Model 3. Unlike traditional vehicles that use a dedicated horn assembly, this model relies on the external speaker system as its horn. While this may function under normal conditions, during rain or heavy moisture the speaker becomes saturated with water, causing the horn’s output to become extremely quiet and ineffective. This is a serious safety concern. The horn is a primary means of warning surrounding drivers and pedestrians of danger, especially in poor weather conditions, where visibility is already compromised. Ironically, during heavy rain when a horn is most needed it becomes significantly quieter and nearly unusable. I have personally experienced this issue multiple times, and it poses a clear risk to myself and other road users. I believe this design presents a safety defect because: the horn does not function at full volume when wet. The speaker-based horn assembly is exposed to moisture and not adequately protected. Drivers may be unable to alert surrounding traffic during hazardous weather conditions. No warning is provided to the driver that the horn is impaired. I request that the NHTSA investigate whether the use of a speaker-based horn system without adequate waterproofing meets federal motor vehicle safety standards, and whether Tesla should issue a service bulletin, recall, or design modification to restore safe horn functionality regardless of weather conditions. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am willing to provide photos, videos, or further documentation if needed.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

The vehicle has a manufacturing defect in the charge port body seal allowing water intrusion into the vehicle cabin and near high-voltage charging components. This has resulted in dampness and potential mold growth, posing a respiratory health hazard to occupants.

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 was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

See all problems of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Description of the defect: while driving with full self-driving (fsd) engaged, the vehicle's primary computer shuts down and reboots, causing a sudden loss of all safety features, including blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and the driving visualization. The cameras go black while the vehicle is in motion. The trigger: the failure is triggered by high electrical load. If the cabin heater (hvac) and seat heaters are active while fsd is fully computing, the 12v power supply to the computer drops below critical voltage, causing a "turbo a" processor lockup and system crash. Evidence of defect: service center diagnostics confirmed the specific error code aps_w169_turboa_scs_lkup (computer crash) occurred at the exact same timestamp as vcleft_a302_blowergeneralfault (hvac blower failure). This proves a common-mode voltage drop affecting multiple critical systems simultaneously. Manufacturer response: the manufacturer (Tesla) acknowledged the logs but refused to inspect the wiring harness or ground connections, instead recommending a replacement of the computer unit. However, the failure can be mitigated by unplugging external cameras to reduce load, proving the root cause is an insufficient power delivery design (wiring/grounding) rather than a component failure. The computer is running at full load with the newest fsd software and it can no longer keep up with additional loads. Safety risk: this defect causes a sudden, uncommanded loss of driver assistance and situational awareness tools (cameras/visualization) while the vehicle is maneuvering in traffic. The vehicle’s power distribution system appears insufficient to support the electrical load of the software (fsd) and the hardware (hvac) simultaneously.

I have been very cautious on charging my Tesla Model 3 and have followed all of the manufacturer's recommendations. The hv battery recently failed at 105,050 miles. South korea has noted a battery reliability issue for this year car and model, so I am reporting this to you so if a recall is needed, you can track this. I believe my battery is a panasonic nca.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Tesla remotely disabled supercharging access on my vehicle without any warning, safety errors, or mechanical problems. The vehicle charged normally for months, including recent supercharging sessions, and still operates safely. Tesla stated supercharging was disabled due to a “salvage” title and now demands a $1,900-$2,400 “inspection” to restore access, with no diagnostic evidence of any issue. This appears to be a remote software lockout of a critical charging feature without a safety justification. It limits safe operation and access to public charging infrastructure. I request NHTSA investigate this policy as an unfair and potentially unsafe manufacturer action.

All safety and driver-assistance systems on my 2022 Tesla Model 3 failed due to an internal short in the vehicle’s computer, as confirmed in writing by Tesla’s technician. All cameras (rear, side, front) are non-functional, navigation does not work, and all adas features (autopilot, lane-keeping, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, emergency braking, etc. ) are disabled. The vehicle has no visibility when reversing and no active safety protections while driving. Tesla documented the cause as an internal computer failure, not related to damage or misuse. This creates a dangerous condition on public roads since the car loses all safety systems. Tesla quoted ~$2,900 for a new computer even though the failure involves critical safety components. This may indicate a broader safety defect.

1. During summer months the wireless charger does not work and heats up the phone to hazardous levels, when I take it to service while under warranty, they are saying its a known issue and want to charge customers for replacing charging pad 2. The suspension of the car is making sounds, Tesla wants me to pay labor charges for fixing it under warranty. The suspension issue happened in almost all the Tesla cars of my friends and neighbors. It needs to be a recall.

Central computer (motherboard), cameras (front/rear/side), autopilot/auto steer system. Error code: aps_w132. Description of problem: on or around [xxx], Tesla pushed a mandatory over-the-air software update to my vehicle. Immediately after, multiple safety-critical systems failed: all cameras (including backup) became intermittent or non-functional, auto steer/autopilot stopped working, and the car emitted constant distracting beeping alerts due to a critical motherboard failure. This made driving hazardous—impaired visibility for parking/reversing, loss of collision avoidance features, and constant audio distractions that could lead to accidents. I had to drive in this unsafe condition for weeks while waiting for service. Tesla attempted a remote fix but it failed. I scheduled service on November 19 for December 3 (19-day delay). Diagnostics confirmed the update induced the hardware failure, a known issue reported by other 2021 Model 3 owners on forums like reddit (e. G. , software bricking motherboards post-update). Despite this, Tesla refused warranty/goodwill coverage, quoting $2,576. 83 for repairs. Service advisors josh and andy were unprofessional: josh was rude/condescending; andy was aggressive, sarcastic, and retaliatory. After I mentioned filing complaints with the az attorney general and news channel 3, andy threatened $100/day storage fees with an impossible deadline (called at 4 pm Friday, close at 5 pm, demanded pickup by morning, then noon). He closed my ticket without authorization, delaying fixes and forcing me to contact another location—prolonging my exposure to the unsafe vehicle. This defect poses serious safety risks: sudden loss of cameras/autopilot could cause crashes. Tesla's awareness (from prior reports) and poor handling (intimidation delaying repairs) exacerbates the danger. No crash/injury yet, but potential is high. Please investigate this update-induced failure as a widespread defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while coming to a stop at a traffic light, the vehicle’s autopilot system became inoperable, and the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated up to approximately 13 mph without any warning lights illuminated. The contact attempted to regain control of the steering; however, due to the failure, the vehicle collided with another vehicle, resulting in severe damage to the driver’s side rear quarter panel, wheel, and tire. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy during the incident. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The contact expressed concern that the vehicle may present a potential safety hazard, as the failure had recurred on multiple occasions when attempting to drive the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,300.

See all problems of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Tesla suddenly lost power without any warning or a chance to move to safer area. Had to call 911. Incident around 5pm oct 23rd 2025 at intersection of e pennsylvania Ave and wallace rd, dowingtown, PA.

On October 17, 2025, while full self-driving (supervised) was engaged, the vehicle made an abrupt, uncommanded steering input to the right, causing a collision with a tunnel wall. This crash appears to be the result of a critical vehicle hardware failure. In the 24 hours prior to the crash, the vehicle logged multiple critical steering errors, including epas3p_a086_dasmia, which indicates the electric power assisted steering system was "missing in action" and not communicating. Furthermore, the vehicle has logged daily, recurring hardware faults for the steering column control module (sccm_a016_hardwareerror) since it was purchased. The uncommanded steering action created an extremely dangerous safety condition resulting in a collision. All stability and traction control faults appeared at the exact moment of impact, not before, indicating the steering system failure was the root cause. The problem has been confirmed by the vehicle's own internal diagnostic logs. The vehicle is available for inspection.

Vehicle self drove took quick into an off ramp and took flight on cattle guard into a pole. The vehicle never attempted to make a emergency stop and no air bags deployed.

The center display (vehicle pad) on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 went completely blank while driving. This eliminated access to all vital driving information including the speedometer, gear selection, and safety indicators. Safety concern: without visible speed data and wipers the vehicle cannot be operated safely or legally. I attempted to reboot the system and power cycle the vehicle but the screen still failed.

Safety restraint defect.

My Model 3 was t-boned in an intersection, hitting both the front and rear doors, as a result of a vehicle running a red light. The driver that hit us was speeding and didn’t hit brakes. The impact pushed the Tesla almost in a complete 360 on an adjacent street where the driver side of the car jumped a curb and stopped after hitting a pole slightly on the driver side. Red light etc all substantiated by police report. Airbags deployed on the passenger side from the seat and upper panels. Front airbags failed on both sides. There was also a delayed airbag deployment from the back of the driver seat that only ripped the seat but never deployed fully. The smell of fire / burning and debris was all that happened from the driver seat. I requested a crash report from Tesla which outlines the speed and airbag deployment. The report says that knee level airbags deployed but they never did. I crossed referenced crash test speed data and various complaints about Tesla airbags. The data reviewed seems to indicate that I experienced failed equipment which is currently under review. I’ve also reviewed various sources of information about 7 2024 Model 3 driver side airbag known issues, where Tesla only recalled one vehicle. I’ve been told that other recalls for this issue are u see evaluation and to keep checking my VIN for details. I share this because serious injuries can be caused by this failure, especially when hit by an SUV. The vehicle was totaled, not drivable and towed from the scene. Please be cautious if you have a 2024 Model 3 and demand that Tesla look into the airbag manufacturing issues promptly and issue relative recalls. The collision alert also failed.

Safety concern: for kids getting trapped in rear doors with no manual release in the rear of my 2022 Tesla Model 3. Only the front has a manual release which is not practical for two kids in the back.

The reason that I'm currently writing you this letter is to report an incident that happened on Sep. 16th, 2025. This is the date that I was very excited because I got my first ev - Tesla Model 3 new car. Me and my wife went over to the delivery plant in fefe, washington. The address is 3701 20th st. E. , fife, wa 98424. We took the car and I myself drove it back home around 2:45ish (-3 :00 pm the latest). It was just two blocks away from the plant outbound to the eastward trying to get to the entry of the highway. I stopped my car on my brake, and suddenly my car went forward by itself. This unintended acceleration caused me to hit the car in front of me. We had to stop in the next parking lot on my left side as soon as we passed the traffic light. This intersection happened right at the intersection of 54th Ave. E (northbound) and pacific highway e. I hit the car in front of me. My front bumper got some damage. The car is still drivable and I have put the photos and maps for your understanding.  .

Front left safety restraint. Airbags won’t deploy due to this issue.

The car was parked in a campground for a night and several systems issues came up, including traction control disabled, steer assistant disabled, staibility control disabled, and the car was keeping accelerating even though I did not step on the accelerate pedal. The acceleration was out of control. This was happening in a remote area when we drove half way out of the campground to a city. We called the Tesla roadside help and they just told us they could not help because it was too late to find a toll provider and we were left in the middle of nowhere and no help. We searched google and found a few very similar issues on Tesla cars that had been reported. We don't know what happened but those issues just disappeared themselves in the next morning and we have not get the chance to send it a service center for further investigation. We are certain that this is very serious safety issue and the car was basically out of control.

On [xxx], at just 9,526 miles, my brand-new 2025 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [xxx] ) suffered a front motor/inverter failure. The vehicle displayed the warning “front motor disabled. ” Tesla vallejo service confirmed this and replaced the front drive inverter (3du). A catastrophic drivetrain failure at under 10,000 miles is unacceptable and raises serious concerns about reliability and safety. It still doesn't not accelerate as before. In addition, since delivery on [xxx], this vehicle has had persistent rattling and vibration issues in the cabin. I have returned to Tesla vallejo multiple times (April, June, July, and August 2025). Each time, the service manager, steve mcnerney, dismissed or minimized my concerns, blaming “seatbelt rattling” or claiming the issue could not be replicated. After July, I even sent three separate videos clearly documenting the noise, yet the most recent service invoice still instructed me to “provide a video,” showing Tesla ignored or failed to record my evidence. This ongoing defect has been reproduced and confirmed at Tesla service but remains unresolved. Tesla’s dismissive handling and failure to fix the defects create both safety risks and loss of confidence in the vehicle. A front motor failure while driving could result in loss of power, reduced acceleration, or unsafe driving conditions. Tesla has failed to provide a reliable or safe resolution despite repeated repair attempts and clear evidence. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Main incident: time: 2025-08-28 ~12:41 pm pst what happened: after searching for a parking space, the driver was preparing to reverse into the spot, the driver pressed up the stalk to shift the gear into reverse, a sound was heard and something showed up on the screen, the vehicle once again started accelerating and running forward suddenly and sharply (3 mph to 28 mph in 3 secs), driver tried to steer the vehicle away from cars and buildings to minimize danger, the car rushed onto a concrete curb, hit one blue Tesla, then hit the side of a concrete utility pole, and ran over a plant and last crashed into the chain-link french before it finally stops injuries: * spine pain for one passenger damages: ** all tires blown out, tire falls off ** severe damages throughout the vehicle body * one Tesla parked on the parking lot was severely damaged * the utility pole's base box was scraped and deformed * one plant was knocked down similar case 3 few mins ago: time: 2025-08-28 ~12:38 pm pst what happened: the driver entered a oneway parking lot, but found no available spot and was trying to back up, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. The driver performed an emergency brake and stopped the vehicle. At the time the vehicle stopped, it was only about 20 inches away from two cars in front of it injuries and damages: none what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? malfunctioning of the electronic control or braking system leading to abnormal acceleration conflicting gear shifting and autopilot engagement design the right stalk is used to both shift gears and engage autopilot features, this design makes it very easy for the system to confuse the two actions autopilot feature safety issues autopilot features (whether its fsd or cruise control) should not be allowed to initiate abrupt acceleration to a dangerous speed in a low speed area (for example parking lot) insurance claim filed, number: 25-647243342.

There is an error with my car's occupant classification system (OCS) which is giving me an alarm of "front passenger safety restraint system fault". Tesla only "fix" is to replace the OCS with what seems to be a newer version. You can tell it is a new version because they are also telling me I need to replace my airbag as my current airbag is not compatible with the new OCS.

The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph on the freeway, the central touchscreen interface displayed a blank screen. The contact mentioned the autopilot engaged independently, causing the vehicle to merge to the left and collide with another vehicle in front of the driver's side. No air bags deployed. The contact stated that she sustained injuries on the left side of her wrist and arms, and a bruise on her right arm near her elbow and upper right thigh swollen on her neck, shoulders, and full back and both hands are swollen. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision garage. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer diagnosed and informed the contact to speak with a lemon law expert. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact stated the vehicle has been in the dealer over nine times. The manufacturer was notified and opened a case, then closed it. The approximate failure mileage was 9,611.

Tesla m3 rwd 2022 - 79750k miles. Touchscreen keep restarting throughout the day , in the morning when I am backing out of the garage, while I am driving, while I parked. It is dangerous specially while I am backing out of garage, car will stop sometime, because whole system reboots. I have no visibility I have to wait till its finish restarting. Tesla's main computer handles everything in the car, a/c, turn signals, speedometer, backup cameras, forward collision warning and many more necessary function of the car. Tesla service center diagnose stats "the cause was identified as kernel panics detected in the system. The internal memory of the car computer is corrupt and will not allow enough data transfer and causing the computer to reboot to clear space" they suggested to replace the computer and its a out of warranty fix, since I drove 79k miles. This is a crucial of the car and it should not fail in 3 years, driving 79k in California is not unusual, Tesla service also blamed that we didn't extended our warranty after 50k. We couldn't find any correspondence from Tesla on service app or email regrading warranty extension. $3000 to replace a computer is a very high price.

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.

See attached document for complaint.

No warning messages at all, all cameras/sensors stopped working all at once while driving, full self drive stopped working, lane assist, safety features of full self drive was degraded by this. Car software v12 (2024. 44. 25. 2 288ce84bb43e), according to the dealership the computer fried randomly.

I believe my car should be included in the recall for trunk harness recall. My alert and issue is the rear camera being off due to rear trunk ruining the wiring harness that has affected many cars. This is already a recall but I believe my car missed being involved.

On August 7th, 2025 at around 8 am in the morning, my vehicles mobile phone car key was in-operable and I was unable to get in the car which led me to trouble shoot how to fix this issue with the car. Upon researching I was directed by Tesla to directly complete a soft reset of the vehicle holding down both buttons on the vehicle once I was inside, and pushing on the brake pedal. Upon completion, my vehicle booted up and I realized that all camera systems were down, my navigation systems were down, my safety features were down, my auto pilot, lane keeping assist and auto brake were down, sensors were down and I was no longer able to pre heat my battery to charge my vehicle due to issues with the navigation. I then took the vehicle to Tesla service center irvine where a service advisor quoted me 2900 for a new ecu and bolts and told me that I needed to replace my whole unit and that I was to cover the cost of the repair even though my vehicle is only 2 years of age and this failure is due to the quality control and software of the vehicle. I have been driving around a vehicle with absolutely no safety features whatsoever such as no cameras, sensors, auto braking, or full self driving due to this ecu failure and I fear for my safety and well being while driving this car.