Equipment Problems of Tesla Model 3 - part 2

2024 Tesla Model 3 driving on the turnpike heading south of NJ right between exit 5-6 when my vehicle suddenly and spontaneously spun out into the guardrail, while at the same time the automatic emergency brake was disabled. Weather conditions were slightly rainy, there was no signs of traction issues or alerts regarding any concerns. Luckily no other vehicles were hit. The vehicle has not been inspected by any other of the above questioned. No such warning signs, lamps, or symptoms prior to this failure. I do have the dash cam footage that shows the incident.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

While I was making a left turn my steering wheel suddenly got stuck. A vehicle almost hit me.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Issue 1: while using full self-driving (supervised) at night on a two-lane road with a straight lane and a turn lane, the vehicle crossed the white lane markings and drifted into the adjacent lane. I had to manually intervene to correct many times. This happens regulary at night. I clean the lenses on the cameras but it doesn't reslove the issue. Issue 2: while using full self-driving (supervised), the vehicle positioned itself in the incorrect lane when entering a roundabout, selecting the wrong entry lane for my intended exit. This happens at day and night about 50% of the time. I report the issue via the Tesla feedback, but they do not fix it.

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

There is no manual door release for rear doors in the Tesla Model 3 rwd. This can pose a safety issue if the car has no power and passengers need to evacuate the vehicle.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Full self driving system (fsd) has ran a red light twice. It slows almost to a stop then takes off.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Am reporting an issue involving unexplained cracking of my Tesla windshield with no known impact or debris strike. Last night at approximately 6:20 pm, while in chapel hill, nc, I entered my vehicle and noticed a crack on the driver’s side of the windshield. The outside temperature at that time was about 28°f. There was no audible rock strike and I have no recollection of anything hitting the glass. The morning low temperature was approximately 14°f. To my awareness, the passenger-side crack was not present earlier that morning. Approximately 15 minutes ([xxx]edt) before writing this statement, I was seated in the passenger seat and noticed a second crack on the passenger side. The temperature had risen to about 34°f. Again, there was no strike event that I recall while driving or parked. Both cracks appeared within a short time span during an unusually cold period with temperature changes between 14°f and 34°f. The passenger crack visually resembles an impact point, but I cannot identify any incident that would have caused it. My concern is that these cracks may indicate thermal stress, structural flex, a material defect, or bonding/installation issue. Windshield failure without impact presents a safety hazard due to reduced visibility and potential compromise of structural integrity during a collision. I am requesting that NHTSA document and evaluate this issue for potential safety implications. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

After downloading Tesla’s update (no. 2025. 44. 25. 4) software my heater (with the window defrost functionality) in winter stopped operating. I made my update while at my nearest Tesla service compound (location verifiable per system location log) on 01/25/26 when that same day software began throwing hvac error codes with blowing cold air, when previously my heat ran well. This is not coincidental; this is system design failure.

See all problems of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

When cabin heat is enabled, visible vapor/smoke emits from the front trunk area under the windshield cowl and is pulled directly into the cabin through the hvac intake. The vapor has a chemical/sweet odor consistent with coolant or refrigerant. Smoke enters the passenger compartment, especially when stopped or idling. This occurs repeatedly in cold temperatures and stops immediately when hvac heat is turned off. No warning lights appear. This appears to be a heat pump or coolant system leak upstream of the cabin intake, allowing chemical fumes to enter the cabin air stream. Occupants are exposed to fumes while driving. This is a safety concern due to inhalation risk and lack of driver warning.

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.

There is no mechanism to unlock the rear passenger doors in case of electrical failure. No emergency mechanical door opening in case of emergency. Passengers will not be able to get out of the locked vehicle during an emergency (I. E. Crash, battery fire, submerged in water, etc). This is an extremely imminent danger for small kids who are sitting in car seats, since it will take even longer to release them from their straps in order to get out. The small rear windows are useless for escape. This flaw design has already caused deaths. Changes should be made to enable emergence mechanical opening of the rear doors.

Hvac system went out at 7500ish miles. It was repaired under warranty, and a "fix" was administered through software by Tesla. My hvac has gone out again at 84k miles for the same reason. About 77k miles after it was just repaired. Quick check online. This is still a very common issue. No heat creates a significant safety hazard due to lack of the ability to defrost the vehicle or frost building up on cold days.

To whom it may concern, I am submitting this complaint to report a serious and potentially dangerous safety defect affecting my 2021 Tesla Model 3 performance. After exposure to heavy rain or wet conditions, the vehicle’s horn completely stops functioning. The failure occurs regardless of the activation method—neither pressing the steering wheel horn nor using the horn via the mobile app produces any sound. The horn remains nonfunctional even though the vehicle is otherwise operable. This issue has occurred after the vehicle becomes wet due to rain and appears to be related to moisture intrusion or an electrical/design flaw. Once the failure occurs, the driver fully loses the ability to use the horn for warnings or emergency signaling. This is a critical safety concern. The horn is a federally required safety device and is essential for alerting pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers to avoid collisions. Losing horn functionality significantly increases the risk of accidents, especially in urban driving, highway merging, and emergency situations where immediate warning signals are necessary. This issue is not isolated to my vehicle. Numerous Tesla owners have reported the same horn failure after rain or wet conditions on online forums and owner communities, indicating a widespread and systemic defect rather than isolated wear or misuse. Given the safety implications and the volume of similar reports, I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this issue to determine whether a design or manufacturing defect exists and whether corrective action or a recall is warranted. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Owner – 2021 Tesla Model 3 performance.

I am reporting a safety defect involving a welded rear subframe component. The welded section snapped under normal driving conditions, and this is a safety-critical structural suspension component. There was no collision, misuse, or accident prior to this failure. The vehicle is currently not safe to drive due to the compromised rear suspension structure. I have included photos showing the snapped weld and overall rear subframe area. This appears to be a premature structural defect, not normal wear. I am requesting that this failure be documented and reviewed as a potential safety defect. Additional notes: this component is part of the rear suspension and is expected to last the life of the vehicle. The failure created a serious safety hazard, and I am not driving the vehicle. I have scheduled a service appointment, but I am filing this complaint to ensure the defect is officially reported.

See all problems of the 2019 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.

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.

When there’s heavy rain, the horn is muffled very badly you can barely hear it.

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,.

I purchased a 2024 Tesla Model 3 a little over a year ago. Recently, and after an update, myself, and other drivers in my life, noticed the self-driving feature was malfunctioning - to the point I used the audio reporting feature to report this problem twice to Tesla. The car would veer off the road when flasing lights appeared and would jerk suddenly for no reason when it thought there was a obstruction in the road (sticks, plastic bags, etc. ). Last month this malfunction has caused an accident, and my car has been totaled, my insurance will not cover it, and I have been advised by two separate attorneys to sue. This has been litigated in court with lawsuits against Tesla (see benavides v. Tesla; see also in Tesla advanced driver assistance systems litigation). I had notified telsa twice of this issue, the car left the lane and did not notice a concrete barrier on the left side going north on I-95 in or around broward county. To my knowledge no one has inspected the car. I was not warned that this car would cause an accident, the problem first appeared when I reported the issue using the voice reporting feature around November 2025. It is currently located at a tow facility in broward county, FL and can be inspected there.

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.

I recently purchased a 2020 Tesla Model 3 long range awd (VIN [xxx] internal systems and service records show that all recalls for this vehicle have been completed and closed. However, the NHTSA VIN lookup still shows seven open recalls. This is causing a major issue because I am participating in a California clean transportation incentive program (replace your ride), which requires that all recalls be shown as closed specifically on the NHTSA website. Tesla states that the recalls are complete but has not updated the recall status with NHTSA. Nhtsa customer service informed me that recall data can only be updated by the manufacturer. I am requesting that NHTSA notify Tesla’s regulatory or safety compliance team so they can update the recall reporting for this VIN. The outdated recall data is preventing my state incentive from being processed and is causing significant financial harm. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I received a safety alert on my car screen: front passenger safety restraint system issue. Service is required. The front passenger safety restraint system fault typically involves a malfunctioning occupant weight sensor in the passenger seat, which controls whether the airbag activates or deactivates evgoer. This is a serious safety concern because the airbag may be disabled at that seat location in the event of a crash. The issue is often caused by loose, broken, or unplugged harnesses or connectors under the seat, particularly related to the occupant classification system (OCS) Tesla owners onlinedigital ev doctor. Many owners report this happens because wires under the seat get crimped over time due to Tesla's "easy entry" feature that automatically moves seats. Since this a widespread Tesla Model 3 problem, I believe this should be a recall.

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.

I am the owner of a 2021 Tesla Model 3 and am filing this complaint due to a significant safety concern: my vehicle does not have manual or mechanical releases for the rear doors; only electronic mechanisms are present. In the event of a total power failure, accident, fire, or submersion, rear seat passengers would be unable to exit the vehicle through the rear doors, as there is no physical lever or alternative escape route directly available inside the rear seats. This design poses a serious risk to occupant safety in emergencies, especially for families with children or passengers unable to access the front seat manual releases or trunk escape features. The lack of a rear mechanical release is inconsistent with standard automotive safety practices and could lead to injury or loss of life if electronic door access is disabled. It’s important to note that newer Tesla models now include manual rear door release mechanisms, demonstrating that Tesla recognizes the safety benefit and necessity of this feature. Owners of earlier models, like mine, are left without this critical safety upgrade, and I believe this should be addressed for all affected vehicles. I strongly urge NHTSA to investigate this issue and consider whether a recall or mandatory modification is warranted for the affected Tesla Model 3 vehicles. Please contact me if any additional details are required.

Tesla full self driving software malfunctioned and turned into oncoming traffic lanes instead of crossing over to the correct opposite side of the roadway. This occurred after getting off a on ramp in ukiah, California around 2am Nov 15, 2025. This could have put others in serious danger if there were cars coming in the oncoming lanes heading in the different direction. The problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or other entity. Yet this has happened to other Tesla drivers as well using fsd as you are probably already aware. No inspection and it was sudden and unexpected.

Compliance arm bolt securing it to the subframe is fractured. Tesla has dismissed my ongoing concerns of vibration and instability while driving. Stating they performed an in depth inspection of all suspension and subframe components and found nothing of concern during last service appointment. I did my own inspection and found the fractured bolt. Sent photo to service and they are trying to play it off as normal and safe to drive. Contacted several manufacturers and mechanics stating otherwise. Told this will end in catastrophic failure and loss of vehicle control but apparently Tesla wants me to drive it to the service department for next service.

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.

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.

Turn signal indicator buttons stick and/or activate the opposite turn indicator of the button pressed. Issue is persistent and I have had two other steering wheels replaced and all three have the same problem. Tesla technician told me that it is an issue with the steering wheel and there was no fix. Have a video of the problem but I am currently unable to upload.

Component: battery and charging system summary: 2023 Tesla Model 3 long range lost 15% battery capacity (345?300 miles) in 2 months at 9,816 miles. Comparison vehicle shows this is a defect, not normal wear. Description: vehicle: 2023 Tesla Model 3 long range, VIN: [insert VIN], 9,816 miles defect: between September 2025 and November 2025, displayed range at 100% charge dropped from 345 miles to 300 miles—a 15% loss in just 2 months. Evidence this is a defect: I own a second 2023 Model 3 (base model) with 66,680 miles that only dropped from 272?260 miles (4. 4% loss). The long range with 7x fewer miles has 3x more degradation, indicating a battery pack defect. Service refusal: Tesla service ran “range analysis” but refuses to test battery capacity or check for dead cells. Only provided scripted responses about epa vs real-world driving, which doesn’t explain why my high-mileage vehicle has healthier batteries. Safety concern: rapid cell degradation may indicate failing cells, thermal management defect, or fire risk. Unpredictable range loss creates stranding risk. Request: investigate 2023 Model 3 lr battery packs for systemic defects. Require Tesla to perform cell-level diagnostics and replace defective packs. Documentation available upon request.

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).

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.

The rear doors do not have a manual release. If power is lost, you cannot open the rear doors. This is a severe safety concern. With 2 child seats in the rear seats, with a power failure, you cannot get the children out. Newer Model 3 vehicles, have a manual safety release. My 2018 does not.