Equipment Problems of Tesla Model 3 - part 2

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.

See all problems of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

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

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

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).

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2018 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.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2023 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.

See all problems of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

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.

In a wreck the car does not have emergency door handles for the back doors if the power shuts off. This is a major safety issue.

Safety issue: defective interior cabin camera causes Tesla full self-driving (fsd) to disengage abruptly and without adequate warning at freeway speeds. I am a [xxx] driver. I purchased fsd capability with this vehicle in December 2018. In October 2025, I had the fsd hardware upgrade (hw2. 5 to hw3) installed at Tesla's encinitas, CA service center (b. A. R. License [xxx] ). Within days, fsd would became completely unusable due to a recurring "cabin camera unavailable — schedule service" alert that instantly disengages the system. The disengagement occurs on the freeway at highway speed, without meaningful advance warning. As a [xxx] driver, the sudden loud alarm and loss of assisted driving is genuinely alarming — it is not immediately clear in the moment whether the vehicle has lost power or experienced a critical failure. This is exactly the kind of dangerous situation driver assistance systems should prevent, not cause. Tesla's own diagnostic confirmed the defect (diagnostic invoice no. Xxx, November 27, 2025, encinitas service center): "cabin camera unavailable" alert verified intermittent stream exit faults detected in the selfie/cabin camera low-voltage circuit and wiring checks were normal — ruling out wiring conclusion: fault is within the camera module itself; technician recommended replacement the defect is fsd-specific. The cabin camera works correctly for sentry mode, live security viewing, and all normal driving. It fails exclusively when fsd is engaged and demands sustained driver monitoring. The camera housing also becomes extremely hot to the touch during fsd use, consistent with reports from other 2018 Model 3 owners describing identical symptoms after their hw3 retrofits. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The "front passenger safety restraint system" is prone to errors because the wiring for it beneath the seat is prone to getting knocked loose and electrical interference.

I have reported to Tesla how dangerous it can be long term to have one pedal driving and to use the accelerator as a cancelation mode to it’s many errors, see uploaded example picture. Also, having lighted notifications on mirrors causes people to subconsciously ignore actual blinkers of other vehicles; the only thing that should be on a side mirror is an adjustable fish eye mirror that allows to see the entire side lanes and tire placement.

I was horrified to read of the deaths of three beautiful California girls in a Tesla cyber truck, that was involved in a crash, was on fire, and the electrical system malfunctioned resulting in them not being able to get out of the car. Tragically, they burned to death. (recall too [xxx] ' incident as well as other incidents). I went to search the internet for Model 3 (2023) to see if there were manual overrides in the event of crash/fire/electrical malfunction (even if related to dead battery) and found a you tube video (not information provided by Tesla mind you) that showed that on the front seats, there should be a lever not far from the door handle that you can pull to activate a manual release of the door. In the video, they said 'models' are different as to the rear seats but there 'should be' a lever. I could not find any manual override for the back seat passengers. So, I drove to the Tesla dealer/service department to have them show me how to activate the manual override for back seat passengers. The technician admitted that in many Teslas, including mine, there was no such capability!! he admitted Tesla was acutely aware, they do not prioritize safety and that the back seat passengers would be stuck. He agreed that it will take a major class actions and major fines, and/or jury verdicts for them to do anything about it. Appalling and not acceptable. I would request that NHTSA mandate that all Teslas (probably models before 2025) lacking the device necessary to allow passengers to escape death due to failed electrical system be recalled to modify the car at Tesla's expense to comply with the reasonable expectations of consumers. This is a major design defect, unreasonably dangerous and presents a very real threat to the consumers who have no knowledge of the defect, much less where to look for the override (if it exists) because that information is not provided when you purchase the car. This is no different than the Ford pinto situation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (.

There was a failure of a rear camera to detect the proximity of a closed garage door when in reverse in a driveway. The result was hitting the garage door and damaging the garage door as a result. This could be dangerous as there was no warning on the backup camera screen and no audible warning. This was a very expensive repair given the garage door was a unique color and design.

While driving home, my Tesla was operating in full self-driving (fsd) mode and initially performed normally, stopping at a red light and proceeding smoothly when it turned green. Moments later, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own, lost control, and began spinning uncontrollably before sideswiping a parked car and coming to a stop on the wrong side of the street in oncoming traffic. I was fully awake, alert, and did not manually steer or accelerate at any point. The incident appears to have resulted from a malfunction in the vehicle’s fsd system and/or its steering and acceleration control mechanisms. There were no warning lights, error messages, or alerts before or during the event—it occurred without warning. This malfunction created an immediate safety hazard that endangered my life and posed a serious risk to other drivers, pedestrians, and surrounding property. The situation could have easily resulted in a fatal collision or injury. I promptly notified the police, and the incident was reported to Tesla insurance, which serves as my coverage provider. Despite my repeated efforts to have the issue inspected and addressed, Tesla insurance has refused to acknowledge fault, open a claim, or cover related damages. As a result, the malfunction has not been reproduced or confirmed by Tesla or any authorized service center. The vehicle has since been inspected by collision works, a certified Tesla collision center in long beach, California (500 e. Anaheim st, long beach, CA 90813), which provided a preliminary repair estimate. I am currently responsible for repair costs out of pocket pending resolution with Tesla insurance. The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection by Tesla, investigators, or safety authorities upon request. The complete and unexpected failure of the fsd system to regulate acceleration and steering represents a serious safety defect that warrants immediate investigation to prevent future harm.

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 turning signal buttons (this car has buttons instead of a typical stalk) often becomes stuck. It’s like all of the buttons on the left side of the steering wheel are already pushed down, and therefore, I cannot indicate whether I’m turning by pushing that turning button.

Mold, mildew and smelly odors are coming through the on-cabin ventilation system. This is the 3rd time since 2020, I had to purchase & replace the two air filters and spray the poorly designed duct & condensation accumulation. I inspected the self-installed air filters and there were no signs of moisture, mildew, mold or stains on the filters, which makes me think the problem was /is from the hvac condenser or coil area. Tesla had issued a 2019 software update to “run” the ventilation system longer after the vehicle was in “park” but the software update has not solved the mildew and bacteria odors that are vented into the cabin, and subsequently changed the hvac design in post 2021tesla models that corrected this problem with many pre-2021 Model 3s. Tesla service centers are still charging for the coil spray cleaning and not covering this mold & bacteria-creating hvac design problem of their earlier year vehicles CA as I had to pay Tesla for a pair of air filters change and now they want me to pay for a separate fee for spraying the condenser coils.

There is no way to find the emergency manual release in the rear doors. Where are they!!!!??? there is no panel or cover to remove to find a release for the doors in case there is no power!!! this my friends car. I don't have his VIN so I grabbed on off the internet.

Tesla Model 3 software & trunk security issue vehicle: Tesla Model 3, 2024 issue date: September 25, 2025 I am reporting a serious software reliability and security defect in my Tesla Model 3. On September 25, 2025, the trunk opened on its own overnight due to what appears to be a software malfunction, resulting in the theft of $500 in personal belongings. The Tesla app sent only one notification while I was sleeping, with no alerts for over eight hours, failing to provide proper security warnings. Tesla customer support was unable to resolve the issue and suggested multiple drivers might have access, even though only one friend has access to the car and it was not her doing. Vehicle data from Tesla privacy support showed two hours missing during the trunk event, and Tesla could not explain why, only speculating a software glitch. This incident demonstrates a critical software and security failure that compromises vehicle safety and personal property. Tesla has failed to provide an explanation, solution, or preventive fix. I am reporting this as a serious software reliability and consumer safety concern. Best, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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 passenger door handle is inoperable . The door handle is stucked open.

While driving on the 5 freeway, using autopilot, my car suddenly decelerated and came to a complete stop. Fortunately, we were not struck from behind, and I was able to get the car to accelerate again after approximately 10 seconds.

Safety restraint warning in car, unsure of actual issue but warning keeps popping up. Presumed that the seatbelts or airbags would not properly work in event of a crash. Dealer/company says it's a known issue, with other cars needing a fix too, however they aren't able to specify exactly the issue or issue a timeframe on repair. Issue first started appearing in late August of this year, and has become more frequent as of recent. Potentially this is a critical safety issue regarding airbag/seatbelt's potentially failing to work as designed for all similiar models.