Service Brakes Problems of Tesla Model 3 - part 1

My hard brake lines were corroded and had to be replaced on a 7 year old Model 3 with 70k miles on it. The cost was over $4000 as battery has to come out and it's very labor intensive. Tesla offered no help with paying for this. They tried to say the car probably was in a very corrosive environment before I bought the car (I purchased it about a year ago). However, I've seen little to no corrosion anywhere on the car. I've decided to report this issue after talking with several lifelong mechanics who have said they have never heard of hard brake lines failing on a car with age and mileage that mine has. Also after searching owner groups I've heard from other owners that have had this same issue and it seems like a growing number especially in early Model 3 cars. I was giving a warning about low brake fluid and advised not to drive the vehicle before getting it inspected.

See all problems of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Please review attachment.

Vehicle is 7 years old with 107,000 miles. I received a warning regarding low brake fluid with instructions not to drive the vehicle. Dealer is advising all brake lines are rusted out and need replacement. Rusted lines are apparently causing the brake fluid to leak. I've never heard of any vehicle, let alone a 7 year old vehicle, needing all brake lines replaced. After researching online, my 2018 Tesla Model 3 is not the only Tesla Model 3 with this issue. Specifically, it appears some early 2018 Model 3s have suffered this issue. I believe this is a design defect and safety issue, and that Tesla should be voluntarily repairing affected vehicles with this known issue, since it is a design/safety issue.

The steering was hard to turn, and the fully supervised driving mode didn't work. This has happened twice, and both times the issue went away on its own after a few minutes. I performed a soft reset both times, but it did not resolve the issue. The first time, the steering was very heavy, I. E. , hard to turn. The second time was less difficult, but in both cases, fsd (full self-driving) did not function. General guideline questions: 1. The steering system malfunctioned. The car is available for inspection. 2. The car was very difficult to drive. I was able to turn the wheel, but I won't let my wife drive it. 3. No. The nearest service center is 90 miles away, and so far, they want me to bring the car to them. I am still working to resolve this, as I believe this issue requires mobile service. 4. No inspections have been done. 5. Yes. An alert message on the main display stated: "alerts - steering & braking - steering assist reduced/steering may require increased effort. ".

See all problems of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Regen braking sporadically not working when going down mountain or steep roads. Sometimes they work and sometimes they won’t. This is after extensive driving on warm days while battery is between 70-80%. Support could not help me and they don’t have any technicians available. I’ve sent them videos and time stamps and they are ignoring the issue and unable to help due to lack of knowledgable representatives this is a serious safety concern.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

While driving my Tesla Model 3 with self-driving engaged in excellent conditions, the car suddenly braked to a full stop. There was no apparent reason to do so and the driver did nothing. The road ahead was free of traffic, and no obstacles, pedestrians or animals were visible. It was possible to resume driving by turning self-driving off. Tesla forums online show many instances of others reporting similar problems in various Tesla models over several years. A rear end collision will ultimately be the result of this flaw if it hasn’t yet occurred.

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

While driving home from purchasing my new Tesla a under dash panel just to the left of the steering column detached an fell on top of the brake pedal. This made it impossible to apply the brakes. Fortunately because of regenerative braking I was able to stop the car and replace the panel. The panel is only held in place with 2 magnets. I find this extremely dangerous and could have easily caused a life ending accident.

Brakes failed to stop the car. The car sat at Tesla service center for one month with no action from Tesla. My wife rear ended another car. The air bags deployed. No one was injuryed and the other was not damaged. Both people could have been seriously hurt or killed. Car was finally towed to classic collision November 24 by state farm insurance for repair. Estimate to be repaired January 8, 2026.

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The vehicle’s brakes did not work, automatic emergency brakes and collision warning both did not work. I pressed on the brake for about 5 seconds but the brakes did not work, resulting in a collision with the car in front. Everything is available for inspection if needed. Both my safety and the driver of the vehicle in front of me was at risk. The problem has not been confirmed yet. The vehicle is currently at a shop, waiting inspection. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms.

I drove into my neighbor’s driveway to drop her off. As I slowed down and applied the brakes to stop, the car failed to respond. It continued forward, running over the flower and plant pots at the edge of the driveway, crossing the backyard, and finally colliding with the trees and bushes at the rear of the property. All airbags deployed, and the vehicle was damaged beyond repair.

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The complaint was filed on behalf of the contact's daughter. The contact's daughter owned a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the contact's daughter was driving at 35 mph, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the contact's daughter stated that the brake pedal felt spongy and unusual. The contact's daughter stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floor; however, the vehicle still did not stop. The contact's daughter enabled the emergency braking system; however, the vehicle still did not stop. The contact's daughter beeped the horn to alert the nearby driver, and the dash cam independently activated. The contact stated that because of the failure, the contact's daughter's vehicle rear-ended the vehicle in front of the contact's daughter's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that after the crash, the emergency braking system failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. The contact's daughter was treated at the local hospital on the following day. The contact's daughter sustained headaches, whiplash, and a concussion. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

Repeatedly and randomly, with cruise control (not fsd) engaged, the car would brake, sometimes aggressively. The last time, it braked so hard the tires or brakes squealed and the car swerved slightly before I was able to regain control. This was on the freeway (in colorado, if I remember correctly) while I was cruising at 70 or 75 mph. I decided that that was the last time I would use cruise control; it was just not safe. I had an appointment on October 22 to take the car in for service. But then a friend told me this was called "phantom braking" and that there was no fix. A friend suggested that I contact the NHTSA.

Travelling south on [xxx]just south of [xxx] on [xxx] at [xxx]. Climate was medium-rain. Car began to hydroplane due to regenerative breaking. Lost control and began to swerve between lanes. Completely swerved 180 degrees so that car was facing wrong direct. Swerved back to right way on highway. No cars around and did not hit anything. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in the third floor of a parking garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to full speed unintendedly, and the steering wheel and the brake pedal were inoperable, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a wall and crashed into the vehicle in front, and the vehicle stopped. No further information was available. No warning lights were illuminated. The front driver's side air bag deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

The brake lines badly rusted creating safety hazard as Tesla service reported when working on other maintenance. Not a warranty issue not covered as repair is over $3800. Vehicle was not abused and was kept clean regularly - this seems to be a vehicle defect if the brake lines can get moisture trapped behind the battery pack and create excessive corrosion requiring brake line replacement.

On September 18, 2025, my 2023 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: 5yj3e1eb9pf632327) suddenly accelerated on its own and the brakes failed to respond despite repeated pressing. To avoid hitting other vehicles, I turned into a property driveway and struck a tree. The airbags deployed. This was a case of sudden unintended acceleration combined with complete brake failure, creating a serious safety hazard. Forward collision warning also did not prevent the impact. A police report was filed by the dekalb county police department, GA, USA (report #25-074809, case #0440200), which specifically documented brake failure as the cause of the accident. The report also notes that the driver was injured by the airbag and that the vehicle had to be towed from the scene. A copy of the police report can be provided upon request.

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.  .

On September 7, 2025 at ~7:53 pm, my 2025 Tesla Model 3 operating with full self-driving (fsd) engaged performed an aggressive, uncommanded turn while under computer control. The maneuver occurred so abruptly that I could not safely override steering before impact, and a crash resulted. The Tesla app trip view for trip 3 (7:34–7:53 pm) shows “vehicle on fsd” for 18 min 54 sec and records an “aggressive turning” event at 7:53 pm (2. 0 sec) immediately before the trip ended (screenshot attached). This reflects a steering/driver-assist control defect in fsd’s turning behavior and a failure of collision-mitigation to prevent the crash. I sustained bodily injuries and the vehicle incurred significant damage. I request that this incident be treated as a safety-critical malfunction warranting investigation and corrective action.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle jerked hard with several alerts for the "traction control, abs, lane departure feature displayed. Additionally, the stability control system was disabled, and the message “brake hold unavailable” was displayed. The contact stated that the “automatic emergency braking unavailable" and an orange triangle with an exclamation light were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,380.

Three times while driving at low speed and attempting to reduce speed—even while pressing the brake pedal—my 2023 Tesla Model 3 unexpectedly accelerated. During the first incident, the dynamics screen did not allow me to change the deceleration mode. After rebooting the touchscreen, the options reappeared briefly, but later that same day they became unavailable again. Incident times: 2nd incident: September 3, 2025, at approximately 4:15 pm est 3rd incident: September 4, 2025, at approximately 4:50 pm est.

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.

On 08/20, while driving to work, I experienced a serious safety failure with my vehicle. The brake pedal became completely firm and unresponsive, making it impossible to press. At the same time, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn, severely limiting control of the car. Multiple warning messages appeared, including: •regenerative braking disabled •abs fault •traction control fault •limited power I was able to carefully maneuver the vehicle into a nearby parking lot and safely exit. After restarting the vehicle, the warning lights disappeared, and the car resumed normal operation. I immediately brought the vehicle to the Tesla service center the same day (08/20). As of now, there has been no resolution provided.

I am not the owner of this Tesla. I am the owner of the car behind it that hit the Tesla because the Tesla went into emergency automatic braking and the sudden additional deceleration happened too quickly to react to it and contact occurred while I was still doing about 5-ish mph. The Tesla driver obviously wasn't braking effectively, and the car took over for him to avoid hitting the car in front of him. But there is no consideration for the car behind. I do not know how far back the Tesla stopped from the car in front of it, but all I needed was 2-3 feet. (when I get into these 60 to 0 deceleration, when I know "I'm good" I ease up on the braking to give the guy behind me as much space as possible for him to get stopped so I don't get hit. ) Tesla's emergency automatic braking caused this accident.

All 4 brake lines (tubes) from either from abs or brake booster pump are corroded and pierced. All brake fluid leaked front center of the vehicle and lost all brake. Brake lines or tubes are looks good from under the front and back tires. It looks like a quality of the brake lines / tubes from abs to the bottom are not meeting the expected quality.

While driving to work on a local road, I approached a red light where there were no vehicles immediately ahead. However, my vehicle unexpectedly steered off the road in front of a construction sign, entering a ditch. Despite my attempts to regain control of the steering and braking systems, I was unsuccessful. The vehicle subsequently stopped automatically on an incline. Fortunately, I avoided a collision with a gas station and intersecting roadway, but sustained damage to my car’s front bumper. Law enforcement and a towing service were contacted to remove the vehicle. I tried calling the dealership almost half day without an answer, then I went to the dealership where they told me that the hardware is fine but they can’t do anything about the possible software issues which leaves me in a situation where I’m nervous to drive the car. I reached out to the company about the accident and didn’t hear back yet from them. I request a thorough investigation into this incident to determine the cause of the unexpected, highly dangerous, autopilot behavior. I am disturbed mentally and emotionally due to the accident. I also require confirmation of the vehicle's roadworthiness and assurance that it is safe to operate before resuming driving.

The vehicle’s front suspension began making loud squeaking noises and felt unstable while driving, especially when turning or going over uneven surfaces. At times, the vehicle does not make a proper turn and almost feels like it loses grip, which is extremely unsafe. I brought the vehicle to a Tesla service center. After inspection, Tesla provided a service estimate and documentation confirming the failure of the front lower lateral links — the exact part and condition described in NHTSA safety recalls 21v835000 and 23v235000, which cover defective front suspension lateral link fasteners on this vehicle make, model, and year. Despite the clear match, Tesla did not recognize the repair as recall-related and categorized it as a customer-pay service. This raises concern that some affected vehicles are being excluded from proper recall coverage, despite experiencing the same safety defects. There were no warning lights or alerts prior to the failure. The issue was confirmed by Tesla and the part is available for inspection upon request.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - abs, automatic emergency braking, traction control, stability control failed while braking using the regenerative braking. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - while coming to a stop using the regenerative braking, the regenerative braking immedietely ceased to work, and the driver had to immediately apply the hydraulic brakes to avoid a rear end collision has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - no were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - no, they appeared while braking. This issue is not new to this vehicle and has happened in the past, however the errors cleared themselves out.

My Tesla got stuck in a mcdonald's drive-through because the epb (electronic park break) refused to disengage. I believe it got stuck as the vehicle was pulling up to the window to pay and I had to reach out with my phone to tap their payment terminal to use apple pay. Then the park brake engaged I believe because I possibly lifted up from my seat, yet had my foot on the brake, but when I put it into drive, it refused to disengage. So my car got stuck for about an hour until we force skidded it out of the drive way. Now I've been stuck at this mcdonald's parking lot for days, unable to drive it to get repaired or charged. Tesla temecula refuses to schedule service and canceled the service appointment. Other further away Tesla service centers want to charge me hundreds of dollars for diagnosis that I don't have. This is the 2nd time the park break got stuck. The other time was in hospital ambulance er drop-off bay. This is a major safety issue and the NHTSA should do a safety recall on this to force Tesla to fix it. It's both a software and hardware engineering issue. Yet Tesla keeps placing the blame and cost on customers to profit from their faulty engineering testing. Please help me and Tesla customer fix this!.

The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 65 mph, and was driving on the exit ramp, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's daughter stated that the brake pedal felt hard. The contact's daughter used the emergency brake but failed to function as intended. In addition, the steering wheel locked. The contact's daughter, to avoid hitting the vehicle in front, was able to pull over to the side of the road using excessive force on the steering wheel, and hit a tree, where it came to a stop. The driver-side air bags and side curtain air bags deployed. Three of the contact’s daughters were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact's daughter suffered three fractures in her left eye, three fingers on her left hand were fractured, and the seat belt left a burn on her neck. The contact's three other daughters were passengers inside the vehicle. The daughter who sat in the front passenger seat suffered hematomas on the abdomen and had bruises on her face, legs, and arms. The daughter who sat behind the driver in the back suffered injuries, scratches on the legs, the glass debris from the window caused cuts on the head, and had bruises on her chest and back. The daughter who sat in the front passenger seat was not seriously injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the towing yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company was notified. The contact filed a claim, and it was denied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance. The failure mileage was 13,816.

On [Wednesday, 07/09/2025], I was driving my Tesla Model 3 in rainy conditions when the vehicle suddenly swerved and crashed into a sidewall. The road was wet but not flooded, and I was traveling at a moderate speed. As I lifted my foot off the accelerator to slow down, the car's regenerative braking system engaged abruptly, which I believe shifted weight forward and caused the rear tires to lose traction. This led to hydroplaning and complete loss of control. There were no warning lights or alerts prior to the incident. The road surface did not have visible hazards or standing water that would typically explain a spinout. The tires were moderately worn but within usable limits. As a result of the crash, the car was declared a total loss. The insurance company now has possession of the vehicle. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the crash was severe. After the incident, I researched similar cases and found multiple reports and articles (e. G. , autoevolution) linking Tesla’s regenerative braking to increased risk of hydroplaning or loss of control in wet or slippery conditions. The regen system eliminates coasting and applies braking force immediately upon throttle lift-off, which appears to be a safety risk in reduced-traction environments like rain, snow, or ice. I believe this issue deserves investigation, as it may affect the safety of other Tesla drivers in similar weather conditions.

I pulled up to a red light in a protected left turn lane. My car is set to use regenerative braking and hold/not roll once stopped. I felt my car roll forward a bit, which shouldn't happen when these settings are on. I quickly checked my rearview mirror, assuming someone had hit me from behind to cause me to roll forward. No one was behind me. I hit my brake and the car suddenly accelerated at full throttle speed, I would guess, into the intersection, despite the light being red for me. I quickly glanced down at my foot to confirm that it was on the brake pedal and it definitely was. I continued to repeatedly push the brake pedal down to no avail. I was steering and tried to navigate my way through 4 lanes of moving traffic because they had a green light. I hit the front end of a car, which didn't slow my car at all. I went on to hit another car's front end, which didn't slow my car at all either. My car then charged out of control to hit the curb on the opposite side of the street facing traffic. Hitting the curb stopped my car finally. I noticed that the airbags on the right side of my car were deployed. Components that failed/malfunctioned: brakes, fuel/propulsion system, speed control, automatic emergency braking, collision warning/avoidance, traffic signal detection Tesla insurance has deemed the car a total loss. I also reported the malfunction to their vehicle support but haven't gotten the report or the data report from the car that I requested yet. I was told that the report would be complete by 8/7/25. The car was placed on a hold for the investigation, so it should be available for inspection. I do have the dashcam videos and photos of my car, if needed. This incident was terrifying because I had zero control of my vehicle due to the sudden unintended acceleration (sua). I see on the internet that sua is a problem with Tesla that has been reported repeatedly. It is a miracle that no one was hurt or killed. Tesla needs to address this immediately!.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Incident details: • date of incident: [xxx] • time: [xxx] • location: san antonio, TX • weather/road conditions: clear, dry highway; 90 f • speed: 60 mph; • description: while driving my 2021 Tesla Model 3 with full self-driving (fsd) software version 12. 6. 4 engaged, the vehicle unexpectedly changed lanes without my input, likely due to the auto lane change feature. Immediately after, it braked hard for and unrecognized slowing traffic ahead. This sudden jolt caused immediate pain in my upper back, neck, and chest, which persists. I believe fsd misjudged traffic patterns or road conditions, a known issue with v12. 6. 4 based on online reports. The incident occurred in heavy traffic and no crash occurred, but the abrupt braking posed a safety risk and caused injury. I’m unable to see a doctor today but plan to soon for a diagnosis. This is a serious safety concern, as fsd’s erratic behavior could cause collisions or further injuries. Injuries: yes, back, neck, and chest pain caused by sudden braking. No medical diagnosis yet; planning to see a doctor soon. Crash: no fire: no police report: no accident attachments: I have video information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

[xxx]- [xxx]am. Trying to park in ymca located in camp hill PA. Took soft right turn to park. Car accelerated instead of recognizing break, which I applied when I see it accelerating. Then I left break so it can take emergency break that didn’t happened it keep going and cross over the parking curb about six torah inch high and went in a ditch. I did not hurt but car front damaged. Tesla was informed and they have the log of the time but told they don’t see any issue. My insurance is paying all the expenses. This was the third incident where car did not tool emergency break itself or recognized the break. I did reported last incident to Tesla. It only happened three times in last six years. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I was traveling northbound on [xxx} in sugar grove, IL with the traffic aware cruise control on. As I passed under [xxx] the car braked heavily for no reason. No cars in the area. . . Thankfully. I could have easily been rear-ended. It has done this on more than one occasion at this location. I filed a "bug-report" via the right hand button on the steering wheel. I was also traveling [xxx] near lasalle-peru with the cruise control on at about 80 mph when the vehicle suddenly braked heavily. No cars around at all. The moment was extremely frightening. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have had this happen twice, once on city streets going to work the car was not in auto pilot and it went from 40mph to 0mph instantly. If there was a car behind me I would have gotten slammed into. The second time, my mother was in the passenger seat and I was on the freeway going about 75 to 80mph and it was on auto steer and the car went from the speed I was going to almost 0 and I instantly took control of the vehicle. We both could have been killed because of the last incident and I thought the cameras saw something on the road but there was nothing there. No cars were near me when both events occurred.