NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Tesla Model 3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
HERE IS ANOTHER MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD WITH THE SAME OLD SNAPPED SPARROW LEG SUSPENSION. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=29342528&ROWNUMBER=85&LOADRECENT=TRUE ALL OF THE AIR-BAGS HAVE GONE OFF BUT THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR THE SNAPPED SUSPENSION. IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT AFTER THE WHEEL WENT WHOMPY THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY SETTING OFF THE AIRBAGS. THERE ARE NOW FOUR REPORTED INSTANCES OF MODEL 3 SNAPPED SUSPENSIONS AND YET NOT A SINGLE OWNER HAS FILED A COMPLAINT. I WONDER WHY.... PERHAPS TESLA HAS THEM SIGN AN NDA? PLEASE INVESTIGATE. PLEASE PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. PERPLEXED CITIZEN.
I WAS AT THE SUPERCHARGING STATION IN DUBLIN ( CALIFORNIA) . WHEN I WANTED TO TAKE REVERSE AND PARK MY CAR FOR SUPERCHARGING.MY CAR SHOWED THE OPTION OF AUTOPARK. SINCE THERE WAS AN OPEN SPOT AVAILABLE FOR PARKING MY CAR (WHERE MY CAR FITS PROPERLY - AS PER TESLA GUIDELINES) .I STARTED AUTO PARKING ,IN AUTOPARK FEATURE USUALLY THE CAR COMES CLOSE TO THE OTHER CAR AND THEN TAKES NECESSARY TURN. BUT IN MY CASE THE CAR CAME VERY CLOSE TO THE OTHER CAR AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING IT SPEEDED UP AND DASHED TO THE OTHER CAR IN THE PARKING SPOT. MY CAR HAS COLLISION PREVENTION PLUS IT PROVIDES ACCURATE DISTANCE IF THERE IS SOME OBJECT BEHIND MY CAR, BUT IN THIS CAR NEITHER OF THE SYSTEMS ALERTED ME AND LED TO A CRASH.I RAISED A COMPLAINT TO TESLA ABOUT THE AUTO PARK FEATURES PROBLEM BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY ANY WORD FROM THEM. I HAVE ATTACHED THE IMAGES OF THE CAR.
WHILE DRIVING IN AUTONOMOUS MODE IT SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT WHERE AN 18 WHEELER WAS IN THE NEXT LANE. IT ALMOST HIT THE TRUCK. I WAS ATTENTIVE ENOUGH TO TAKE CONTROL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES SOMETHING HAPPENED AGAIN.
PASSENGER DOORS OPENED ELECTRICALLY. I BELIEVE MANUAL BACKUP OPENING EXISTS ONLY WITH FRONT DOOR. WILL REAR SEAT PASSENGERS BE ABLE TO EVACUATE ARITHMETIC FIRE, OR IN WATER, OR WILL THEY BE TRAPPED? HAS NOT HAPPENED, BUT MIGHT IT HAPPEN?
HERE IS A MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=28782924&ROWNUMBER=52&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE LOWER BALL-JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAVE SNAPPED. THIS IS VERY LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE ROLLOVER AND NOT THE RESULT OF IT. A PHOTOGRAPH IS ATTACHED OF ANOTHER MODEL 3 (THE RED ONE) WHICH HAS THE SAME SNAPPED OFF BALL-JOINTS. THESE BALL JOINTS APPEAR TO BE THE SAME RIDICULOUSLY WEAK TWO PART FRICTION WELDED BALL JOINTS THAT ARE USED ON THE MODEL S AND MODEL X. PHOTOGRAPH OF A SNAPPED BALL JOINT IS ALSO INCULDED IN THIS SUBMISSION. THANK YOU. DRIVE SAFELY AND WATCH OUT FOR TESLAS.
SAFETY ISSUE WITH REAR DOORS. REAR PASSENGERS AND SPECIALLY CHILDREN WHO ARE UNABLE TO EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAN BECOME TRAPPED IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR MAJOR COLLISION THAT DISABLES THE ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE DOORS. FRONT DOORS ARE EQUIPPED WITH EMERGENCY RELEASE LATCH HOWEVER, REAR DOORS HAVE NO SUCH SAFETY BACKUP IN A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION.
TESLA'S CEO, MR. ELON MUSK, HAS MADE SO MANY FRAUDULENT STATEMENTS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. YET, NO GOVERNMENT AGENCY INCLUDING THE SEC, HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THESE DELIBERATE, FRAUDULENT AND OBVIOUS STATEMENTS. PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FACT: CONSUMER REPORT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS NOW RECOMMENDING MODEL 3 OF TSLA BECAUSE THE BRAKING PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED. ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE THAT I READ TODAY, A SENIOR ENGINEER WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND SIMILAR ISSUES FOR THE PAST 28 YEARS, INDICATED THAT THE RETEST THAT CONSUMER REPORT CONDUCTED WAS ON DRY ASPHALT. ACCORDING TO HIM, NOW THAT THE CALIBER HAS CHANGED, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE BRAKING DISTANCE ON WET AND SNOWY ASPHALT HAS BEEN IMPACTED NEGATIVELY. ACCORDING TO HIM, THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE WHICH ENDANGERS PUBLIC SAFETY. LET'S GET TESLA, CONSUMER REPORT AND AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY TO TEST THE BRAKING DISTANCE ON WET AND ALSO SNOWY ASPHALT, AND SEE IF THOSE DISTANCES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED NEGATIVELY. AGAIN, ACCORDING TO AN EXPERT WITH 28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE NEW CALIBRATION HAS AFFECTED THE BRAKING DISTANCE NEGATIVELY ON WET AND SNOWY ASPHALT. ALSO ACCORDING TO THIS EXPERT, TESLA KEEPS RUSHING AND DOESN'T CONDUCT ENOUGH SAFETY TESTS THAT IS STANDARD IN THE INDUSTRY. TESLA AND CONSUMER REPORT HAVE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE WORLD TO CONDUCT THESE TESTS AS WELL. IT'S A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE CAR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 100 YEARS. ALSO, ACCORDING TO THIS EXPERT,THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE BRAKING DISTANCE OF ITS CAR ON DRY ASPHALT OVER THE AIR BY USING A SOFTWARE RECALIBRATION. THE EXPERT IS WARNING THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY, AND THESE TESTS ABSOLUTELY MUST BE CONDUCTED TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE WORLD. LET'S PROTECT THE WORLD AND THE HUMAN BEINGS. THANKS.
WHOSE CRIMINAL LIABILITY IS THE INDEPENDENT GUIDE? SELF-DRIVING CARS MUST BE BANNED FOR LEGAL REASONS WITHOUT PERSONAL LIABILITY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO PART OF A STORE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED TESLA'S SERVICE CENTER AT (610) 407-7030, BUT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT
DRIVER FELT SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING THE CAR. THE ACCELERATION HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING 90% AT PRETTY NORMAL SPEEDS TO PARK. THE CAR HIT A TREE, AND SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT FRONTAL DAMAGE.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF 2018 TESLA MODEL 3. ISSUE DESCRIPTION: ISSUE OCCURRED ON 05/04/18 AT APPROX. 11:52 AM WHILE TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKING SPACE POSITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER THEY FELT INOPERATIVE. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OVER BRAKING AND THE VEHICLE HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. THE DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID DIRECTLY HITTING A DUMPSTER WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THEN HIT A CURB AND A PONY WALL. AFTER THE IMPACT, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THAT EVENTUALLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. PROBABLE CAUSE: UNKNOWN. GIVEN THE VEHICLE IS NEW, IT IS DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY A REASON WHY WOULD IT ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ENHANCED AUTO PILOT WHICH WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THE NIGHT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED SOFTWARE GLITCH WHERE IN IT WOULD NOT CONTROL THE VOLUME OF THE RADIO WHILE DRIVING WITH THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS STUCK IN CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION. CAR IS RUNNING SOFTWARE VERSION 8.1 (2018.14.13 9E3B7FF)
HERE IS A VIDEO THAT HAS JUST BEEN UPLOADED TO YOUTUBE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=4GUHSMIPIQ4 THIS OWNER THINKS IT IS PERFECTLY SAFE TO JAM SOME FRUIT IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO ELIMINATE THE "HOLD STEERING WHEEL" NAGS. HE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A COMPLETE IDIOT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT HE HAS BEEN MISLEAD BY THE HYPE SPREAD BY TESLA AND CEO ELON MUSK. DESPITE SEVERAL FATAL CRASHES MUSK IS STILL SPREADING THE MESSAGE THAT NHTSA FOUND AUTOPILOT IS 40% SAFER THAN A HUMAN DRIVER. NHTSA HAS NOW REVEALED THAT THE CLAIM WAS BASED ON TESLA'S OWN (UNVERIFIED) DATA. MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE UNLESS THIS UNCONTROLLED AND HIGHLY DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT IS HALTED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THANK YOU. DEEPLY CONCERNED CITIZEN.
I HAVE HAD A SERIES OF ESCALATING INCIDENTS (SEE ATTACHED PDF) THAT HAVE EACH INVOLVED THE VEHICLE DISABLING AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), TRACTION CONTROL, PARTIAL STEERING CONTROL, REGENERATIVE BRAKING (FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE), AND MOST RECENTLY EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING FUNCTION WHILE REVERSING AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL WARNING THAT MY AIRBAG WAS DISABLED. INITIALLY I WAS ADVISED TO RESET MY CAR SINCE IT MAY BE A SOFTWARE GLITCH SIMILAR TO A COMPUTER OR PHONE NEEDING A RESTART. AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A FIRMWARE ISSUES KNOWN TO TESLA, BUT EXPERIENCED A CRITICAL SHUT DOWN OF MY VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY FUNCTIONS THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE SEEN BEEN INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THE HIGH VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN UPDATE SINCE CONFIRMING THAT THEY BELIEVE THE LATEST REPAIR WILL MAKE THE CAR WHOLE, SAFE, AND FUNCTIONAL.
WHILE OPERATING IN AC COOLING MODE, WITHOUT FOREWARNING, WOULD SWITCH TO HEATING OPERATION. DURING THIS UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR, THE DISPLAY DOES NOT INDICATE ANY CHANGE IN THE HVAC SYSTEM BEHAVIOR. THIS DEFECT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE REAR PASSENGERS ARE CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. THEY ARE EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE WHILE THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE FAST DEVELOPING DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE REAR THAT MAY LEAD TO HEATSTROKE OR WORST. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=4GVDXQCPAPI