NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model 3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
While driving at highway speeds, using cruise control, the vehicle occasionally brakes for no apparent reason with no vehicles or obstacles in the way. The braking is severe and could potentially cause me to be rear ended. The dealer inspected the vehicle and could not reproduce the problem. There has been no previous warning to the braking.
On March 14, 2026, at 20:54:21 UTC, while the Autopilot system was engaged, the vehicle malfunctioned by initiating a sudden, unprompted right-hand steering command within 0.3 seconds, resulting in a collision with another vehicle traveling in the adjacent right lane. Telemetry data from the event confirms the system failed to maintain the lane despite the Primary Steering Torque Sensor measuring 0.00 Nm, proving no driver input caused the maneuver. This unintended steering event at cruising speed created an immediate safety risk to myself and the occupants of the other vehicle. To date, the manufacturer (Tesla) has declined to perform a technical or remote diagnostic review, redirecting the case to a collision center instead. No warning lamps, audio chimes, or system messages occurred prior to the failure; the vehicle is currently available for inspection and raw CSV telemetry logs can be provided to investigators upon request.
The vehicle presented an error that the audio system was offline, and that the horn, speakers, and internal safety sounds may not work. After driving on the PA turnpike and almost getting in an accident, this error causes the horn to not functioning at all. I was not able to alert the other driver due to this issue, and had to therefore slam on the breaks due to this issue which caused a safety risk to myself and other drivers on the road. This issue has been consistent since the error originally appeared a week ago. The horn does not function, as well as the reverse pedestrian safety sound that alerts pedestrians of the vehicle reversing. In the interior, no safety chimes, audio, turn signal clicks are audible and therefore are not able to be perceived. After putting in a service request and being told I was to be scheduled 2 weeks out and not provided a loaner, I called the dealership whom confirmed this, and stated they are not able to provide a loaner vehicle or move the appointment closer regardless of their being a potential safety issue. There are no other warning lights on in the vehicle, and the alert popped up out of no where, as well it does not mention the horn *does not* work, only warning that the horn may not work.
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions with Full Self-Driving (FSD) Mode engaged, the vehicle stopped abruptly while approaching a yellow traffic light, nearly causing the head of the driver to strike the windshield on one occasion. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to gradually come to a stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 10,100.
Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) was engaged at the time of the incident. The vehicle was traveling at low speed on a straight roadway when it unexpectedly initiated a sudden steering maneuver out of its lane toward a roadside structure (outdoor restaurant seating area), resulting in a collision. The driver did not provide steering input prior to or during the maneuver. There were no warning messages or alerts indicating a hazard or need for evasive action before the event. Vehicle telemetry data reviewed after the incident indicates that the steering system executed a rapid, large-angle deflection without corresponding driver input, consistent with a system-initiated maneuver. The system continued to apply throttle during the event. The incident created a direct safety risk to the vehicle occupants and nearby pedestrians due to unintended vehicle path deviation toward a fixed structure. Additional Context: When this car was in the repair shop for repairs, we were told that during the replacement of the dashboard/computer system, the technicians observed a persistent system code that would not clear. Tesla technical support was contacted, and the system was ultimately reinstalled to resolve the issue. While the direct connection between this code and the FSD malfunction is unknown, the persistent code may indicate preexisting software system instability. The vehicle has been inspected by repair professionals, and supporting data (telemetry and video) is preserved and available for review upon request. Cause of the malfunction is currently UNKNOWN, but evidence indicates a failure in the driver assistance system’s steering control.
Vibration that they said they diagnosed was not fixed per company policy they said they cannot fix it which would mean my vehicle is still unsafe at highway speeds the issue occurs after 70 mph on march 4th 2026 when rescheduling for the same issue I received this message. From a Tesla rep that they did everything they can
Inused tesla to back up from my driveway and it hit my Gate little damage but the car did it . Did not calculate and crash sensor sisnt work car crash the car on fss (automatic pilot)
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front windshield fractured independently. In addition, the contact stated that there was no evidence of impact on the front windshield. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the vehicle was parked in an underground parking garage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 4,050.
After the High Voltage Battery Contactor recall service, my 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance suffered a sudden 13% drop in range (from 303mi to 264mi at 100% charge). An official Tesla Battery Health Test confirms the battery health is at 92% in less than a year of ownership. This degradation happened immediately following the recall procedure, indicating a hardware or software defect caused by the service.
Lately I keep getting the following concerning message on the dashboard of almost brand new 2025 Tesla 3 car, even after reset the screen : Steering Assist Reduced Steering may require Increased Effort See the attached picture of this message, I took this photo On Dec 25, 2025 at 12:56 pm with parked car. I am pretty concerned with potential safety issue with the important steering-function while driving on highway and other roads. The car has only 804 miles as of Dec 26, 2025. The new car was picked up on May 31, 2025 with 15 miles. I have the FSD on monthly subscription. I have sent a message to Tesla. It has provided me with a service appointment at its West Bloomfield Township Center in Michigan on Jan 26, 2026 at 10:30 am. At the time of setting the appointment an estimate of about $450 was provided. It is concerning since the new car is under warranty. I am submitting this concerning safety related issue to NHTSA - to please investigate.
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.
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,
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.
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."
It threw an error that said “Steering assist reduced” and the power steering no longer functioned. It was very difficult to turn the wheel. The vehicle was stopped when the error popped up, but was driving fine up until that point.
I drove car for about 15 minutes and pulled into a parking space. There was no bumping or other incident. I left the vehicle for about 10 minutes and returned. The screen on my return showed 2 warnings, 1. Steering assist disabled, and 2. Collision avoidance system currently inoperable. Dealing with warning number 1: On starting to back out of parking space, i discovered there was no assist for steering, and a high degree of force was needed to turn the steering wheel and guide the car. This required considerable force. I tried a "system reboot" twice to no avail (this is done by holding 2 steering wheel buttons for about 10 seconds). I called Tesla for service and they towed to car to their service center. I do not know what steps were taken to diagnose or repair the problem. Warning number 2 disappeared from the screen when I started trying to back up..
I purchased a new 2025 Tesla Model 3. During normal driving conditions, the rear bumper detached without any collision or impact. The bumper became loose while the vehicle was moving, creating a potential safety hazard. Tesla Service inspected the vehicle but declined warranty coverage and refused to properly repair the issue. The bumper was only temporarily reattached and remains misaligned. Additionally, shortly after purchasing the vehicle, the seat belt assembly had a failure and had to be repaired by Tesla under warranty. While Tesla addressed that issue, it adds to my concern about the overall quality and reliability of a brand-new vehicle. Because the vehicle is new and the failure occurred during normal driving, I believe this may indicate a defect. I am requesting assistance in reviewing this situation. Vehicle: 2025 Tesla Model 3 VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am reporting a safety issue involving my 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance. My steering wheel began shaking while driving, and the vehicle felt unstable, especially at speed. I brought the vehicle to Tesla Service in Las Vegas. Their inspection found that the outer tie rod nut on the passenger front side was loose, which created steering play and caused the steering wheel shake (documented in Tesla invoice #XXX). A loose tie rod nut is a serious steering safety defect that can result in loss of steering control. Tesla performed a four-wheel alignment and tightened the components but stated the issue is “maintenance” and not covered under warranty, despite the vehicle having only 12,890 miles. Tesla also stated the steering rack had “no issues,” but they did not perform any repair on the steering system beyond tightening the loose tie rod nut and charging me for alignment. They also did not explain how a nearly new vehicle could develop a loose steering component. A loose outer tie rod nut should never occur on a new car unless there is a defect or improper assembly from the factory. This poses a significant safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. Tesla did not treat this as a steering safety defect and only attributed it to alignment. They declined warranty coverage and did not fully address the root cause. I am filing this complaint because steering components should not loosen on a 2025 model vehicle, and the situation could have resulted in loss of control or an accident. I want NHTSA to be aware in case this issue appears in other vehicles of the same model year.
The Tesla FSD performed in a dangerous way. It came into a left lane when a speeding truck was in the lane and nearly hit my car. This occurred on Nov 12 around 5:30 pm near floor and decor at Kolb and Broadway Intersection in Tucson AZ. I engaged FSD to return home in Oro Valley. First the car did not follow straight path going from the parking store lot to make a right trun and enter Kolb road. It made right turn and left turn and then right to Kolb road to turn right. It was a busy time in the evening. When an opening was found it entered Kolb road and then rapidly zig zagged to change lanes to try to enter left turn lane only on Kolb to turn on Broadway. In the left most lane, it did not detect a fast approaching truck. The truck honked, and I took control of the car and sped through the intersection to avoid collision.
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.
I was driving on a straight interstate road between 60-70 mph using Full-Self Driving around 4:15pm and there was no traffic in front, behind, or next to me. Suddenly, the car tried to make a sharp right turn that felt like more than an obstacle avoidant move or lane keeping move. I had to grab the wheel even harder than I was (my hands were fortunately on the wheel) and force it back into the lane. If i did not make this intervention, I would've gone off the road and crashed.
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 signals buttons occasionally don't work. Brought in for service and was told through a message that this is a firmware issue. Tesla then releases the vehicle back to me without a fix.
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while coming to a stop at a traffic light, the vehicle’s autopilot system became inoperable, and the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated up to approximately 13 MPH without any warning lights illuminated. The contact attempted to regain control of the steering; however, due to the failure, the vehicle collided with another vehicle, resulting in severe damage to the driver’s side rear quarter panel, wheel, and tire. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy during the incident. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The contact expressed concern that the vehicle may present a potential safety hazard, as the failure had recurred on multiple occasions when attempting to drive the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,300.
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 [XXX] at [XXX], 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: [XXX] Location: Smithtown New York FSD or Autopilot: FSD Vehicle VIN: [XXX] 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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
After upgrading to FSD (sull self driving supervised) v14, The speed limit function HAS BEEN REMOVED. THERE IS NO WAY TO SET A MAX SPEED FOR CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR SPEEDS UNSAFELY AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN FSD. THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTROL HOW FAST THE CAR CAN GO. It just "thinks" what speed is best. It constantly speeds 7-10 over in every setting above "SLOTH". SLOTH setting still DOES NOT have a speed limit setting. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING A MAX SPEED SETTING.
In the New Tesla update to Full Self Drive they removed the ability to adjust the speed control while using FSD yet state "Note: You are responsible for the speed and control of your vehicle at all times, whether FSD (Supervised) is enabled or not."
On my 2025 Tesla Model 3 Highland, the right-turn signal button on the steering wheel fails to activate approximately 25–30% of the time. The issue is random and unpredictable. This has occurred while changing lanes on the freeway and when turning into shopping centers or side streets, leaving drivers behind me unaware of my intent and creating a safety hazard. The problem is worse when lane assist is active, as the vehicle resists the maneuver when the signal doesn’t engage, interpreting it as lane departure. The problem started happening at around 3,000 miles on the odometer and continues intermittently. I have not had Tesla service confirm the issue yet, but other owners have reported that replacement of the steering wheel does not resolve it, suggesting a systemic or software-related defect. No warning lamps or messages appear.
Tesla’s Obstruction of Repairs Tesla deleted my original service complaint and annotations regarding these delivery defects. The associated service appointment was cancelled without notice or rescheduling. No repairs were performed despite the issues being raised during the warranty period. This prevented reasonable repair attempts and allowed the defects to persist. Current Nonconformities and Repair History The same or substantially similar defects continue and have worsened: • Recurring misalignment/alignment issues from delivery, impairing value and potentially safety. • Safety-related camera system failures: Persistent error codes on the camera(s) [specify if known, e.g., front/rear/ADAS-related], reducing visibility and affecting safe operation (e.g., backup, navigation, Autopilot/FSD if equipped). These are known Tesla issues potentially subject to recall (e.g., rearview camera display loss). • Power windows failure: Unresolved for at least 2 weeks despite service request; windows do not operate properly, impairing use and safety (e.g., emergency egress). Cumulative out-of-service time and failed repair attempts (including the obstructed initial one) meet or approach presumptions under § 1793.22(b): multiple attempts for the same nonconformities, with safety impacts. The vehicle remains nonconforming despite reasonable opportunity for Tesla to repair. nonconformities in the above vehicle that qualify it as a “lemon” under California Civil Code §§ 1793.2(d) and 1793.22 (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act). These defects originated at delivery, were reported within the express warranty period, but Tesla failed to repair them—by deleting my original service complaint, annotating delivery issues without resolution, and cancelling the associated appointment—preventing conformity to warranty. The same issues persist and recur post-warranty expiration, substantially impairing the vehicle’s use, value, and safety
On [XXX] at approximately [XXX], I was driving northbound on [XXX] in Phoenix, Arizona in my 2025 Tesla Model 3 using Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) (Supervised) mode, when the incident occurred. I was paying close attention while driving in the left-most, non-HOV lane coming up to a bend just before the [XXX] overpass, when I noticed traffic ahead slowing down and coming to a stop. I monitored FSD as it went through the act of braking; however, it seemed to wait a little longer than I would have expected before it actually started to brake, and when it did, the FSD system had to brake more aggressively than I've previously experienced. As it neared the end of the braking event (while the car was still moving), the FSD system disengaged itself without any input from me (neither by manually applying the brake pedal, applying torque to the steering wheel, or pressing the FSD button). When the FSD system disengaged itself, my vehicle continued forward. Had I not been paying attention, my vehicle would have collided with the rear end of the vehicle in front of me. Since I was paying close attention, I immediately slammed on the brakes after noticing that FSD had disengaged itself. I have dashcam footage of this event from the TeslaCam system; however, it does not include audio or telemetry data. Even without that, you can see in the video that my car noses down while FSD applies the brakes, then noses up when FSD disengages itself, and then noses down again when I apply the brakes manually. (The dashcam footage exceeds the 20MB limit; however, I can provide it via other means upon request.) It should be noted that I am an experienced Tesla FSD user, as I used it for over a year in my prior vehicle (2018 Tesla Model 3, which had been upgraded with the HW3 FSD computer), and this is the first time I have ever experienced a near collision event while using FSD or an event in which FSD disengaged on its own. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Tesla Model 3 2025, FSD V13.2.9, red light violation: Video enclosed: [XXX] It just happened and I have no more information can provide. Apparently FSD didn't warn me that it will run a red light. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle self drove took quick into an off ramp and took flight on cattle guard into a pole. The vehicle never attempted to make a emergency stop and no air bags deployed
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)
I love my vehicle and its technology. However after installation of the latest (FSD V14) update, I observed issues I believe pose a risk to the safe operation of the vehicle. I have made dozens of reports for 30+ days to Tesla for these issues. 1. Driving Profiles and Speed The update features multiple driving profiles (e.g., "Sloth", "Chill", "Standard", and Mad Max). Only the "Sloth" profile drives at the “speed limit” (what their outdated map thinks speed limit is). All other profiles drive over the posted speed limit (sometimes significantly). The ability to manually adjust the speed limit setting has been removed or disabled in these profiles. Once the vehicle is in a profile, the system stays in its own selected speed. This behavior prevents the driver from easily controlling the maximum speed when using the system, undermining driver-intent. 2. Incorrect or Outdated Speed Limit Data The vehicle frequently displays incorrect speed limits: for example, school zones, reduced speed zones, temporary speed changes, work zones, and even a busy high way I drive everyday that’s been changed for 3 months now, are often not recognized or updated in the system. On several occasions over the past months, the system continued to use an outdated or incorrect posted speed, despite the road clearly being a lower limit. Because the system uses the erroneous speed data as the basis for its automated driving decision (and without manual override of speed in FSD), this situation increases risk-especially in areas where lower speed limits are enforced for safety (pedestrian zones, near schools). 3. Safety Risk Description The lack of manual speed adjustment under autonomous mode means the driver has less control over vehicle speed when using FSD, reducing the driver's ability to mitigate risk in a dynamic environment. I’m asking for Tesla to either make sure they have constant real time speed limit data, or allow again for manual speed adjusts when in FSD.
The vehicle has loud creaking and groaning noises when turning the wheel at low speed or at a standstill, I’ve taken it to a Tesla service center where they claimed that this is just a characteristic of the vehicle yet I myself and a mechanic and understand that the fundamentals of suspension are the same regardless of what type of vehicle it may be and know that this is actually a known issue with Teslas especially with Model 3s. My vehicle is at 10,683 miles and still within the warranty, on Friday, September 26 at 8 AM. I dropped off my vehicle for repairs later that day at around 1645 or as known as 4:45 PM. I was messaged saying that my vehicle is ready for pick up as I read the service notes, I saw that they did not do any repair on my suspension. This is concerning to me because this is a safety issue and I highly believe that the vehicle needs to be repaired. The service center is located in Santa Clarita, California.
Description of Issue: The car displayed error code DI_a137 and unable to drive/pull over safely. The vehicle became undrivable and had to be towed to the Tesla service center. The service center diagnosed a rear drive inverter failure and replaced the entire inverter assembly. Safety Concern: It is alarming for a critical drivetrain component to fail completely within the first year of ownership and at such low mileage. A sudden loss of power while driving poses a serious safety risk to the driver and passengers.
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the turn signal buttons on the steering wheel used to activate the turn signals were designed with a flaw that might cause an accident if depressed intentionally. The contact was a retired Service Technician for over 40 years. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
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 car was parked in a campground for a night and several systems issues came up, including traction control disabled, steer assistant disabled, staibility control disabled, and the car was keeping accelerating even though I did not step on the accelerate pedal. The acceleration was out of control. This was happening in a remote area when we drove half way out of the campground to a city. We called the Tesla roadside help and they just told us they could not help because it was too late to find a toll provider and we were left in the middle of nowhere and no help. We searched Google and found a few very similar issues on Tesla cars that had been reported. We don't know what happened but those issues just disappeared themselves in the next morning and we have not get the chance to send it a service center for further investigation. We are certain that this is very serious safety issue and the car was basically out of control.
On [XXX], at just 9,526 miles, my brand-new 2025 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered a front motor/inverter failure. The vehicle displayed the warning “Front Motor Disabled.” Tesla Vallejo Service confirmed this and replaced the front drive inverter (3DU). A catastrophic drivetrain failure at under 10,000 miles is unacceptable and raises serious concerns about reliability and safety. It still doesn't not accelerate as before. In addition, since delivery on [XXX], this vehicle has had persistent rattling and vibration issues in the cabin. I have returned to Tesla Vallejo multiple times (April, June, July, and August 2025). Each time, the service manager, Steve McNerney, dismissed or minimized my concerns, blaming “seatbelt rattling” or claiming the issue could not be replicated. After July, I even sent three separate videos clearly documenting the noise, yet the most recent service invoice still instructed me to “provide a video,” showing Tesla ignored or failed to record my evidence. This ongoing defect has been reproduced and confirmed at Tesla service but remains unresolved. Tesla’s dismissive handling and failure to fix the defects create both safety risks and loss of confidence in the vehicle. A front motor failure while driving could result in loss of power, reduced acceleration, or unsafe driving conditions. Tesla has failed to provide a reliable or safe resolution despite repeated repair attempts and clear evidence. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I want to add an update to my previous report # 11690629. I think it would be helpful to provide what the Max Speed should be based on my input. So, I will just resubmit the previous report with some additional information. On December 31, 2024, I purchased a new Tesla Model 3 Long Range with Full Self-Driving (FSD). The problem is the car goes faster than it should when Full Self-Driving is activated. I have attached an example photo of the Tesla screen taken while the car is being controlled by FSD. It shows the actual speed limit of the road is 35 MPH, and the car is traveling at a steady speed of 51 MPH. It also shows a “Max Speed” of 64 MPH which means the car may travel that fast on this road if it chooses to. Since I use an Offset of 10%, the Max Speed in this 35 zone should be 39 MPH. However, the car increased it to 64 MPH, and I certainly did not use the right scroll wheel to increase it. This is clearly a safety issue which can lead to accidents. Tesla has made 5 attempts to fix this without success. On the last attempt (September 24, 2025), they refused to answer my questions such as: Why does the Max Speed suddenly change to a value much higher than my specification? They simply stated that the system was operating as designed. Really? It’s design to drive 51 MPH in a 35 MPH zone? Furthermore, they went on to say I should disengage the FSD system or intervene manually if I believe the car is operating in an unsafe manner. One reason I purchased this car was for FSD. I would expect them to fix it rather than my having to abandon this feature that I pay for. I hope you will encourage Tesla to fix this issue before there are any more FSD-related accidents.
On December 31, 2024, I purchased a new Tesla Model 3 Long Range with Full Self-Driving (FSD). The problem is the car goes faster than it should when Full Self-Driving is activated. I have attached an example photo of the Tesla screen taken while the car is being controlled by FSD. It shows that the speed limit of the road is 35 MPH, and the car is traveling at a steady speed of 51 MPH. It also shows a “Max Speed” of 64 MPH which means the car may travel that fast on this road if it chooses to. This is clearly a safety issue which can lead to accidents. Tesla has made 5 attempts to fix this without success. On the last attempt (September 24, 2025), they refused to answer my questions such as: Why does the Max Speed suddenly change to a value much higher than my specification? They simply stated that the system was operating as designed. Really? It’s design to drive 51 MPH in a 35 MPH zone? Furthermore, they went on to say I should disengage the FSD system or intervene manually if I believe the car is operating in an unsafe manner. One reason I purchased this car was for FSD. I would expect them to fix it rather than my having to abandon this feature that I pay for. I hope you will encourage Tesla to fix this issue before there are any more FSD-related accidents.
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.
While driving at highway speed, the air conditioning system suddenly failed without warning. The system began blowing hot air and making a loud squealing noise. Shortly after, the vehicle abruptly went into limp mode and lost normal driving power, creating an unsafe situation on a major highway. The vehicle was towed by Tesla Roadside Assistance. Both roadside associates inspected the vehicle at the scene and confirmed there was no body damage. The vehicle was then transported to a Tesla service center, where Tesla later claimed there was body damage and denied warranty coverage. This contradicts the inspection at the time of failure and my own video evidence. The problem has not been repaired. The vehicle remains at the service center and is available for inspection. The failure put my safety at risk by causing sudden loss of drivability in highway traffic. No warning lamps or error messages appeared before the failure. The only symptoms were sudden AC failure followed minutes later by limp mode.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while in reverse (R) and backing up at approximately 5 MPH down a slight incline, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently. The contact stated that she turned the steering wheel to the right to get on the road. The contact had taken her foot off the accelerator pedal when the vehicle gained momentum and drove backwards about 50 feet and crashed into a tree with the rear end. The contact stated that the passenger side rear bumper and an aftermarket trailer hitch were dented, crumpled, and bent. The contact stated that the rear windshield was cracked on the driver's side. The contact stated that the regenerative braking feature never engaged. The contact also stated the steering had locked, and she was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The tree had stopped the vehicle, and the contact stated that she was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated her left eye had a bruise, and there were no other injuries. The police were called, but advised that since there were no serious injuries or other vehicles involved, there was no need to send an officer to the scene. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The failure mileage was 9,840.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026