CARFOCALvehicle research
Research CarsCompareRankingsArticles
  1. Home›
  2. Manufacturers›
  3. Tesla›
  4. Model 3›
  5. 2023›
  6. Complaints

2023 Tesla Model 3 Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 20265 Critical Recalls
Ethan Miller
2023 Tesla Model 3 Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary

The 2023 Tesla Model 3 has 672 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control and forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

4.1/ 10

Based on 672 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

104 15.5%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

90 13.4%

STEERING

81 12.1%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

62 9.2%

SERVICE BRAKES

50 7.4%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, accounting for 15.5% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 45 distinct vehicle systems.

  • Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.

Subscribe to Recall Alerts

Get notified when a new recall or important ownership update lands for the 2023 Tesla Model 3.

Free alerts based on U.S. recall data. Unsubscribe anytime.

Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2023 Tesla Model 3

The 2023 Tesla Model 3 has 672 owner complaints in this dataset. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL is the most common complaint category, representing about 15% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 are FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (104), FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (90), STEERING (81).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 226 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2023 Tesla Model 3?

Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2022 Model 3 complaints2024 Model 3 complaints2021 Model 3 complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 31 of 31 systems

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

49 Reports20% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

While moving car to DRIVE mode, Cruise Control was activated accidentally, which resulted in car moving on its own from a stopped position in garage. By the time it was learnt what has happened, the car rear ended another parked car. Luckily no human was in front of the car and thus grave body injury was avoided. The car speed might have been less than 20mph. The front collision avoidance warning was not there and neither did Emergency brakes got deployed.

11/24/2022

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking on two separate occasions upon approach of an overpass. The contact also stated that an audible alert tone was coming from the vehicle during the failures. Neither the Service Center nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 865.

12/8/2022

47 more complaints are available in this category.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

46 Reports18% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

While traveling on the interstate at 75+ mph, which the cruise control engaged, the vehicle emergency braked 2 times during on one trip. The first felt like a fluke, speed was reduced by 10ish miles per hour. The second time was terrifying. I was traveling approximately 77 mph on the interstate and out of no where my vehicle slowed down significantly. I was too scared of getting hit from behind to look at the speedometer to know how much it actually breaked but it felt like it dropped down to 30 mph out of nowhere. Luckily I was not on a busy stretch of interstate, the car behind me had enough time to slow down and there was no one else around. My husband and I were scared out of our minds, wondering why and how this happened. He immediately google and that is when we learned of 'phantom breaking" I have owned this car for less than a week and now I am scared to use cruise control. I don't even have the self driving or advanced auto pilot. Thank god no one was hurt. This is more than a safety issue, this could be life and death. I read that this particular issue has been reported more often lately. I reported the problem to Tesla but urge you to conduct an investigation that gets this matter resolved, not just for Tesla drivers but for the safety of everyone on the road.

11/12/2022

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model-3. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and abruptly stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there were no vehicles or objects around the vehicle at the time of the failure. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and was able to continue driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the forward Collison Avoidance camera might need to be recalibrated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 500.

11/18/2022

44 more complaints are available in this category.

STEERING

31 Reports12% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

The steering wheel was received misaligned from the factory. When the steering wheel is held straight the vehicle veers to the left.

5/2/2023

During a road trip, autopilot started pulling to the left and right because the autopilot was struggling to center the car in the lane. Driving without autopilot showed that the car was pulling to one side. A wheel alignment by Firestone showed alignment specs consistent with a strike, however the car was not actually struck during the trip. The rims and wheel look intact and brand new, without cracks or bubbles. A visit to the Tesla service center showed that the right hand rear control arm has an enlarged hole, indicating abnormal wear and tear on the suspension elements for a 4-month car with 7,000 miles. The car's steering wheel still feels loose even though the car drives straight.

5/4/2023

29 more complaints are available in this category.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

23 Reports9% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

While traveling on the interstate at 75+ mph, which the cruise control engaged, the vehicle emergency braked 2 times during on one trip. The first felt like a fluke, speed was reduced by 10ish miles per hour. The second time was terrifying. I was traveling approximately 77 mph on the interstate and out of no where my vehicle slowed down significantly. I was too scared of getting hit from behind to look at the speedometer to know how much it actually breaked but it felt like it dropped down to 30 mph out of nowhere. Luckily I was not on a busy stretch of interstate, the car behind me had enough time to slow down and there was no one else around. My husband and I were scared out of our minds, wondering why and how this happened. He immediately google and that is when we learned of 'phantom breaking" I have owned this car for less than a week and now I am scared to use cruise control. I don't even have the self driving or advanced auto pilot. Thank god no one was hurt. This is more than a safety issue, this could be life and death. I read that this particular issue has been reported more often lately. I reported the problem to Tesla but urge you to conduct an investigation that gets this matter resolved, not just for Tesla drivers but for the safety of everyone on the road.

11/12/2022

Picked up car from the dealership same day and had only 40 miles total on odometer. The car was running smooth. I was driving with my daughter in the passenger seat (12 yrs old) and got 2 error codes and my car went limp in the carpool lane. Basically went into neutral. Deceleration from 75mph .I had to avoid cars next to me to get to the shoulder and was driving at most 30-40 mph hoping a car would not slam into my rear. By the grace of God I made it to the shoulder safely. “Acceleration and Top Speed Reduced” and “Automatic Emergency Braking is Disabled” were the two errors. I’d never been so stressed. That was highly dangerous and I’ve been reading online of several other Tesla owners suffering the same fate. Please don’t wait until someone gets injured or killed before making Tesla recall their cars. I’ve been hearing its the Rear Drive Inverter (Motor) that is faulty according to others online. The service center has not diagnosed the problem with my car yet but I think that is the same issue. I feel that Tesla is negligent and should be penalized for allowing these cars to be driven off the lot by unsuspecting customers.

11/13/2022

21 more complaints are available in this category.

SERVICE BRAKES

19 Reports8% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

While traveling on the interstate at 75+ mph, which the cruise control engaged, the vehicle emergency braked 2 times during on one trip. The first felt like a fluke, speed was reduced by 10ish miles per hour. The second time was terrifying. I was traveling approximately 77 mph on the interstate and out of no where my vehicle slowed down significantly. I was too scared of getting hit from behind to look at the speedometer to know how much it actually breaked but it felt like it dropped down to 30 mph out of nowhere. Luckily I was not on a busy stretch of interstate, the car behind me had enough time to slow down and there was no one else around. My husband and I were scared out of our minds, wondering why and how this happened. He immediately google and that is when we learned of 'phantom breaking" I have owned this car for less than a week and now I am scared to use cruise control. I don't even have the self driving or advanced auto pilot. Thank god no one was hurt. This is more than a safety issue, this could be life and death. I read that this particular issue has been reported more often lately. I reported the problem to Tesla but urge you to conduct an investigation that gets this matter resolved, not just for Tesla drivers but for the safety of everyone on the road.

11/12/2022

Picked up car from the dealership same day and had only 40 miles total on odometer. The car was running smooth. I was driving with my daughter in the passenger seat (12 yrs old) and got 2 error codes and my car went limp in the carpool lane. Basically went into neutral. Deceleration from 75mph .I had to avoid cars next to me to get to the shoulder and was driving at most 30-40 mph hoping a car would not slam into my rear. By the grace of God I made it to the shoulder safely. “Acceleration and Top Speed Reduced” and “Automatic Emergency Braking is Disabled” were the two errors. I’d never been so stressed. That was highly dangerous and I’ve been reading online of several other Tesla owners suffering the same fate. Please don’t wait until someone gets injured or killed before making Tesla recall their cars. I’ve been hearing its the Rear Drive Inverter (Motor) that is faulty according to others online. The service center has not diagnosed the problem with my car yet but I think that is the same issue. I feel that Tesla is negligent and should be penalized for allowing these cars to be driven off the lot by unsuspecting customers.

11/13/2022

17 more complaints are available in this category.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

12 Reports5% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

While moving car to DRIVE mode, Cruise Control was activated accidentally, which resulted in car moving on its own from a stopped position in garage. By the time it was learnt what has happened, the car rear ended another parked car. Luckily no human was in front of the car and thus grave body injury was avoided. The car speed might have been less than 20mph. The front collision avoidance warning was not there and neither did Emergency brakes got deployed.

11/24/2022

This model doesn't have parking assist, so every time I park there is a danger of collision. All modern cars have parking assist. Tesla promised in Nov 2022 that software update enabling parking assist will be available within "next couple of weeks". 3 months passd since then and there is still no parking asist.

2/13/2023

10 more complaints are available in this category.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

12 Reports5% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

I was pulling into a park spot , coming to a stop and the car within seconds accelerated into a building. There was no warning at all. Also, after the collision a warning popped on the screen saying that the emergency break was disabled. This was the first time seeing this alert, and I did not disable anything. I picked up the car on 11/28.

11/29/2022

I was driving a turn on a major intersection Stirling and I-95 Holly wood Florida to the on ramp to enter I-95 southbound when my car began shaking violently during the turn and completely shut down. The car was dead and I could not go forward or reverse. The center information panel was still lit up but the car would not move in any direction. I was blocking two lanes of the major intersection for about an hour till 2 Road Rangers arrived and dragged my car off the road. If I had made it around the turn and this catastrophic shut down occurred when I was on I-95 I could have experience severe injury or loss of life if I was struck by traffic on the highway. The car was brand new with 108 miles on it at the time. I purchased the car on 11/20/22 and the shutdown occurred on 11/23/22 after only 3 days of driving it. This Tesla Model 3 was very unsafe and the cause of what happened to me should be investigated so other people do not get injured or lose their life.

12/14/2022

10 more complaints are available in this category.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

12 Reports5% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

I was driving a turn on a major intersection Stirling and I-95 Holly wood Florida to the on ramp to enter I-95 southbound when my car began shaking violently during the turn and completely shut down. The car was dead and I could not go forward or reverse. The center information panel was still lit up but the car would not move in any direction. I was blocking two lanes of the major intersection for about an hour till 2 Road Rangers arrived and dragged my car off the road. If I had made it around the turn and this catastrophic shut down occurred when I was on I-95 I could have experience severe injury or loss of life if I was struck by traffic on the highway. The car was brand new with 108 miles on it at the time. I purchased the car on 11/20/22 and the shutdown occurred on 11/23/22 after only 3 days of driving it. This Tesla Model 3 was very unsafe and the cause of what happened to me should be investigated so other people do not get injured or lose their life.

12/14/2022

This model has misleading user manual about park assist chime button, park assist front camera on button. Apparently they have removed the ultrasonic sensor and did not enable any user interface to do with Park assist in the control menu. This is misleading safety feature and total lie to the customer. Please flag this as a safety flag so the user will be aware of it. There is no option for the user to enable the front camera for whatever the little useful it can offer. They need to immediately send us the software update to view any camera at will.

1/17/2023

10 more complaints are available in this category.

ENGINE

4 Reports2% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Picked up car from the dealership same day and had only 40 miles total on odometer. The car was running smooth. I was driving with my daughter in the passenger seat (12 yrs old) and got 2 error codes and my car went limp in the carpool lane. Basically went into neutral. Deceleration from 75mph .I had to avoid cars next to me to get to the shoulder and was driving at most 30-40 mph hoping a car would not slam into my rear. By the grace of God I made it to the shoulder safely. “Acceleration and Top Speed Reduced” and “Automatic Emergency Braking is Disabled” were the two errors. I’d never been so stressed. That was highly dangerous and I’ve been reading online of several other Tesla owners suffering the same fate. Please don’t wait until someone gets injured or killed before making Tesla recall their cars. I’ve been hearing its the Rear Drive Inverter (Motor) that is faulty according to others online. The service center has not diagnosed the problem with my car yet but I think that is the same issue. I feel that Tesla is negligent and should be penalized for allowing these cars to be driven off the lot by unsuspecting customers.

11/13/2022

After backing out of a parking place I could not switch into "drive". The car froze and had to be put into "tow mode" to be pushed aside and later taken to a dealer. Before being collected the car was partially blocking a car park, but there was no other safety risk. Warnings appeared when the event occurred, but not prior to. The rear drive unit was replaced under warranty.

1/20/2023

2 more complaints are available in this category.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 Reports2% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Car accelerated by itself. Approximately 4:30pm december 3. I just exited freeway and pulled my foot off the pedal and it started to decelerate then there was a chime sound and the car suddenly shot forward. I slammed the brakes as quick as i could. Luckily no one was around. The driving conditions were terrible, it was raining hard and cold. I also just cancelled autopilot by signalling right before exiting. This happened just after updating to a new update 2022.40.4.2

12/4/2022

While crossing the rump and side walk to garage the car, as usual slowly proceed to enter the Garage but immediately the car went into extremely fast speed by itself and hit the side of the Garage, damaged the Garage wall, The garage opener, the cabinet, then hit the water softener and our other car in the front. It also smashed the bike against the wall , damaged the side wall cause a bulge to outside of the structure. The garage frame and right side of the Garage door fell on top of the car almost killed our daughter who was at the front passenger seat. The car brake did not stop the car, the alarm did not go off, the air bags did no inflate.

5/16/2023

2 more complaints are available in this category.

SUSPENSION

4 Reports2% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

My Tesla Model 3 was delivered on 14 December 2022. I first drove it on 16 December 2022 and that day I had an accident. I was about to park my car and I was already on the designated parking slot when the car made a sudden Un- commanded acceleration. I first hit the handicap sign, but the car did not stop and apparently the collision avoidance safety feature did not work. The continue to accelerate and I hit a restaurant establishment. The police came and I reported the incident to my insurance (Geico). The police (Mr. McClure) gave me the case number 2238293. Geico is taking care of the repair which would cost over $10K and the property damage, which added up to 10K. I went to the Tesla service center in Carlsbad and Mr. Hyuma said that I can request for the log. I guess it is the EDR. They gave me a link to request for the EDR but the start date is 23 January 2023 way after the accident date of 16 December 2022. I have not received any log or EDR from Tesla to date. I am uploading the pictures of the car before the repair. Please help me find out what exactly happened and why the car suddenly accelerated without pressing the gas pedal. I am a retired US Navy (20 years) and I bought a Tesla to save money because i have solar in my house. I have a fixed income and cannot afford to spend money on the EDR. I believe that here is a defect on the Tesla Model 3 that I bought and I will appreciate all the help you can provide.

2/11/2023

I picked up my Tesla Model 3 Performance less than a month ago and from day 1 it has been having vibrations from 40mph all the way up to 80-85 mph. I haven't driven it faster than that due to safety concern. I took it to Tesla and they said they needed to balance the wheels (why wasn't that done on a brand new car already?) Anyways, I take the car back and I was still having the same issue. Tesla has now booked another service and said that my Wheels might have been bent by me! The audacity! I gave them a piece of my mind so they will not charge me for service and will inspect my vehicle soon. Meanwhile I have driven the car 2500 miles and the vibrations have not gone away. I know this problem exists in Model S Plaids as well as with some other Model 3 Performance owners as I reached out on the forums. Tesla has given up and accepted that they cannot repair these issues. Lets see what happens with my car. I plan on taking them to the court for lemon law

4/7/2023

2 more complaints are available in this category.

STRUCTURE:BODY

4 Reports2% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

The undercarriage shield of my car disconnected and started dragging while I was driving in the rain. I did not collide into anything or hit a bump. I inspected my wheel well to discover a set of screws that were bunched up and not installed during manufacturing. I had to pull the shield from under my car so that I can continue to drive the vehicle. the shield is connected to the forward warning and pedestrian warning collision system which became inoperative. The faulty manufacturing that caused the shield to disconnect caused a dangerous condition while operating. After I removed it, a second dangerous condition was created since all of the safety senors were disconnected.

3/9/2023

I picked up my Tesla Model 3 Performance less than a month ago and from day 1 it has been having vibrations from 40mph all the way up to 80-85 mph. I haven't driven it faster than that due to safety concern. I took it to Tesla and they said they needed to balance the wheels (why wasn't that done on a brand new car already?) Anyways, I take the car back and I was still having the same issue. Tesla has now booked another service and said that my Wheels might have been bent by me! The audacity! I gave them a piece of my mind so they will not charge me for service and will inspect my vehicle soon. Meanwhile I have driven the car 2500 miles and the vibrations have not gone away. I know this problem exists in Model S Plaids as well as with some other Model 3 Performance owners as I reached out on the forums. Tesla has given up and accepted that they cannot repair these issues. Lets see what happens with my car. I plan on taking them to the court for lemon law

4/7/2023

2 more complaints are available in this category.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

3 Reports1% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

I was pulling into a park spot , coming to a stop and the car within seconds accelerated into a building. There was no warning at all. Also, after the collision a warning popped on the screen saying that the emergency break was disabled. This was the first time seeing this alert, and I did not disable anything. I picked up the car on 11/28.

11/29/2022

This model has misleading user manual about park assist chime button, park assist front camera on button. Apparently they have removed the ultrasonic sensor and did not enable any user interface to do with Park assist in the control menu. This is misleading safety feature and total lie to the customer. Please flag this as a safety flag so the user will be aware of it. There is no option for the user to enable the front camera for whatever the little useful it can offer. They need to immediately send us the software update to view any camera at will.

1/17/2023

1 more complaint is available in this category.

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

3 Reports1% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

I took deliver of the Model 3 Performance in late October 2022 and have experienced phantom braking at least a dozen times over the last few months on the highway/interstate when using cruise control and Tesla’s standard autopilot, which keeps the vehicle centered in the lane. The phantom braking has occurred both in times with just the cruise control enabled and also when both cruise and autopilot have been enabled. The vehicle has slowed from 70 to 60 and even 50 miles per hour very quickly when there was no object nearby that would cause a collision. This is both frightening and upsetting, as such sudden braking could cause an accident, especially with any car following me from behind. I am fearful to use the cruise or autopilot as a result of this defect.

12/11/2022

Car steering felt stuck and slid off the road which resulted in crashing into a tree. Tesla features did not help stay in the lane or break in an emergency.

5/7/2023

1 more complaint is available in this category.

POWER TRAIN

3 Reports1% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

I was driving a turn on a major intersection Stirling and I-95 Holly wood Florida to the on ramp to enter I-95 southbound when my car began shaking violently during the turn and completely shut down. The car was dead and I could not go forward or reverse. The center information panel was still lit up but the car would not move in any direction. I was blocking two lanes of the major intersection for about an hour till 2 Road Rangers arrived and dragged my car off the road. If I had made it around the turn and this catastrophic shut down occurred when I was on I-95 I could have experience severe injury or loss of life if I was struck by traffic on the highway. The car was brand new with 108 miles on it at the time. I purchased the car on 11/20/22 and the shutdown occurred on 11/23/22 after only 3 days of driving it. This Tesla Model 3 was very unsafe and the cause of what happened to me should be investigated so other people do not get injured or lose their life.

12/14/2022

I picked up my Tesla Model 3 Performance less than a month ago and from day 1 it has been having vibrations from 40mph all the way up to 80-85 mph. I haven't driven it faster than that due to safety concern. I took it to Tesla and they said they needed to balance the wheels (why wasn't that done on a brand new car already?) Anyways, I take the car back and I was still having the same issue. Tesla has now booked another service and said that my Wheels might have been bent by me! The audacity! I gave them a piece of my mind so they will not charge me for service and will inspect my vehicle soon. Meanwhile I have driven the car 2500 miles and the vibrations have not gone away. I know this problem exists in Model S Plaids as well as with some other Model 3 Performance owners as I reached out on the forums. Tesla has given up and accepted that they cannot repair these issues. Lets see what happens with my car. I plan on taking them to the court for lemon law

4/7/2023

1 more complaint is available in this category.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

3 Reports1% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

I was driving in rainy weather and my windshield wipers were set to 'Auto' mode. The wipers were functioning correctly until I clicked on a menu item in the car operating system. The operating system became unresponsive to any touches and wipers stopped working at this moment which dropped my visibility to almost 0. I was fortunately not driving on highway when the incident occurred. The operating system rebooted after roughly 20 seconds and the wipers started working again after the reboot completed.

1/15/2023

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Wiper blades activate for no reason while driving the vehicle in auto pilot. There is no ryme or reason as to when this happens, it just happens randomly at random times for unknown reasons. The most recent incident happened today, but this has been going on since I took ownership of this brand new car in December of 2022. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When there is salt on the road and there is no moisture hitting the windshield, all this does with the salt is smears your windshield making it very difficult to see out of the windshield. The only way to clear the windshield is to activate the windshield washer fluid. This wouldn't be necessary had the wipers just stayed off in the first place. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The dealer tells me the wipers are working as designed, but can't explain to me why they turn on when there is no moisture hitting the windshield. They can't explain to me why it is happening to my car and not other similar vehicles of the same make/model. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The dealer has looked into this and says it's working as designed. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights are or were present during any of these incidents.

2/2/2023

1 more complaint is available in this category.

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

3 Reports1% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Tesla has serious safety issues automatic emergency, braking Blindspot warning, Lane, departure warning, and other basic safety features which are very common in the cars these days. I purchased Tesla for my teenage child. In past three months we have encountered multiple instances where Tesla was not able to perform as promised this morning I was driving tesla loaner Vehicle when I was heading to pick up my car and someone drifted into my lane without warning and Tesla did not apply emergency brakes or generated any warning signals. I have notified Tesla service about the incident and past incidents to tesla service representative. Tesla representative at Costa Mesa office opened the service request to get the software diagnosis completed so that they can get to the bottom of it, but [XXX] from Irvine office called me and he is in denial that it is a car issue and blame it on me that it is between the car and the car owners manual, I have requested an escalation from Tesla service Center. In the meantime, I am filing this complaint so that NHTSA can start their investigation before. It is too late and some life is lost because of irresponsible behavior by Tesla and send in selling the features which do not work I have Lexus RX 350, 2017 model and all these features work seamlessly in the car , I am shocked Tesla is falsifying and and selling inaccurate features to the consumers which cannot be discovered until it is too late. Please start investigation investigation ASAP. Thank you. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

7/5/2023

Turn signals shut off after three blinks with no lane change or steering wheel movement. Lane departure / assistance fails to function. Blind spot monitor / alert fails to function. Adaptive cruise control / braking fail to function. Problem first reported to Tesla on 7/6/2023. Telsa installed software update to resolve remotely. Problem recurred 8/6/2023, towed to Tesla 8/7, Tesla replaced side camera assembly. Problem recurred 8/132023, software update installed & resolved. Problem recurred 8/19/2023. Vehicle to be towed to Tesla for further diagnosis / repair.

8/19/2023

1 more complaint is available in this category.

SEATS

2 Reports1% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

My Tesla Model 3 was delivered with the rear attachment bolts missing for both front seat rails. The rear seat rail end will lift up at least an inch when the seat is pushed gently from behind.

12/13/2022

Brand new Tesla Model 3 delivered a week ago. Passenger seat, front inside mounting bolt is not tight. Corner of the seat rail can move up/down 1/8-1/4". Can't tell how well attached it is. Potential safety concern. Passenger side back seat cushion also exhibits up/down movement 1/8-1/4" but likely not a safety issue.

3/13/2023

AIR BAGS

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH another vehicle suddenly entered the lane that the contact was driving on, causing the contact to strike the other vehicle. No air bags deploy, and the brake assist feature failed to activate. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and filed a case. The failure mileage was 8,728.

1/30/2023

BACK OVER PREVENTION: AUTOMATIC SYSTEM BRAKING

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH another vehicle suddenly entered the lane that the contact was driving on, causing the contact to strike the other vehicle. No air bags deploy, and the brake assist feature failed to activate. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and filed a case. The failure mileage was 8,728.

1/30/2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while at a red light with the autonomous self-driving feature activated, the vehicle in front made a right turn while the light was still red, and the vehicle inadvertently accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. Neither the Service Center nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 3,400.

2/13/2023

TIRES

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3 equipped with Pirelli Tires, Tire line: P Zero, Tire Size: 235/35/R20, DOT Number: (Not available). The contact stated while driving 65 MPH an hour after purchasing the vehicle brand new, the rear passenger's side tire experienced a blowout, and the rim was severely damaged. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center, where the rear passenger's side wheel and tire were replaced; however, the rear driver's side tire experienced a blowout a week later. The vehicle was towed to the Tesla Service Center. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he would be charged for the repair. The tire was not replaced. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was approximately 80.

3/13/2023

WHEELS

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

On 3/11/23, around noon time, I drove on I-280 N bound, just past Edgewood Road. It was nice weather, no wind, nothing extra loaded in the car, smooth clean road surface. All of a sudden I saw black pieces flying at my left side of the car through the window, I heard some noise and the car started unbalanced. I pulled the car slowly to the shoulder ... It was a left rear tire blowout! This car was only for 4 months, and drove ~2700 miles. NO warning sign beforehand and no damage on the tire, the rim and the tire cover after carefully examining the Tesla Test Center at 680 El. Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA. Attached are four photos taken on 3/11/23. New tire was replaced on 3/14/23 at SC site, CA. It was charged $441.67 (receipt is not included here)

4/7/2023

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: DYNAMIC BRAKE SUPPORT/BRAKE ASSIST

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

2023 Tesla Model 3- Consumer wrote about comparison of braking mode to non-EV's, experience driving a rented EV (Electrical Vehicle) w/ braking mode and suggestions to make EV's braking mode safer. When EV's accelerator is NOT pressed the EV goes into regenerative braking mode. No brake lights are triggered because brake pedal wasn't pressed. Consumer listed two "real world dangers". Consumer recommendation- The regenerative braking of EV's should also trigger brake lights notifying vehicles behind the EV that the pace of the vehicle is slowing with the same force. as if brakes where applied.

5/26/2023

SEAT BELTS

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Software Version: 2023.12.10 Over the past month, I have experienced a recurring problem with my vehicle's auditory notification system. The issue first began a couple of software updates ago and has persisted through the most recent update. The problem manifests sporadically, having occurred three times within the past month. When this issue arises, all system sounds, excluding radio and media, cease to function for the duration of my ride and persist across all future rides until the vehicle is hard rebooted. There are no visible warning signs or error messages on the dashboard to indicate that the system sounds are malfunctioning. Proof of issue - https://youtube.com/shorts/VbDErQVVzp4?feature=share The malfunctioning system sounds include but are not limited to: 1. Forward Collision Warning Sounds 2. Seatbelt Warning Sounds 3. Blinker Indicator Sounds 4. EV Reverse Sounds 5. System Notifications 6. All alerts and warnings Attempts to Resolve the Issue: To temporarily rectify the issue, I performed a hard reboot on the vehicle's system. This measure restored the sounds, but the problem consistently returns. **Safety Concerns:** This issue poses a significant safety concern as the lack of audible notifications increases the risk of accidents, particularly due to the absence of forward collision warning sounds, seatbelt warning sounds, and blinker indicator sounds. Additional Observations: It is important to note that this issue began a few software updates ago and has persisted despite subsequent updates. There are no error messages or warnings on the dashboard when the auditory system malfunctions, making the problem harder to detect until an auditory notification is expected but not heard.

5/27/2023

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

2023 TESLA MODEL 3 -The attached letters are for a Defect Petition. January 8, 2021, NHTSA denied a defect petition alleging 232 complaints of sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) in Tesla vehicles. Petitioner has sent updates which include a detail abstract with design details, along with 3 Defect Petition to Recall docs.

6/23/2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:INVERTER

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

2023 TESLA MODEL 3 -The attached letters are for a Defect Petition. January 8, 2021, NHTSA denied a defect petition alleging 232 complaints of sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) in Tesla vehicles. Petitioner has sent updates which include a detail abstract with design details, along with 3 Defect Petition to Recall docs.

6/23/2023

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Tesla has serious safety issues automatic emergency, braking Blindspot warning, Lane, departure warning, and other basic safety features which are very common in the cars these days. I purchased Tesla for my teenage child. In past three months we have encountered multiple instances where Tesla was not able to perform as promised this morning I was driving tesla loaner Vehicle when I was heading to pick up my car and someone drifted into my lane without warning and Tesla did not apply emergency brakes or generated any warning signals. I have notified Tesla service about the incident and past incidents to tesla service representative. Tesla representative at Costa Mesa office opened the service request to get the software diagnosis completed so that they can get to the bottom of it, but [XXX] from Irvine office called me and he is in denial that it is a car issue and blame it on me that it is between the car and the car owners manual, I have requested an escalation from Tesla service Center. In the meantime, I am filing this complaint so that NHTSA can start their investigation before. It is too late and some life is lost because of irresponsible behavior by Tesla and send in selling the features which do not work I have Lexus RX 350, 2017 model and all these features work seamlessly in the car , I am shocked Tesla is falsifying and and selling inaccurate features to the consumers which cannot be discovered until it is too late. Please start investigation investigation ASAP. Thank you. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

7/5/2023

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The rear door jammed shut. It would not open and we discovered there is no mechanical way for a passenger to open the back doors of a Tesla model 3. The car’s electrical system has to be on and functioning properly in order to exit from the back. This is terrifying.

7/25/2023

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

On August 5, 2023, my car charge got too low for me to make it to a charging station in Lafayette Louisiana. I had the vehicle towed on a flat bed. I put the car in Tow Transportation mode. While we were towing the car, I opened the car to check the battery level and somehow the frunk was activated (perhaps I accidentally hit it, I'm not sure). The frunk opened while we were going about 60 mph down the highway, the wind lifted the trunk up and it crushed my front windshield and the frunk and opening mechanics were damaged. Had we not immediately pulled over the frunk hood could have been ripped off the car by the wind and caused a major accident. This seems to be a flaw in the Tesla electronics/app system - you should not be able to open the Frunk once it is put into Tow Transportation mode.

8/6/2023

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 Report0% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Turn signals shut off after three blinks with no lane change or steering wheel movement. Lane departure / assistance fails to function. Blind spot monitor / alert fails to function. Adaptive cruise control / braking fail to function. Problem first reported to Tesla on 7/6/2023. Telsa installed software update to resolve remotely. Problem recurred 8/6/2023, towed to Tesla 8/7, Tesla replaced side camera assembly. Problem recurred 8/132023, software update installed & resolved. Problem recurred 8/19/2023. Vehicle to be towed to Tesla for further diagnosis / repair.

8/19/2023

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2023 Tesla Model 3?

The most reported complaint category for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, with 104 owner reports. That is about 15% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, STEERING.

Are complaints about the 2023 Tesla Model 3 a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 226 complaint reports fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2023 Tesla Model 3?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2023 Tesla Model 3 severe?

226 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

Tesla Model 3: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
672
Top-topic view
5 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

We may earn a commission via links on this page.

In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

Start here

Buyer guideMaintenance guideRecall report

Get recall and ownership alerts for the 2023 Tesla Model 3

Get our free model-year alerts and ownership updates.

Sign Up

We may earn a commission if you buy parts through our links. Learn more.

Carfocal

Automotive Research

Real data on vehicle reliability, safety, and ownership costs.

  • Used Car Research
  • Reliability Rankings
  • Buying Guides

  • Data Sources & Methodology
  • Editorial Standards
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclosures
  • Terms of Service

© 2026 Carfocal · All Rights Reserved