2021 Tesla Model 3
Common Problems
Ranked from 316 federal NHTSA complaints and 11 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
15 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Phantom Braking
233complaintsSafety riskOtherThe car applies emergency braking for no reason, causing sudden deceleration and potential rear-end collisions.
Related recall: 22V798000
- 2
Unreliable forward collision avoidance system
116complaintsSafety riskOtherThe forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, causing sudden and unexplained braking.
Related recall: 22V798000
- 3
High Voltage Battery Failure
17complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe high voltage battery suddenly fails without warning, drastically reducing the vehicle's range.
Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 22V263000, 23V838000, 24V051000
- 4
Phantom Braking During Autopilot
5complaintsSafety riskElectricalAutopilot mode causes the vehicle to brake suddenly and unpredictably, increasing the risk of accidents.
Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 22V263000, 23V838000, 24V051000
- 5
Random and Unintended Braking
5complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe vehicle experiences random and unexplained braking events, posing a significant safety risk.
Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 22V263000, 23V838000, 24V051000
- 6
Unsecured Forward Collision Avoidance System
5complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, causing unexpected braking or deceleration without warning.
Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 22V263000, 23V838000, 24V051000
- 7
Steering Assist Malfunction
4complaintsMedium severitySteeringSteering becomes stiff and difficult to control, requiring manual intervention to continue driving.
Related recall: 23V085000
- 8
Software Update Issues
3complaintsMedium severityOtherRecent software updates have caused various system failures and malfunctions, affecting overall vehicle reliability.
Related recall: 22V798000
- 9
Air Bag System Faults
2complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe air bag system fails to deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 22V263000, 23V838000, 24V051000
- 10
Inconsistent Wiper Functionality
2complaintsLow severityElectricalAuto wipers do not activate consistently in rainy conditions, requiring manual intervention.
Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 22V263000, 23V838000, 24V051000
- 11
Lane Change Errors with Autopilot
2complaintsSafety riskElectricalAutopilot initiates lane changes without proper traffic checks, leading to potential collisions.
Related recalls: 22V037000, 22V045000, 22V050000, 22V063000, 22V235000, 22V263000, 23V838000, 24V051000
- 12
Lane Departure Prevention System Failure
2complaintsMedium severityOtherLane departure prevention systems fail, causing the vehicle to drift into oncoming traffic.
Related recall: 22V798000
- 13
Manual Door Release Absence
2complaintsHigh severityOtherNo manual release mechanism for rear doors, posing a safety risk in case of power failure or accident.
Related recall: 22V798000
- 14
Regenerative Braking System Failure
2complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe regenerative braking system fails unexpectedly, leading to a loss of vehicle control.
Related recall: 21V387000
- 15
Service Brake System Issues
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe service brake system malfunctions, leading to unexpected stops or loss of vehicle control.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 22V798000
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.