2018 Tesla Model 3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Forward collision avoidance is the leading concern among 1,025 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 9 Model 3 model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 102 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 44 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsAug 5, 2026
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The headlight low beams may be too bright and exceed the maximum light output. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-003.
Campaign 26V507000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsDec 17, 2024
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
Campaign 24V935000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, warning light/devicesMay 28, 2024
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Campaign 24V376000 on NHTSA.gov
Forward collision avoidance, warnings, external/pedestrian alertFeb 27, 2024
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
Campaign 24V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelJan 30, 2024
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Campaign 24V051000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, adas, autonomous/self driving, softwareDec 12, 2023
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Campaign 23V838000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, frontMar 31, 2023
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.
A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-835.
Campaign 23V235000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, automated/adaptive steeringFeb 15, 2023
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Campaign 23V085000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, rear/other, anchorageOct 21, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during vehicle service.
An incorrectly reassembled seat belt anchor can impair the performance of the seat belt during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-20-004.
Campaign 22V798000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, power window devices and controlsSep 19, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3, 2020-2022 Model Y, and 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles. The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-013.
Campaign 22V702000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelApr 18, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Model 3 Performance vehicles. The unit of speed (mph or km/h) may fail to display on the speedometer while in Track Mode. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
The driver may not know how fast the vehicle is traveling without the mph or km/h unit display, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-008.
Campaign 22V263000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareApr 12, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y, Model X, Model S, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.
Campaign 22V235000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, display functionMar 18, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A delayed rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-004.
Campaign 22V169000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareFeb 4, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall has been superseded by Recall 22V-235. Tesla's number for the new recall is SB-22-00-003.
Campaign 22V063000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareFeb 1, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.
Campaign 22V045000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, adas, autonomous/self driving, softwareJan 27, 2022
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.
Campaign 22V037000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiring, rear compartment/trunkDec 21, 2021
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles. The rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
A rearview camera that does not function reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla Service will inspect and install a guide protector and new cable harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-17-008.
Campaign 21V00D000 on NHTSA.gov
Forward collision avoidance, sensing system, cameraOct 29, 2021
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.
Campaign 21V846000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat beltsMay 25, 2021
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached.
An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.
Campaign 21V389000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,025 reports, newest first.
Seat belts, Nov 18, 2022
I HAD THIS REAR SEAT SAFETY HARNESS WARNING ON MY SCREEN. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL CHANGES IN THE EQUIPMENT, BUT I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT MY OWN COST. SEAT BELT SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE A SAFETY RECALL RATHER THAN REPLACED AT OWNERS COST.
Electrical system, Nov 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, a Service Warning message was displayed. The contact stated that the driver’s side front restraint system fault warning light was illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of failure through the Tesla app and instructed the contact to take the vehicle to the nearest Tesla Service Center for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 14, 2022
Multiple times when using the Auto-Pilot feature the brakes will engage and dramatically slow down the car for no reason. This has probably happened 5-10 times. At this point it is getting concerning. Luckily, no cars have been following me closely enough to cause an accident, but I'm afraid that this will occur at some point unless this is fixed. I am usually driving on the highway and there is nothing in front of me and the brakes will engage. On the screen I see arrows in the passing lane flowing in the opposite direction. I'm not sure what this means or if this is triggering the brakes.
Air bags, Nov 11, 2022
I have been receiving the following message: Front Left safety restraint system fault. (Error notice: Notice: RCM_a021) Proposed repair: 1ST ROW SEAT HARNESS ASSEMBLY - RIGHT HAND - SBR(1489060-05-D) 1ST ROW SEAT HARNESS ASSEMBLY - LEFT HAND - SBR(1489060-02-F) It seems that this is the same problem that they repaired under warranty. Now they are repairing again at a very high price (quote. Work pending). If this problem is repeating, it seems likely other cars would be encountering this defect.
Steering, Suspension, Nov 5, 2022
Lateral and Comp Links Failed and Upper Control Arms Failed causing steering issues. Car has barely been driven and shouldn’t require repairs to these parts so early in its life.
Electrical system, Oct 30, 2022
The AC compressor failed which can be caused by over delivery of electrical power to the compressor causing premature failure. I’m concerned this could also lead to a fire.
Suspension, Oct 28, 2022
After a routine breaking in traffic noticed a loud grinding noise. Upon inspection notice that the right rear suspension assembly was sitting on the inside rim of the wheel. The bolt at the bottom of the assembly had either come out or sheared off.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 23, 2022
I reported charging problems over the last several months to Tesla. You can only report problems via the App. They do not provide a phone number. They tried to fix my charging issue three times and each time said it was fixed. It was not and today I almost ran out of battery on the interstate because it would not charge. Today, after waiting an hour for their roadside service to respond they came and towed it. This is the fourth attempt to fix it.
Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2022
on certain model year 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles, model year 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles and model year 2019-2022 Model Y vehicles to correct performance of automatic window reversal systems to comply with regulatory standards no response from tesla
Suspension, Wheels, Oct 19, 2022
Car is 4 years old with 22k miles only and never was involved in an accident or high impact situation. When backing out of driveway and then turning wheels going forward at low speed, a loud noise occurred in the front passenger wheel area and car came to a complete stop. After going out to investigate, the car body was resting on the wheel and two bolts were on the road and the lower control arm was detached from the underbody and dragging to the floor. Had this happened at high speed I can’t imagine what would have been the outcome. No early warning signs occurred prior to this incident.
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 19, 2022
While driving on a four-lane Interstate Highway and using the adaptive cruise control, the car suddenly decelerated with no obvious cause. We were well behind the car in front of us -- the cruise control was set to 7 car lengths. I pressed the accelerator as soon as I could to resume speed. Fortunately, there was no vehicle close behind us, but a vehicle closely tailgating might have crashed into us.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 17, 2022
AT 70000 THE FRONT RIGHT BAR THAT CONNECT TO WHEEL WENT BAD 350 DOLLARS. AT AROUND 90000 MILES THE AC WENT BAD AND THEY SAID IS BECAUSE I USED IT TOO MUCH 4700 DOLLARS AT 110000 THE LID FOR THE CHARGER KEPT OPENING UP AND CLOSING BY ITSELF AT 127000 THE BATTERY RANGE REDUCED SIGNED WENT ON 129000 MAXIMUM CHARGE COULD BE CHARDED 47 PERCENT. AND COULD NOT BE CHARGED MORE THAN WHATEVER IS IN THERE ALREADY
Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 17, 2022
While in Cruise control: I.e.going 70 + mph, when passing large trucks (18 wheelers) the vehicle will hard break down to 50 mph. Vehicles traveling behind don’t expect this and are barely able to stop from hitting into my back end. Only happens with large 18 wheelers, seems to be Trucks that are white in color. It has happened several times previously, stopped at dealer, told nothing wrong, record if it happens again.
Structure, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Oct 16, 2022
My vehicle, was parked and pulled out of the parking lot on a doing a complete left steering turn, couple of nuts&bolts carrying the vehicle control arm fell to the ground and the entire control arm disengaged out of the shafts. This could have been very fatal, if my family or me were riding the car. Tesla was trying to tell me that saying that, this is caused due to a high impact etc, not doing wheel alignment etc. And they want to charge me $3561+ to fix this shaft to put back the nuts and bolts that fell off from the car.
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 15, 2022
Car frequently brakes for no apparent reason when driving on the freeway. This happens when either adaptive cruise control only or autopilot is used. For example, it has happened on a divided highway during daytime, in good weather, with clear lane markings, with no obstructions. It also happens sometimes when certain road signs come into view, such as "Caution" or "Men Working". There was no phantom braking problem with the car prior to 2021, when a software change was made. It is scary and dangerous for the car to slam on the brakes without any reason. I have stopped using adaptive cruise control or autopilot because of the risk of being rear-ended on the freeway.
Seat belts, Oct 10, 2022
For the past year, I have been receiving "Safety restraint system fault" message from Tesla screen in my vehicle. The message does not stay on the screen. It sometimes goes off and then comes back. I have not been able to identify its pattern of occurrence and disappearance. I have informed Tesla service support numerous times since Dec 2021 until now. They did not charge me for the inspection and repair for roughly 3 inspections. Up until around April 2022, their fixes still could not resolve issue, so asked me to go into one of their repair shops. Repair shop charged me $161.45 to fix the problem. Everything seemed okay for couple months. But just last month in Sept 2022, the same warning message started appearing again. I have informed Tesla and Tesla wants to charge me $2200 this time. Would this resolve the issue? I am not sure. And why am I responsible for a safety warning system fault that was not caused by my normal usage of the vehicle? I asked Tesla to give me a reason why they are charging me and any action from owners that has caused this issue to come up again and again. They have not responded. I'm not sure how the law works, but isn't it manufacturer's responsibility to make sure the vehicle is safe to drive on the road? With this warning message coming on and off periodically, and apparently Tesla cannot identify the reason either. How am I supposed to know if and when there is indeed a problem with my safety restraint belt?
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 6, 2022
Very recently Tesla had a standard software update for the car. They happen all the time. There was no warning with this update (or any update I’ve seen) about removing paid for features if you install the update. This one disabled my radar and turned my radar based autopilot I specifically bought this car for into vision based autopilot. I paid $15k for full self driving and never requested the beta to use it because I specifically did not want to disable my radar because of safety concerns. They did it anyway now, and without warning. It phantom brakes now all the time and it never used to and the general autopilot performance is worse and unsafe. I can’t use it reliably anymore and Tesla refuses to downgrade the firmware or do anything to re-enable my radar and I’m absolutely livid. This is a $75k car that I got for this one feature and they took its functionality away from me without warning and won’t give it back. Vision based autopilot is not safe and I am afraid anytime I use it now. Radar based autopilot felt so safe it was relaxing much of the time.
Equipment, Oct 5, 2022
https://www.tesla.com/support/home-charging-installation/wall-connector The strain relief on the cable that is used to charge the vehicle became loose exposing dangerous high voltage 240v (40A) bare wires inside where the consumer holds it to charge the vehicle. If touched by anyone while charging, would likely cause electrocution and possible death. As the vehicle takes hours to charge outside, not only is the driver and passengers at risk but passerby's including young children. This could happen during clear, dry conditions and exacerbated by wet conditions. The manufacturer, Tesla, responded to my complaint by telling me the only remedy is for me to buy a new charging unit at a cost of $500 plus a few hours of electrician labor. There was no mention of a replacement part (strain relief/handle) other than purchasing the entire system and paying an electrician to replace it. There were no prior symptoms (no scratches, no cracks, no physical damage, etc..) which leads me to believe that this is a manufacturing defect and a serious live threatening one. Furthermore, the Tesla support team wrote on 7/16/2022: "Thank you for reaching out to the Tesla Wall Connector Support team. "he crack shouldn't stop the unit from charging. Your unit is out of warranty. If you would like to purchase the newest Wall Connector while it's on sale for $400 instead of $500, I have provided the link. We do recommend a certified electrician install the Gen 3. https://shop.tesla.com/product/wall-connector." This implies that the wall charger can be used to charge the vehicle and ignores the DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL HAZARD present which is totally unacceptable.
Suspension, Oct 5, 2022
2 bolts mounting the left lower front control arm to the subframe has come loose. The car is out of warranty and Tesla refused to work on it without charging. The car has been making clunking noise and lately is pulling to the right when on freeway. Glad that I am handy and capable of doing DIY repair and glad I discovered it early. If one of these bolts comes loose on freeway, it could be fatal to me. I researched and found that I am not the only one. https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/suspension-rattling-sound-turned-out-to-be-a-loose-bolt.185958/ When there are that many reports of the same problem, I believe Tesla should be more proactive or do a recall. The bolts have been tightened by me but I don't know the exact torque specs, nor do I know if any other suspension components or threads of the bolts have been compromised. I did not check the right side of the car for loose.
Forward collision avoidance, Oct 4, 2022, crash
On Sept. 9th, around 9:05pm, my wife was on the driver's seat, FSD was engaged. so the Tesla model 3 car was driving itself on highway 395 close to susanville. Then suddenly a car coming, we had a head-on collision, the other car's front left hit our front left. The other driver passed away, my wife and I got serious injuries, we are recovering from 3 surgeries. 1.FSD did not give alert or warning, 2.FSD did not break the car, 3.FSD did not slowing down the car 4.FSD did not change direction of the car. 5.FSD just kept the speed and direction. “Disabling FSD” needs time, my wife did nothing, because there was only few 10th of a second. But I am afraid if she was driving without engaging FSD, she might be able to steer the car slightly to the right to avoid the accident. CHP will pull data from the car in the next few days. We would like to request NHTSA has a full investigation of the accident. Attached please find a form we received from CHP, a picture of both cars, and driving data downloaded from Tesla web site.
Electrical system, Visibility, Back over prevention, Oct 4, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the Back Over Prevention camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was taken to the service center where the back-up camera cable was reinforced as stated in the recall. Upon return of the vehicle, the contact stated that the back-up camera failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the dealer had not tested the cable and that the recall repair did not fix the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that since the failure was intermittent prior to the failure, they were not responsible for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000. The contact stated that the manufacturer had made a mistake and refunded the cost to the contact. The complaint has been resolved.
Air bags, Seats, Oct 3, 2022
I believe the front passenger occupancy sensor has failed or malfunctioned again. The first instance of issue took place on 03/05/2020 and a second instance of the same issue has occurred again on 09/29/2022. It is available for inspection upon request. Front passenger safety is put at risk because the vehicle may not deploy the front passenger airbags if it is not able to detect the occupancy status of the front passenger seat. The problem was reproduced by the Tesla dealer after the first instance of failure. The vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer after the first instance of failure. The system warning that displays on screen - "Front passenger safety restraint system fault/Service is required".
Electrical system, Oct 1, 2022
-PCS (Power Conversion System) failure. - No warning light, message or symptoms, failed overnight. - Car is not drivable, HV completely isolated and drain 12V battery overnight. Can’t open any door, screen dead and had to tow. - Repair cost $1884, 53k miles / 4 yrs and 2 months.
Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2022, crash
My vehicle received the Full Self Driving Beta (FSD-B) update Software Version 2022.20.17. I took the vehicle for a ride near my office in The Heights area of Houston, Texas, and when stopped in traffic at a red light briefly placed the vehicle into park to engage the FSD-B via the touchscreen. When I engaged Autopilot with the FSD-B active, the vehicle made a right turn from the MIDDLE lane of the roadway which had just opened into three lanes a short number of feet beforehand crashing into another vehicle causing damage to both vehicles and injury to my hand. It appears the Full Self Driving Computer failed to recognize that the roadway had just changed from two to three lanes whereas there were not vehicles in the third lane until the moment my Tesla Model 3 turned suddenly and aggressively. Had it been less than a second earlier, my vehicle would have been fully into the turn and the accident likely of a catastrophic "T-Bone" nature. The manner in which the computer turned the wheel was especially shocking. I am accustomed to Autopilot having used the system for several years, but not with the vehicle making full-turn maneuvers as is the case with the new FSD-B software. I was holding the wheel firmly close to the "six and nine" positions and beneath the "V" areas of the steering wheel. The wheel turned so aggressively and suddenly that there was no possible way to counter the maneuver and soft-tissue injury occurred to may hand requiring prescribing of steroids to reduce inflammation and pain. Tesla was notified of the accident and provided with video from the vehicle's Dashcam system, but denies liability for the accident claiming it is driver responsibility.
Forward collision avoidance, Sep 27, 2022
Constant "phantom braking" occurrences despite great conditions (sunny, no wind, good visibility, low traffic) during a road trip that was two hours both ways. Typically happened when coming to the crest of small hills, or when "road mirages" due to light refraction, or when a car in the distance just became noticed by the vehicle. Happened both on divided highway and two lane highways. Several braking occurrences were pronounced enough to be likened to not quite slamming on the brakes, but definitely applying them firmly. This, besides being terrifying and attention grabbing, itself a safety issue, it could also mean close following vehicles may have to react in such a way to also apply brakes heavily at highway speeds which could cause a rear end collision or swerving to avoid my vehicle. I also get little to no warning it's about to happen, until it does, no alarms go off, and in general it was noticing the hills, mirages, and vehicles just coming into the car's "sight" that the correlation of the phantom braking was occurring. I know this is known by Tesla, and I am going to take it in for a winter tire swap this week, and let the dealer know it is a major issue with my car.