2024 Tesla Model 3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Forward collision avoidance is the leading concern among 217 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 9 Model 3 model years with reports.
Of the 2024 reports, 25 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 19 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, bumpersJul 7, 2026
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 5, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or resolutions@tesla.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
Campaign 26V445000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, softwareJan 7, 2025
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
Campaign 25V002000 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
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchJul 24, 2024
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
Campaign 24V554000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/window, thoraxApr 19, 2024
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling one 2024 Model 3 vehicle. The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment.
Without a deflector, the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Tesla service replaced the side air bag, free of charge. The affected vehicle was repaired April 12, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-13-001.
Campaign 24V284000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: lane departure
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Aug 14, 2026
After disengaging Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) and taking manual control of the vehicle, a feedback popup appears on the center touchscreen asking the driver to select a reason for disengaging FSD. The popup does not automatically disappear and remains on the screen unless the driver interacts with it. I believe this creates an unnecessary driver-distraction risk. The moment immediately following an FSD disengagement is precisely when the driver has resumed responsibility for manually controlling the vehicle and should be focused entirely on the road and surrounding traffic. Presenting a nonessential survey at that moment encourages the driver to look at and interact with the touchscreen. There should be an option to disable this feedback request, dismiss it without touchscreen interaction, or have it automatically disappear after a short period. I am reporting this because I believe requiring or encouraging touchscreen interaction immediately after transitioning from FSD to manual driving is a safety concern and should be reviewed.
Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 23, 2026, crash
On June 7, 2026 an accident occurred on Overlook Parkway, Riverside southbound (near chabot ct intersection) involving my 2024 model 3 that was in FSD mode (Full self driving). The car be veered from the street and hit a light pole as the road was curving to the left. Airbags were deployed, and the car was a total loss, but nobody was hurt. The carhad automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assistance and despite this in FSD Full self driving mode managed to hit the lightpole and the accident occured. Can you investigate if this is a defect in the safety features of the car, or Tesla's FSD software or Automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assistance software? Thank you.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Jun 5, 2026
Speed profiles do not allow safe operation of the vehicle. Changes in speed profiles result in unsafe behavior. Standard speed profile regularly results in speed up to 73+ in a 55mph zone being selected by the vehicle. Chill mode results in speeds of 58 when traffic is traveling at 65mph. Switching profiles from standard to chill results in a rapid deceleration within the lane leading to problems with traffic behind the vehicle. In active school zones, system regularly does not acknowledge school zone speed limit and proceeds at 25-30mph in a 15 mph school zone even on Sloth profile. European FSD has a max speed setting that allows these problems to be prevented, but it is missing as a critical safety feature in the US version of FSD 14.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Lane departure, Jan 20, 2026, crash
I purchased a 2024 Tesla Model 3 a little over a year ago. Recently, and after an update, myself, and other drivers in my life, noticed the self-driving feature was malfunctioning - to the point I used the audio reporting feature to report this problem twice to Tesla. The car would veer off the road when flasing lights appeared and would jerk suddenly for no reason when it thought there was a obstruction in the road (sticks, plastic bags, etc.). Last month this malfunction has caused an accident, and my car has been totaled, my insurance will not cover it, and I have been advised by two separate attorneys to sue. This has been litigated in court with lawsuits against Tesla (See Benavides v. Tesla; see also IN RE: TESLA ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS LITIGATION). I had notified Telsa twice of this issue, the car left the lane and did not notice a concrete barrier on the left side going north on I-95 in or around Broward County. To my knowledge no one has inspected the car. I was not warned that this car would cause an accident, the problem first appeared when I reported the issue using the voice reporting feature around November 2025. It is currently located at a tow facility in Broward County, FL and can be inspected there.
Lane departure, Back over prevention, Nov 3, 2025, crash
In early 2025, while reversing the vehicle, the backup camera proximity alert system failed to provide audible warnings of an obstacle. The visual display worked, but the system provided no beeping or audible alerts as I reversed toward a pole in the vehicle's blind spot, even though I was within the range where warnings should have been activated resulting in over $4K in damages. The same alert failure happened on 10/23/25 as I backed out of a parking space. I no longer live in the local area, but reported the safety issue in person during a visit on August 27, 2025. The acting service manager told me to expect a response in 10-14 days. After not hearing back, I followed up via the app on September 28, 2025. When I received a response on October 2, 2025, I was told my request is beyond the timeframe of when this could be inspected (30 days). The vehicle is covered under Tesla's 4-year/50,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which covers defects in materials and workmanship. A failed backup camera system is precisely such a defect. California Song-Beverly Act: California's lemon law (Civ. Code § 1790 et seq.) requires manufacturers to repair defects covered by warranty. There is no 30-day reporting requirement under CA law. Federal Safety Standards: The backup camera is required safety equipment under 49 CFR 571.111. A malfunctioning backup camera renders the vehicle non-compliant with federal safety standards. Presumption of Manufacturing Defect: Under California law, defects occurring within 18 months/18,000 miles are presumed to be manufacturing defects (Civ. Code § 1793.2(d)(2)). This accident was well within that window. When I reported this defect to Tesla, they initially refused to: Conduct a safety inspection of the proximity alert/parking sensor system Retrieve diagnostic data or video footage to verify the system failure Test or repair the defective equipment under warranty As of 10/30/25, the local dealer agreed to a vehicle inspection
Steering, Electrical system, Lane departure, Oct 22, 2025, crash
On October 17, 2025, while Full Self-Driving (Supervised) was engaged, the vehicle made an abrupt, uncommanded steering input to the right, causing a collision with a tunnel wall. This crash appears to be the result of a critical vehicle hardware failure. In the 24 hours prior to the crash, the vehicle logged multiple critical steering errors, including EPAS3P_a086_dasMia, which indicates the Electric Power Assisted Steering system was "Missing in Action" and not communicating. Furthermore, the vehicle has logged daily, recurring hardware faults for the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM_a016_hardwareError) since it was purchased. The uncommanded steering action created an extremely dangerous safety condition resulting in a collision. All stability and traction control faults appeared at the exact moment of impact, not before, indicating the steering system failure was the root cause. The problem has been confirmed by the vehicle's own internal diagnostic logs. The vehicle is available for inspection.
Lane departure, Oct 13, 2025
Subject: FSD lane-selection issues at three specific Santa Clara locations Vehicle: [2024 Model 3], software [2025.32.8], FSD [v13.2.9] 1) 2025-10-12 [approx time 6:30pm PT] – Westbound [XXX] crossing [XXX] . Expected: proceed straight in through lane. Observed: FSD moves into left-turn lane to cross [XXX] . 2) 2025-10-12 [approx time 1pm PT] – Southbound toward [XXX] . Expected: choose left-turn lane. Observed: FSD sometimes stays in straight-through lane when attempting a left turn. 3) 2025-10-12 [approx time 4pm PT] – [XXX] exit to [XXX] approaching [XXX]. Expected: merge left lane before making a left turn. Observed: FSD sometimes stops at green in the through lane after failing to merge left. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Mar 5, 2025
Tesla has told me the AP4 computer has failed in my car which has resulted in them having to replace it. This issue impacts: emergency braking, blind spot detection, lane keep/centering, assisting with parking, automatic high beams and wipers, cruise control/ adaptive cruise control, Vehicles built in GPS to be stuck at one location every time, has made my touchscreen not automatically brighten or dim, my auto dimming mirrors be too dim in most driving conditions, constantly fail to install system improvements and safety updates, and because my vehicle keeps trying to do this, it has caused increased battery drain as well. This has increased the safety risk of my vehicle tremendously... Tesla has not seemed to publicly acknowledge the issue yet either.
Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Electrical system, Feb 21, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Lane departure, Oct 27, 2024
Have to swerve the vehicle back and forth to get the alarm to shut off.
Vehicle speed control, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 13, 2024
Driver set cruise control has FSD imbedded that causes the vehicle to slow down drastically on its own. The car has brake tested several following vehicles so far. I’ve seen this before many times of other Teslas but thought it was the driver and now I know it was not. This causes a chain reaction of braking and smoking tires. I am positive this has created accidents but the ones involved have no idea how it started many vehicles ahead. The lane keep assist pillar cameras do not work in the dark, this has taken me by surprise already. The phantom braking on highways is awful, it is so bad that I am afraid to drive in the winter. The torque of the wheel sensor is not safe, when auto steer disables it can take you by surprise causing you to swerve into on coming traffic. The car accused me of using a cheat device one time so I decided to try it and surprisingly I found that it is actually much safer than using my body weight. These are extremely unsafe for busy traffic and slippery roads. I have videos showing it and will get more.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Sep 8, 2024
My wife and I recently purchased a new 2024 model 3 Tesla with the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving feature. We chose this vehicle because my wife has a long daily commute and we wanted to make the drive easier for her. We test drove a similar model in early August. When we were testing the Full Self-Driving feature, the car failed to safely exit the freeway three times in our short test drive, causing my wife to have to take over. Both times, the car seemed to become confused by traffic cones as it prepared to exit the freeway, causing it to either miss the exit or to change lanes rapidly and unexpectedly, nearly colliding with other vehicles. When we reported this to the employees at the Tesla dealership, we were told that the car needed a software update to address the issue. It is now a month later and we received our vehicle a couple of weeks ago. I have not heard of the release of any software update addressing the issue we experienced. Given that this is the exact feature that prompted us to purchase the car and our intention was to make things safer for my wife, not the other way around, I would very much like to find out when this will be addressed. There are many drivers who currently use the Full Self-Driving feature and I am concerned that it is extremely unsafe.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Aug 15, 2024
The right scroll wheel used to turn on/off adaptive cruise and lane centering doesn't register inputs every time the button is pressed in. This makes turning the system on and off unpredictable and dangerous.
Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Aug 3, 2024
While driving in the right lane of an Interstate using Full Self Driving (Supervised) mode (version 12.3.6), I was behind a motorcycle that was traveling slower than I. FSD was gaining on the motorcycle, but failed to move to the passing lane. I had to disengage the system so that the car didn't get too close to, or strike, the motorcycle. I manually moved to the passing lane and reengaged FSD. The car eventually decided to move to the right lane, behind the motorcycle. Again, it was gaining on the motorcycle and got too close, so I once again had to disengage FSD. It seems like the system didn't recognize the motorcycle or didn't recognize that it was traveling than slower than my vehicle.
Steering, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure, Jun 8, 2024
Incident Description: One week after purchasing our new Tesla Model 3 2024 , we encountered several error messages upon returning to our car after a brief stop: "APP_w264 - Lane Departure Avoidance feature unavailable," "GTW_w075 - Steering assist reduced," and "UI_a020 - Steering assist reduced." With no cell signal available, we had to drive back slowly with hazard lights on. The steering was extremely tight, making it very difficult to maneuver. Tesla Roadside Assistance suggested towing the car and using an Uber coupon, which was impractical due to our location in the outskirts of Vancouver, Canada, with no Uber services, and our home in Seattle, USA.We drove over 100 miles to the nearest service centre in Vancouver, posing a significant safety risk on curvy freeway roads. The service centre confirmed that the wire supplying power to the steering was cut due to contact with the fan, and they repaired the issue. Conclusion: The steering failure of our Tesla Model 3 was a major safety concern. Driving with impaired steering could have led to a severe accident. The issue was due to a design flaw, with the wire contacting the fan. We request a thorough investigation to prevent future occurrences and consideration for the inconvenience and risk we faced. Component/System Failure: The wire supplying power to the steering mechanism was severed due to contact with the vehicle's fan. Safety Risk: The steering became extremely tight, making large turns nearly impossible and small turns very difficult. This posed a significant safety risk, especially while driving on curvy freeway roads. Inspection & Problem Confirmation: The problem was confirmed by the Tesla service centre in Vancouver. They verified that the wire was cut due to contact with the fan. Errors: "APP_w264 - Lane Departure Avoidance feature unavailable" "GTW_w075 - Steering assist reduced" "UI_a020 - Steering assist reduced"