What 982 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Tesla Model 3 (all Variants)

FRONT SEATS HAVE A MANUAL DOOR RELEASE IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES. REAR OCCUPANTS DO NOT HAVE AN EMERGENCY DOOR RELEASE. I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN TO DIE IN A FIREBALL DEATH INSIDE THE CAR. PLEASE ASK TESLA TO RETROFIT THE FIX THEY PROVIDED TO OTHER MODEL 3 CARS. PLEASE SEE THIS VIDEO ON THE TESLA FIX: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/M6REH0CSYZK (JUMP AHEAD TO THE 2 MIN MARK). MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THIS ON EITHER SIDE FOR THE REAR OCCUPANTS. PLEASE SEE ATTACKED PICTURE.

NHTSA ODI 11416220

THERE IS A BUILDUP OF WATER AND CONDENSATION IN THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE. THE ISSUE IS KNOWN BY TESLA AS THEY REPLACED THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE, HOWEVER, NOW THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MODEL 3 OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11416172

SO FAR I KNOW ALL 2018 TESLA MODEL 3 IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH PEDESTRIANS WARNING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11414124

DURING LOW SPEED, BOLTS BECAME LOOSE AND COMPLETELY DROPPED OUT OF LOWER CONTROL ARM CAUSING ONE WHEEL TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. VERY CONCERNING THAT CRITICAL STEERING COMPONENTS DO NOT HAVE A CASTLE NUT AND COTTER PIN, IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGH-SPEED THERE COULD HAVE BEEN LOSS OF LIFE. TESLA IS FAILING TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OF SAFETY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF THESE BOLTS COMING LOOSE.*DT Consumer concerned about the noise and vibration while driving and brought the car in for inspection on 9/1/20 to a Tesla dealer. Dealer stated rim was bent which caused the vibration and the bolts became loose after an impact with a speed bump. Consumer having a hard time understanding how low speed impact could cause a grade 8 bolt to become loose.

NHTSA ODI 11408379

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT SUSPENSION FAILURES IN TESLAS. THERE HAS BEEN A CRASH IN ITALY WHICH IS ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSED BY A BROKEN SUSPENSION. THE VIN OF A JUNKYARD TESLA HAS BEEN USED TO COMPLETE THIS ONLINE SUBMISSION SINCE THE VIN OF THE CAR IS UNKNOWN. THE CRASH INJURED 2 PEOPLE. HTTPS://LADIGE.IT/TERRITORI/RIVA-ARCO/2021/04/11/RIVA-LA-LUSSUOSA-TESLA-SI-SCHIANTA-IN-GALLERIA-FERITI-UN-RAGAZZO-DI-PINZOLO-E-UNA-RAGAZZA-DI-TORBOLE-1.2884987#2 THE CRASH SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW A TESLA WITH 3 WHEELS. THE BACK WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF. SKID MARKS ON THE ROAD SHOW ONLY 3 TIRE MARKS. THESE SKID MARKS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE DRIVER INTENTIONALLY SWERVING AND BRAKING PLEASE INCLUDE THIS CRASH IN YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO TESLA SUSPENSION FAILURES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11408001

WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE CREAKS AND SQUEAKS FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA. CONTROL ARMS GO BAD PREMATURELY AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH AND OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11408163

I DISCOVERED A FLAW IN THE MODEL 3 HORN MECHANISM THAT YOU PRESS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE SEEN THE MECHANISM AND WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HORN BUTTON, YOU CAN HEAR THE MECHANISM CLICK, BUT IT'S NOT ACTIVATING THE HORN, YOU NEED TO APPLY ALOT OF PRESSURE ON THE SIDES FOR THE HORN TO ACTIVATE. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE MECHANISM REPLACED ONCE WITH TESLA AND IT'S THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT OTHER MODEL 3 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND TESLA NEEDS TO COME OUT WITH A BETTER HORN MECHANISM LIKE IN THE MODEL S OR MODEL X WHERE SERVICE CENTERS CAN ADJUST SENSITIVITY OF THE MECHANISM. NORMALLY IN OTHER CARS YOU CAN USE YOUR THUMB TO PRESS THE HORN ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF THE HORN MECHANISM, BUT IT'S TAKES ALOT OF PRESSURE EVEN IN THE MIDDLE. THE PHOTO I ATTACHED IS THE MECHANISM I AM TALKING ABOUT IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11407314

THE CAR WAS PULLING VERY HARD TO THE LEFT. TOOK IT TO TESLA SERVICE CENTER. THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF NEARLY $6000 TO REPLACE CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS AND STEERING RACK ETC. THEY SAID THE PARTS WERE DAMAGED FROM "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE". WHATEVER THAT MEANS. THE CAR IS 18 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 29,000 MILES. NO ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE EVER. THIS IS A MAJOR MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE HAD DISASTROUS OUTCOMES IF I DID NOT PICK UP ON THE SYMPTOMS FIRST. THIS IS IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY RELATED TO ANY "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE". THIS IS A DEFECT PLAIN AND SIMPLE, AND A MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, TO SAY THE LEAST. TESLA REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, AND I AM TRYING TO WORK THOUGH THE CALIFORNIA ARBITRATION PROCESS NOW. I WILL HAVE TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR WEEKS OUT OF POCKET WHILE THIS PROCESS IS PENDING.

NHTSA ODI 11407320

I WAS DRIVING MY MODEL 3(IN MOTION) IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 3 LANE LOCAL ROAD (3 LANES EACH DIRECTION). THE CAR SUDDENLY DISPLAYED 2 WARNING LIGHT, "UNABLE TO DRIVE" AND ANOTHER WARNING ABOUT VEHICLE POWERING DOWN, MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE CAR STOPPED A FEW SECONDS AFTER DISPLAYING THESE WARNINGS. I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. I WAS STUCK ON THE LEFT OF THE BUSY ROADWAY. I WAS OFFERED HELP BY A POLICE OFFICER AND A PEDESTRIAN TO HELP PUSH THE CAR TO SAFETY. I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO ALLOW THE FOLKS HELPING ME TO PUSH THE CAR. THE 2 MAIN MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS WAS THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY AND THEN BEING UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT TO SAFETY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. THANKS.

NHTSA ODI 11406279

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BRAKING SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE THERE WERE NO OBJECTS OR VEHICLES NEARBY TO CAUSE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO SUDDENLY ACTIVATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI 11404416

WHILE DRIVING MAJOR FEDERAL FREEWAYS (I65 & I85) BETWEEN HOUSTON AND N.C., THE CAR WHILE ON AUTOPILOT AND TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED (70 MPH) WOULD EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING SOME (6-7 TIMES) OVERPASSES APPARENTLY THINKING THE OVERPASS WAS CROSSING TRAFFIC OR A FORWARD OBSTRUCTION. THIS ALSO OCCURRED (3-4 TIMES) WHEN IT WAS SIMPLY A RISE IN THE FREEWAY AHEAD. THE BRAKING ONLY LASTED FOR MAXIMUM 1-2 SECONDS, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME WOULD NOT BE EXPECTING ME TO BRAKE, I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11403975

I WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT TO CHANGE LANES. I WAS ON TOTALLY MANUAL OPERATION. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A CAR AND CONTINUED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO HIT ANOTHER CAR. THERE WAS NO COLLISION DAMAGE WARNING OR AVOIDANCE AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11403707

WE RECENTLY GOT INTO AN SUA WITH OUR CURRENT TESLA 3. I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVE WAY AND I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE GATE TO OPEN AND WHEN I BRAKED, THE CAR SUDDENLY SPED UP VERY FAST AND I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AGAIN BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THE CAR WAS ALSO IN HOLD MODE WHEN I LATER CHECKED I NEVER STEPPED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR HARD ENOUGH TO REACH THE SPEED OF RUNNING THROUGH 2 CEMENTED METAL GATES. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T POP OUT AND TESLA'S SENSOR BREAK SYSTEM ALSO DID NOT ACTIVATE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF MY CAR A SHORT WHILE AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR (APRIL 18, 2018). I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME WHEN THE DISPLAY SCREEN WAS STUCK ON THE PARK MODE FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE DRIVE BACK. I COULDN'T TURN ON MY SIGNALS, OR SEE MY MPH. EVEN AFTER I GOT HOME, IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF EVEN AFTER TRYING FOR 2 HOURS SO I HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND SHE TOLD ME A WAY TO RESET THE CAR. ( I HAVE VIDEOS TO PROVE THIS.) THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN INCIDENTS WHEN I AM BRAKED AND WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. I OBVIOUSLY PRESSED ACCEL WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BUT THE CAR WENT INTO PARK MODE AND I WOULD GET STARTLED AND QUICKLY MANUALLY TURN IT INTO DRIVE MODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 4-5 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND EVEN RECENTLY IN 2021.

NHTSA ODI 11403795

MULTIPLE TIMES, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWED THE AIRBAG WAS NOT ACTIVATE DESPITE THE PASSENGER SEAT BEING OCCUPIED BY A 112 POUND PERSON WITH A BUCKLED SEAT BELT. THERE IS NO ACTIVE NOTIFICATION THAT THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED IN THE PRESENCE OF INDICATIONS OF OCCUPANCY OF THAT SEAT. THIS COULD LEAD AN INATTENTIVE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO BELIEVE EVERYONE IS SAFE WHEN, IN FACT, THE PASSENGER IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11403205

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY TESLA SUDDENLY HARD BRAKED OUT OF NOWHERE. MY SPEED DROPPED FROM 70 TO 30 IN A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY COLLISION IF I HADN'T INTERVENED. THIS IS A KNOWN TESLA BUT THAT SOMEDAY WOULD KILL SOMEONE.

NHTSA ODI 11402908

THE REAR CAMERA DOES NOT WORK. AT FIRST IT WAS INTERMITTENT, NOW IT IS PERMANENT. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF MANY INSTANCES WITH PHOTOS. I COULD UPLOAD ONLY ONE.

NHTSA ODI 11398918

CAR FREQUENTLY FAILS TO UNLOCK, OR TO SHUT DOWN. HAVE REPORTED THIS DOZENS OF TIMES TO TESLA WHO HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX THE ISSUE. WHEN LEAVING, THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES SIT WITH ALL SYSTEMS RUNNING, DOORS UNLOCKED, READY TO BE DRIVEN AWAY. WHEN TRYING TO ENTER, IT FREQUENTLY WILL NOT UNLOCK AS CLAIMED. WE CANNOT DEPEND ON THE CAR TO UNLOCK IF WE WERE IN ANY KIND OF RUSH OR DANGER. PICTURE BELOW SHOWS THE CAR REFUSING TO UNLOCK AS CLAIMED VIA THE APP, WHICH IS THE "MAIN" WAY TO UNLOCK A MODEL 3. "KEYLESS ENTRY" IS TERRIBLY UNRELIABLE, AND OFTEN REQUIRES GETTING OUT THE BACKUP CARDKEY AND TRYING TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11397359

OUR CAR CAUGHT FIRE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 4AM IN JAN9, SECURITY FOOTAGE FROM NEIGHBORS HAS BEEN HANDED OVER TO FD AND TESLA ENGINEERING TEAM. THE LAST TRIP WAS 10 HOURS PRIOR TO PARKING THE CAR. WE ARE LUCKY IT WAS NOT IN THE GARAGE OR CHARGING, THE DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A FEW BROKEN WINDOWS, AS SOON AS WE SAW THE FIRE WE CALLED THE FD, THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE WITHIN 15 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11397073

WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE THE SCREEN IS BLACK AS THE REARVIEW CAMERA DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR INTERMITTENTLY FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNER THIS CAR, SINCE JULY 2018. TESLA HAS NOT REPAIRED THIS ISSUE. THE REARVIEW CAMERA IS UNRELIABLE AT BEST. I CAN SEND MORE IMAGES IF NEEDED TAKEN AFTER MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11397025

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A CRASH WITH A TREE. MY CAR WAS TOTAL. THE CAR WAS WAS STATIOANARY WAITING TO PUT AIR IN MY TIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11396564

BECAUSE I HIT A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ROAD, MY VC RIGHT GOT WATER INSIDE AND THE PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TILTING FORWARD, THEN MOVE FORWARD THEN TILT BACK. ALL MOVES TO THE MAXIMUM RANGE. IF SOMEONE WOULD'VE BEEN SITTING ON IT, THE BEST CASE WOULD'VE BEEN SOME BROKEN LEGS, WORST CASE DEATH. I WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE CONTROLS. HAD TO GO TO SERVICE FOR EMERGENCY, AND THEY SAID THAT 2018 MODELS HAVE A PROBLEM THAT LETS OUTSIDE WATER INSIDE AND SHORTCUTS VC RIGHT. THEY REPLACED THAT VC RIGHT COMPUTER AND SAID THEY RETROFITTED IT AND HOPE IT DOES HAPPEN AGAIN. NOW I HAVE 2 MODEL 3'S AND WHEN I ASKED SERVICE TO RETROFIT THE OTHER ONE TOO, THE ASNWER WAS WELL IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IT'S OKAY NO NEED. I'M NOT FEELING SAFE TO PUT MY LOVED ONES ON PASSENGER SEAT IF IT'S RAINING, CAR WASH, OR ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES WATER.

NHTSA ODI 11394496

THE LARGE TOUCH SCREEN THAT CONTROLS A MAJORITY OF FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE WILL TURN OFF RANDOMLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I AM DRIVING AT 65MPH+ AMD ON A HIGHWAY AND HAVE NO VISIBILITY OF WHAT MY ACTUAL SPEED IS AS IT IS DISPLAYED ON THE TOUCH SCREEN. ADDITIONALLY, THE TURN SIGNALS ARE ALSO TURNED OFF WHEN THE SCREEN SHUTS OFF. I AM PUT INTO A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION WHERE I CANT USE MY TURN SIGNALS AND CANT VIEW MY SPEED. THIS IS NOT A SOLITARY INCIDENT - THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11388532

1. BACKUP CAMERA OCCASIONALLY GOES BLACK, RENDERING IT USELESS. OCCURS SPORADICALLY. 2. CHARGING PORT MALFUNCTION, WILL NOT OPEN WHEN TRYING TO CHARGE VEHICLE. 3. CENTER SCREEN OCCASIONALLY NON-RESPONSIVE,

NHTSA ODI 11388602

-MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THE SCREEN HAS GONE BLACK WHILE ACTIVELY DRIVING THE CAR (BOTH ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY) -EPISODES WHERE THE SCREEN IS UNRESPONSIVE; THUS, BEING UNABLE TO USE ANY FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR USING THE TOUCHSCREEN BOTH WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR -CAR NOT REBOOTING/RESETTING DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WHILE STATIONARY -CAR SOUNDS SUDDENLY BEING CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING- UNABLE TO HEAR TURN SIGNAL, GPS, ETC-AND WHILE DRIVING -CAR/SYSTEM IMPLEMENTS AUTO-CORRECTION MEASURE TO REPOSITION THE CAR THINKING THE CAR IS DEPARTING FROM THE LANE, WHEN IN FACT, THE CAR IS NOT SWERVING OR TRYING TO DO A LANE SWITCH (CAR IS DRIVING IN LANE ON A HIGHWAY). DUE TO THIS FAULTY SYSTEM, CAR HAS UNSAFELY DRIFTED WHILE IN MOTION AND DOES NOT LET HUMAN GUIDANCE TRUMP THIS MECHANICAL ERROR.

NHTSA ODI 11387246

RANDOM CRACK APPEARED IN LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL 2019 IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD ~4-5" LONG. NO VISIBLE CHIP. AFTER COMPLAINT THAT WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO REASON, WE ENDED PAYING REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. SERVICE CENTER DIDN'T AGREE IT AS WARRANTY ITEM. WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT COST (TOTAL) WAS $1023.26. INVOICE NUMBER 3000S0000056579. NOTICED 4" CRACK IN MIDDLE/LEFT SIDE OF BACK WINDOW ON OCTOBER 2020. HAS TAKEN CAR TWICE TO REPAIR AND THEY DON'T AGREE IT'S WARRANTY ITEM AGAIN. NO CHIP. THERE APPEARS TO BE PART QUALITY ISSUE OR STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAW CAUSING WINDOWS TO CRACK.

NHTSA ODI 11387003