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

CAR INTERFACE BUGGED OUT AND WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE WITH THE PHONE KEY OR KEY CARD TO START AFTER ENTERING THE PARKED VEHICLE. TOUCH SCREEN FLASHED ON AND OFF. ATTEMPTED RESETS TO NO AVAIL. SYSTEM WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT ITSELF OFF AND NOT TURN BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11384309

HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/38425126?ROWNUMBER=2 IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION. THE ONLY DAMAGE IS TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE TREAD ON THE TIRE IS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION GIBLETS SNAPPED WHILST THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND THE WHEEL THEN MOVED BACK AND RUBBED AGAINST THE BODYWORK. DRIVER GOT LUCKY THIS TIME. HE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. WOULD YOU PLEASE GET THESE TENT BUILT DEATHTRAPS OFF THE ROADS RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11383778

THE CONTROL ARMS AND LINKS FOR THE CAR KEEPS FAILING. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO TESLA ON 3 TIMES NOW TO HAVE THESE REPAIRS MADE AND THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WITH 40K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11383115

WHILE I WAS PARKING, THE CAR IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND JUMP OVER THE SIDE WALK AND CRASH ITSELF INTO THE BUILDING AND DESTROYED THE FACE OF THE BUILDING AND THE CAR. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11383180

REAR CAMERA FREQUENTLY FAILS RANGING IN DURATION OF FAILURE FROM A FEW SECONDS, TO HOURS, TO DAYS. CAMERA OCCASIONALLY WILL WORK, BUT FLICKER BETWEEN ON AND OFF. THIS FAILURE OCCURS BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. IT PRESENTS A HAZARD WHENEVER REVERSING/CHECKING SURROUNDINGS OF THE CAR. MULTIPLE SERVICE ATTEMPTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11378166

FRONT DRIVER SUSPENSION EXPERIENCED DAMAGE FROM A LOW SPEED TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR HAD A CONTINUOUS SQUEAK FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE EVENT. I CALLED TESLA SERVICE AND THEY CAME ON SITE TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY FOUND A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SUSPENSION AND FOUND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR WERE FREE.

NHTSA ODI 11377757

I AM HAVING ISSUES TWICE IN 2 YEARS MY UPPER CONTROL ARM IS MAKING VERY BAD NOISE WHILE DRIVING THEN GET IT REPLACED THEN FROM RIGHT SIDE FAILED AGAIN AND KEEP MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING THEN I GOT THIS REPLACED. I NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF ISSUES BEFORE IN LAST 30 YEARS FOR NEW CARS. ONCE IT HAPPENED AT 15,000 MILES THEN AGAIN AROUND 35,000 MILES. NOW MAY BE SOON AGAIN. THANKS ANIL

NHTSA ODI 11376861

WE HAVE A 2018 TESLA MODEL 3, PURCHASED NEW IN LATE JULY 2018, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 32,000 MILES. WE HAVE NOW HAD 8 FLAT TIRES IN THE SPAN OF 26 MONTHS OR ON AVERAGE ONE EVERY 4,000 MILES, ALL BY PUNCTURE. WE LIVE AND DRIVE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. OUR OTHER VEHICLES HAVE GONE 10+ YEARS WITHOUT A FLAT TIRE SO THE TESLA FLAT TIRES ARE NOT DUE TO THE AREA WE LIVE IN.. ON OUR TESLA WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 7 TIRES, 5 WITH ASSISTANCE FROM MICHELIN AT A TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COST OF ABOUT $2,000. PLUS MUCH TIME, PAIN AND SUFFERING. THE FLAT TIRE ISSUE IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW AS TESLA SPECS AND DELIVERS THE CAR WITH MICHELIN 235/45R18XL 98W MIC PRIMACY TIRES THAT ARE PRONE TO PUNCTURE DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE, THE LOW PROFILE SOFT RUBBER TIRE AND THE CAR DOES NOT COME WITH A SPARE TIRE. WE HAVE TALKED AT LENGTH WITH TESLA SERVICE AND THEY ADMIT THAT THE CAR IS A 'FLAT TIRE MAGNET' AS IT IS ONE OF THE HEAVIEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, THE LOW PROFILE PERFORMANCE TIRES ARE PUNCTURE PRONE AND FLAT TIRES ARE THE MOST COMMON REPAIR. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO GETTING A FLAT IN AN AREA WITH POOR CELL PHONE COVERAGE, WHICH MEANS YOU ARE BASICALLY HITCH HIKING. ON 2 OCCASIONS WE WERE ON A FREEWAY IN THE FAST OR SECOND LANE WHEN THE PUNCTURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SLOWED DOWN WITH ALARMS SCREECHING FORCING DRIVERS BEHIND US TO PASS ON THE RIGHT PRECLUDING US FROM PULLING OVER FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH DESTROYED THE FLAT TIRE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND LEFT MY WIFE AND I TERRIFIED. WE NO LONGER TRUST THE VEHICLE FOR TRIPS OUTSIDE OF OUR IMMEDIATE AREA.

NHTSA ODI 11376323

HERE IS ANOTHER LOVELY TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/56272480/PHOTOS/2018-TESLA-MODEL-3-CA-HAYWARD THE FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION AND ASSOCIATED GIBLETS HAVE FALLEN TO BITS. IT IS COMPLETELY DISCOMBOBULATED. NO AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED, NO SIGN OF A COLLISION. JUST THE USUAL TESLA WHOMPY WHEEL FEATURE. MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE SHODDILY BUILT DEATH-TRAPS. REGARDS KEEF THE UNHINGED.

NHTSA ODI 11375766

VEHICLE WILL EMERGENCY BRAKE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING AND NO OTHER CARS AROUND. ALSO UNABLE TO ACCESS CHARGING PORT TO CHARGE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11375587

THREE SEPARATE PROBLEMS: (1) REAR CAMERA GOES BLACK WHEN BACKING UP. (2) FORWARD FACING CAMERA GIVES ERROR ON SCREEN "DRIVING VISUALIZATION TEMPORARILY DEGRADED" WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS ON ROAD AND FREEWAY. (3) SCREEN BECAME COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE TO INPUT. MAP DISPLAY WAS WORKING. FOLLOWING SOFTWARE RESET PROCEDURE FIXED THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11374975

CONTROL ARM SQUEAKING AND BOTH REPLACED ONE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONE OUT OF POCKET , TESLA RECALLED CARS IN CHINA ALSO FOR THIS HTTPS://WWW.REDDIT.COM/R/TESLAMOTORS/COMMENTS/HYZG5M/MODEL_3_CREAKINGSQUEAKING_FRONT_SUSPENSION_AT_35K/

NHTSA ODI 11372903

THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE ON TESLA FORUMS REGARDING WATER ACCUMULATING IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THIS HAD LEAD TO THE REAR BUMPER COMING OFF WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON THE STREET. ONLY RECENTLY DID TESLA RELEASE A SURVIVE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE CAR UNLESS SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS FIRST. I BELIEVE MY CAR, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, ARE AFFECTED. MY CAR LEAKS A LOT OF WATER IN THE GARAGE AFTER COMING HOME FROM A RAINY DAY. I HAVE TO LINE MY GARAGE FLOOR WITH TOWELS TO PREVENT WATER DAMAGE TO THE WALLS THERE IS SO MUCH WATER. I AM AFRAID I WILL BE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE BUMPER WILL COME OFF. I BELIEVE TESLA SHOULD FIX THE KNOWN ISSUE NOW BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, NOT AFTER THE FACT. THIS IS UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11366121

DRIVING ON RURAL DIRT ROAD. DUST COMING IN FROM REAR SEAT BOTTOM, TRUNK, SEAT BELT HOLES. SO MUCH DUST IT IS UNBEARABLE, CAN'T BREATHE AND HARD TO KEEP EYES OPEN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11365913

THIRD PARTY PRODUCT CALLED AN ALLOY GATOR (HTTPS://ALLOYGATOR.COM/US/) WHICH IS SOLD BY ALLOY GATOR NORTH AMERICA (US OFFICE 9035 DEARBORN AVE, BLAINE, WA 90238) TEL 1=855=534-2867 PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM MY WHEEL WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, BEGAN FLYING AROUND, AND SMACKED INTO MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR, REAR QUARTER PANEL AND REAR BUMPER. IT THEN SNAPPED OFF AND SHOT AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE LIKE A HIGH SPEED PROJECTILE. THE PRODUCT CONTAINS NO WARNINGS ABOUT THE RISK OF THIS HAPPENING, SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, AND IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE HURT A PERSON OR PROPERTY WHEN IT SNAPPED OFF AT HIGH SPEED. THE PRODUCT IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO BE SOLD IN THE U.S. ATTACHING PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED AS WELL AS A PHOTO OF THE REMAINING PART OF THE ALLOY GATOR AS IT APPEARED ON MY WHEEL AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11365819

TWICE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WHILE ON AUTOPILOT, THE CAR HAS DECELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY AND DANGEROUSLY AT THE SAME SPOT ON THE FREEWAY. THE FIRST TIME ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR IN BACK OF ME HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY AND SWERVE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY. LUCKILY, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. MY CAR HAD JUST PASSED UNDER A LARGE OVERPASS AND WAS NEAR PASSING UNDER POWER LINES. I REPORTED THIS TO TESLA VIA THE VOICE ACTIVATED 'BUG REPORT' FEATURE WITHIN SECONDS OF THE OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11363592

RECENTLY WE SEE A WARNING 'FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT/CONTACT TESLA SERVICE' I.E THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY INITIALLY THOUGHT THIS COULD BE A BUG. TRIED RESETTING THE SYSTEM BUT NOT GOING AWAY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11363331

THE REAR TRUNK LID POPPED OPEN BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE, AND I DID NOT POP THE TRUNK LID. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE TRUNK LID CAN NOT BE OPENED BY THE OCCUPANTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE SELECTION ON THE SCREEN IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE TRUNK 'BUTTON' IS NOT ACCESSIBLE ON THE SCREEN WHILE IN MOTION. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL RELEASE. WHEN THE TRUNK OPENED, IT CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BECOME UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11361609

THE BACKUP CAMERA AND SIDE VIEW CAMERAS ARE INTERMITTENTLY NOT DISPLAYING WHILE REVERSING. THE CAMERA DISPLAYS THE TRAJECTORY LINES, HOWEVER, THE IMAGE IS TOTALLY BLACK. THERE IS NO CAMERA FEED. THIS PROBLEM HAS REMAINED, DESPITE SEVERAL SOFTWARE UPDATES. THE CAMERA AT TIMES WILL FREEZE ON A PREVIOUS IMAGE, NOT THE CURRENT 'LIVE' IMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11361604

AFTER ENTERING MY VEHICLE AND INITIATING A TRIP TO WORK RECENTLY IN THE LATE MORNING. I HAD ACTIVATED MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO CLEAN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD AND AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN A BLOCK I HEARD A CRACK LIKE POP SOUND EVEN THOUGH NOTHING HAD IMPACTED THE GLASS AND SUDDENLY A 4 INCH CRACK APPEARED IN THE THE TOP MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD STARTED THE PROCESS OF CLEANING MY WINDSHIELD WHILE I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND THEN HAD PROCEEDED TO ENTER MY COMMUNITY STREET ON MY WAY TO WORK AND BEFORE I HAD LEFT MY LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD, APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN 200 FEET THE CRACK HAD OCCURRED AND I HADN'T EVEN ACCELERATED PAST 15-20 MPH. I THOUGH IT STRANGE THAT THIS HAPPENED AS THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES MOVING IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME AND ALL I COULD THINK WAS POSSIBLY THAT THE GLASS WAS SUPER HEATED AND THE SPRINKLING OF WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD TO WASH IT WITH THE WIPERS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT? IT WAS A VERY BIZARRE OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11361038

MY WIFE IS 5 FEET TALL AND WEIGHS 90 POUNDS. WHEN SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR DISPLAYS OFF. THIS MEANS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE TO HER. THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS FAILING AT ALL TIMES WHEN SHE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT..

NHTSA ODI 11360913

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE USING THE AUTOMATIC PARKING FEATURE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO INJURY SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TESLA (5544 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33417, (561) 841-9281) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DEALERS FINDINGS WERE THAT BOTH HANDS WERE OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE BEING DEPRESSED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK. ON ANOTHER OCCASION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND WAS LOCKED IN WITH THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTION INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT REMAINED LOCKED IN FOR 45 MINUTES UNTIL SECURITY WAS ABLE TO REMOVE HER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE 12 VOLT BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY AND DECLINED TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,776. *BF CONSUMER STATED CAR HAD ISSUE THE MOMENT CONSUMER PURCHASED IT.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11360743

BALL JOINT FAILURE LEADING TO NEED TO REPLACE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVERS SIDE. 2ND INSTANCE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. 2018 MODEL 3 WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11355699

MY VEHICLE LIKE MANY OTHER MODEL 3S STARTING MYSTERIOUSLY OPENING THE WINDOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND UNATTENDED. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE DAYS. THIS LEAVES THE VEHICLE UNSECURED. THEY PHONE APP ALERTS ME THAT ONE OR MORE WINDOWS ARE NOT FULLY CLOSED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON THE TESLA BLOG SITE. NO CURE OR ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN SO FAR. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF PARKED IN PUBLIC AREAS FOR A DAY OR TWO AND IF THERE WERE FOUL WEATHER OR THIEVES. THEY SHOULD FIX THIS. THE DATE SHOWN BELOW IS FOR THE LAST TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11352115

SORRY TO TROUBLE YOU AGAIN ...BUT.. HERE IS A MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37236422?ROWNUMBER=9 THE SUSPENSION FELL OFF AND IT'S LYING ON THE GROUND. HAVE A LOOK PLEASE. THIS IS NOT GOOD. NOT GOOD AT ALL. THANK YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11351734