Home · 2019 Tesla Model 3 Bev · Complaints

What 592 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Bev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (592)Crash / fire / injury (68)Driver assistance (167)Electrical system (89)Airbags (76)Suspension (76)Speed control (71)Lane Departure (68)Brakes (62)Steering (51)Seat belts (50)Seats (42)

68 of 592 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 3 of 3

Jan 27, 2020Body & structureWheelsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

AUTOPILOT WAS ENGAGED. THE TESLA VEHICLE SENSORS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE 2 PARKED VEHICLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET WHILE DRIVING, AND COLLIDED WITH THEM. ANTI-COLLISION MECHANISM AND AUTO-BRAKING FAILED TO APPLY, RESULTING IN COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11302321

Jan 21, 2020Speed controlCrash

WHEN PARKING THE CAR, THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE DRIVER DEPRESSING THE PEDAL CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN INTO A BUILDING AND CAUSE DAMAGE. DESPITE THE SPEED, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ODI 11300618

Jan 21, 2020Electrical systemBody & structureWheelsCrash

THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE IN TESLA MODE 3 IN OUR PARKING LOT. I WAS PARKING BETWEEN 2 CARS ON MY RIGHT. SO, WAS REALLY SLOW. WHILE TURNING THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE WAS AT A HIGH SPEED. SINCE, I WAS TURNING, THE CAR ROTATED AT THE HIGH SPEED AND IN THE PROCESS MY CAR HIT CAR ON MY LEFT, 3 CARS ON MY FRONT. THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND A FLAT TIRE. FORTUNATELY, NO PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED. WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED, ALL SYSTEMS STOPPED FUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI 11300620

Jan 21, 2020Speed controlCrash

WHEN I STOPPED ON PARKING LOT CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB INTO BUILDING.

NHTSA ODI 11300892

Jan 20, 2020Speed controlCrash

CAR TURNING AND PULL UP TO THE GARAGE DRIVE WAY, IT SUDDENLY UNINTENDED ACCELERATE AND CRASH INTO THE GARAGE GATE. (VIDEOS AVAILABLE)

NHTSA ODI 11300383

Jan 17, 2020Speed controlCrash1 injury

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT THE GROCERY STORE AND AS I TRIED TO EASE TO A STOP, THE CARE ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND AGGRESSIVELY AND I SMASHED INTO THE PARKED CAR A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF ME. AIR BAGS WENT OFF AND BURNED A HOLE IN MY PANTS AND BURNED THE SKIN ON MY LEFT THIGH. SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN BEFORE OR SINCE. I AM HEALTHY, NOT ON ANY MEDS OR SUBSTANCES, WASN'T TIRED OR DISTRACTED, AND AM OVERALL A HIGH FUNCTIONING 50 YEAR OLD MARRIED MOM OF TWO. THE CAR WAS ONLY 5 DAYS OLD. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST AND THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. I WAS VERY SHAKEN, ASSUMED I HAD MY FOOT ON THE WRONG PEDAL, AND WAS ASHAMED THAT I COULD HAVE MADE SUCH A MISTAKE. WHEN I HEARD OF THE RECENT CASE AND THAT YOU ARE REVIEWING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER TESLAS, MY HUSBAND AND I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD AT LEAST REVIEW OUR SITUATION TOO. WHETHER IT WAS IN FACT USER ERROR OR A DEFECT, I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT ABOVE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT IS LIKE THE CAR RACED FORWARD SO QUICKLY I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HAD NO TIME AT ALL TO REACT OR RESPOND BEFORE MY LEG AS BURNING.

NHTSA ODI 11300075

Jan 17, 2020AirbagsBody & structureVisibility & wipersCrash

I AM FEMALE SAFE DRIVER WITH CLEAN DRIVING RECORDS, MY TESLA WAS THIRD CAR STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT ON DEC 19TH IN THE CITY STREET, AND ALL OF SUDDEN, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IT TRIGGERED UNINTENDED SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION THAT RESULTED IN ACCIDENT WITH TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME, DAMAGED ALL 3 VEHICLES INCLUDING MINE, I PUSHED THE BRAKE IMMEDIATELY & PARKED BEFORE ALL AIRBAGS IN MY CAR DEPLOYED. I TRIED TO PROVE MY POINT TO THE INSURANCE THAT ITS NOT MY FAULT BUT ITS A CAR THAT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE DUE TO PROBABLY SOME KIND OF NIGHTLY AUTOMATIC SOFTWARE UPDATE OR A MECHANICAL PROBLEM BUT INSURANCE DIDN'T AGREE AND FORCED ME TO AGREE THAT I DID IT !

NHTSA ODI 11300156

Dec 30, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED FROM WHAT HAPPENED LAST DECEMBER 10, 2019 (TUESDAY). AT AROUND 5:50 AM, I AM SLOWLY DRIVING AT THE PARKING LOT OF MY OFFICE AT STRYKER CORPORATION IN SAN JOSE, CA. I AM SLOWLY PARKING MY CAR AND THEN THERE'S A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY CAR WHICH I CANNOT EVEN CONTROL OR STOP. THE ACCELERATION SPEEDS UP AUTOMATICALLY ON ITS OWN EVEN IF I'M STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. DUE TO THE SPEED UP ON THE ACCELERATION, THE CAR WENT OVER THE CURB WITH SO MUCH SPEED AND MOVED TOWARDS THE TENT WHICH IS THE SMOKING AREA IN OUR WORK. THE WINDSHIELD OF MY CAR BROKE WHEN IT HIT THE TENT AND THE CAR STILL MOVED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND. LUCKILY, MY CAR LANDED ON A BUCKET OF CEMENT WHICH HELPED MY CAR TO STOP. IT WAS REALLY A TERRIFYING INCIDENT WHICH I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE MY CAR IS NEW AND I THOUGHT THAT IT'S THE SMARTEST AND SAFEST CAR. I HAVE A DASH CAMERA ON MY CAR AND I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE WHOLE INCIDENT THAT WILL PROVE THAT MY STATEMENTS ARE TRUE.

NHTSA ODI 11292014

Nov 26, 2019SuspensionFuel systemFire

I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE INTEREST OF HUMAN SAFETY. THIS IS CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF BATTERY FIRES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS SO FAR GONE UNREPORTED. HERE IS A MODEL 3 IN THE SALVAGE AUCTION YARD THAT HAS BEEN ALMOST TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS?ITEMID=34394730&ROWNUMBER=2&SIMILARVEHICLEITEMID=&ISNEXT=&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE CAR IS SO BADLY BURNED THAT THE VIN IS NOT ABLE TO BE DETERMINED BUT THE AUCTION SITE WOULD HAVE THAT RECORD. I HAVE SUBSTITUTED THE VIN OF ANOTHER WRECKED MODEL 3 IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS REPORT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT POST ON TESLA MOTORS CLUB FORUM WHICH PROVIDES PHOTOS OF THE FIRE SCENE ON THE HIGHWAY AT VACAVILLE AND THE IMAGES MATCH THE JUNKYARD CAR. IT SEEMS THAT TESLA IS USING THE "RAN OVER A TRAILER HITCH ON THE ROADWAY" AKA "CAT ATE MY HOMEWORK" EXCUSE AGAIN BUT LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS IT SEEMS THAT A WHOMPY WHEEL IS THE MORE LIKELY CAUSE. HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/ANOTHER-TESLA-FIRE.175198/ **** DDAWSON, TODAY AT 9:51 AM VACAVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAR FIRE. I WAS TOLD THE OWNER RAN OVER A TRAILER HITCH THAT FELL OFF A TRUCK. I BELIEVE ITS A 3. NO ONE HURT AT LEAST.. **** AND *** THIS STORY ACTUALLY DID RUN ON THE 11:00 NEWS, SUNDAY NOV. 24TH, ON KPIX (OUR LOCAL CBS AFFILIATE). IT WAS REPORTED BY BRIAN HACKNEY. THE STORY WASN'T CLEAR ABOUT WHERE THE FIRE TOOK PLACE, OTHER THAN IN VACAVILLE WHERE THERE DOES HAPPEN TO BE A SUPERCHARGER. THEY SHOWED THE SAME DRAMATIC IMAGE OF THE BURNED-OUT CAR. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED HERE. THE WEIRD PART IS THAT THE KPIX WEBSITE NEVER SHOWED THE STORY. I SEARCHED AFTERWARD, AND THE OTHER STORIES REPORTED THAT NIGHT (INCLUDING THE ONE ABOUT PRIUS CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS) WERE ALL UP, EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE** PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11282556

Nov 4, 2019BrakesCrash

I TURNED INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE IN A HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT. I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AS THE CAR INCHED CLOSER TO THE CURB. AS I BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB, CROSSED THE GRASS MEDIAN AND COME TO REST ON THE HOOD OF ANOTHER CAR. I KNOW MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME AND CONTEND THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A VEHICLE MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI 11278152

Oct 8, 2019AirbagsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR IN OUR GARAGE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SPED UP AND HIT OUR INNER GARAGE WALL. IT THEN REVERSED BACK AND HIT THE WALL A SECOND TIME. THEN IT AUTOMATICALLY REVERSED AND PARKED ON THE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY. BOTH THE STERLING AIR BAG AND AIRBAG NEAR THE FEET DEPLOYED. THE CAR'S FRONT WAS SMASHED. OUR GARAGE WALL AND DOOR ARE ALSO BADLY DAMAGED. I HAVE ASKED TESLA TO INVESTIGATE IF IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE AUTOPILOT TAKING OVER BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM YET AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11267131

Oct 1, 2019Speed controlCrash2 injuries

LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTRY - VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 10-VEHICLE CRASH. DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH STATED VEHICLE HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ADDITIONAL WITNESS STATEMENTS APPEAR TO VERIFY REPORT. *DT AS VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER REPORTEDLY TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AS IT APPROACHED STOPPED/SLOWED TRAFFIC. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW IT BEFORE IT CRASHED INTO STOPPED TRAFFIC. POLICE REPORT GO 51 2019- XXXXXXX 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ODI 11265452

Sep 2, 2019Body & structure1 injury

AS I WAS OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR, MY NAIL GOT CAUGHT IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE CAR. AS BACKGROUND, IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR ONE I HAS TO PUSH THE HANDLE ON ONE SIDE FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO COME OUT, AS I WAS DOING THIS MY NAIL GOT CAUGHT IN THE GAP CREATED WHEN PUSHING ONE SIDE TEARING OFF MORE THAN HALF OF MY NAIL. THIS ALSO RIPPED THE SKIN AND I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I GOT TWO SHOTS BECAUSE THE PAIN WAS SO INTENSIVE, AND THEN I NEEDED WRAPPING AND A SPLINT.

NHTSA ODI 11252811

Aug 11, 2019SteeringFuel systemCrashFire3 injuries

I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE HAS BEEN A TESLA MODEL 3 CRASH IN RUSSIA. HTTPS://WWW.THESUN.CO.UK/NEWS/9700731/TESLA-CAR-EXPLODES-AUTOPILOT-FAILURE-DRIVER-TRUCK-RUSSIA/ IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER AUTOPILOT OR DRIVER DISTRACTION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH THE BATTERIES LITERALLY EXPLODED. THIS IS AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE WORSE THAN THE MODEL S AND X FIRES. ** I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER MODEL 3 WHICH IS IN A WRECKING YARD** THIS IS NOT DONE IN ANY FRAUDULENT WAY. IT IS DONE IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH YOUR WEBSITE DESIGN. IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE RUSSIAN OWNER TO NEGOTIATE YOUR SITE AND FILE A COMPLAINT SO I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF FILING ON HIS BEHALF.

NHTSA ODI 11243132

Aug 1, 2019SteeringAirbagsSpeed controlCrash

MY CAR WAS FIVE WEEKS OLD. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME ON MY COMMUTE I REALIZE THE SCREEN HAD FROZE, AND THEN SUDDENLY BLACKED OUT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE AS I AM A FAMILY THAT OWNS TESLA, BUT IT WASN'T BECAUSE SUDDENLY THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BREAK OR COMPROMISED AND THE CAR HAD SPED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AS TO WHY. I REPORTED IT TO TESLA AND THE EARLIEST THEY COULD SET FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THIS INCIDENT INITIALLY OCCURRING, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN DURING TRAFFIC AND MY CAR INSTEAD OF BREAKING, INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY AND SMASHED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD CONTACTED. TESLA LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT 95% OF MY COMMUTE IS ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS IN THE BAY AREA. I SAID THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AND I REALLY THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED UP FASTER, I GOT ZERO RESPONSE. SO WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I COULD DO AND I ROLLED AND SPRAINED MY ANKLE VERY AGGRESSIVELY. NOT ONLY THAT BUT ALL OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE ENTIRE CAR MALFUNCTIONED EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO FOCUS THE BRUNT OF THE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT. UNFORTUNATELY ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS DIDN'T OPEN NOR DID THE PASSENGER LOWER AIRBAG. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT IF THERE WAS THAT WOULD HAVE NOT GONE OFF AND THAT'S NOT OK. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND THERE WERE NO UPDATES ON SOFTWARE THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN AND THE CAR WAS FIVE WEEKS OLD. TESLA HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THEIR DATA AND I HAVE AN SSD THAT SHOWS MY CAR SHUT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11241215

Jul 15, 2019Speed controlBrakesCrash

MY TESLA MODEL 3 JUST SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I WAS TURNING RIGHT TRYING TO THE LOT TO PARK THE CAR. MY CAR HIT THE WALL AND THEN THE HAZARD LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI 11231846

May 10, 2019Crash1 injury

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SECOND IN LINE. MY CAR LUNGED BACKWARDS HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD DONE NOTHING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SLIGHT DAMAGE TO MY REAR END AND THEIR FRONT END. MY NECK DID WHIPLASH. THERE WAS AN INFANT IN THE BACKSEAT WHO WAS INJURED IN THE OTHER CAR. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT INJURED. PLEASE CALL ME (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11206931

May 6, 2019Fire

HI, ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: HTTPS://WWW.BUSINESSINSIDER.COM/TESLA-MODEL-S-CATCHES-FIRE-IN-SAN-FRANCISCO-GARAGE-2019-5 TESLA CEO ELON MUSK HAS SAID THE COMPANY'S VEHICLES ARE LESS LIKELY TO CATCH FIRE THAN GAS-POWERED ONES, BUT DATA FROM THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION SUGGESTS THE OPPOSITE.[XXX] HAS MADE A FRAUDULENT CLAIM. HE HAS COMMITTED A CRIME. WHAT IS NHTSA GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE? I BELIEVE NHTSA HAS A FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION TO THE WORLD TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION IN A RIGHT WAY. I BELIEVE IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED, INCLUDING REQUIRING TESLA INC. TO DO A RECALL IF WARRANTED. I HOPE NHTSA WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING. I BELIEVE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS. THANKS. ALSO, PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING TWO CONCERNING ARTICLES AND VIDEOS AS WELL: 1)HTTPS://KTLA.COM/2019/04/22/VIDEO-APPEARS-TO-SHOW-TESLA-EXPLODING-IN-SHANGHAI-PARKING-LOT-PROMPTING-INVESTIGATION/TESLA IS INVESTIGATING WHY A MODEL S APPEARED TO EXPLODE IN A SHANGHAI PARKING GARAGE 2)HTTPS://ABC7NEWS.COM/5283936/ TESLA MODEL S CATCHES FIRE IN SAN FRANCISCO GARAGE AREN'T THESE TWO RECENT EVENTS EXTREMELY CONCERNING? THANKS. IF YOU GUYS CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE, CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH THE NAMES OF SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME? REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11205764

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Working with the data? Download all 592 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 Tesla Model 3 Bev verdict →