What 748 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 Tesla Model 3

Accelerating with no input braking unsuccessful resulting in running a stop sign across two-way traffic. Vehicle stopped after approx. 100 meters after running the stop sign. I have discussed with Tesla service to run a diagnostic report (not completed at this time). No warnings or error messages. Vehicle resumed normal functional control after. Tested accelerating and braking at the same time gives error message did not present during the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11567311

On 9 different occasions, my vehicle was operating in cruise control and slammed on the brakes for no reason. Fortunately, no vehicle was behind me. If there were I would have been rear-ended all 9 times. This has happed 8 times on the freeway and one time on surface streets.

NHTSA ODI 11564747

the car started to abruptly accelerate when slowing down the car at a stop light and would not brake. the anti collision functions did not work. the car went into a truck.

NHTSA ODI 11564754

My Tesla has the latest update which includes the latest recall: 2023.44.30.5.1 08a3a7856854 I have discovered that the blind spot detection is intermittent, the red line indicator does not always work. This resulted in an accident where I changed lanes into another vehicle. I thought it was clear because the vehicle safety system didn’t properly indicate to me that it wasn’t. The right front of a Land Rover SUV contacted with my left rear fender above my left rear wheel. After the accident I have decided to check the blind spot indicator as I realized it cannot be trusted, and the vehicle behind you in the lane next to you can be at your rear corner and the car will 50/50 not report a car is there, and not give the red “unsafe” indicator. There were times a vehicle was side by side with me and the blind spot indicator did not light up at all. There are also times the side camera is either black with no image or with a delayed/frozen image when using the turn signal. The side fender cameras also fails to accurately show vehicle distance at night as they have excessive glair on the live view when changing lanes. However afterwards the dash cam recording on the HDD is crystal clear. Which means the live view with turn signal lacks the clarity required to be safe to use when driving. Either Software or hardware or both is lacking in keeping safety features functional. Recall? I believe Tesla should have another recall issued to address these problems. To make it safe for changing lanes by correcting the intermittent blind spot detection. By making the turn signal fender camera crystal clear for drivers when changing lanes. And by increasing the distance allowed before the blind spot detection says it’s safe to change lanes. And upgrading computer hardware to stop the lag and keep safety systems operational. Again this resulted in me changing lanes into another vehicle. I thought it was clear according to my cars safety features. It was not clear.

NHTSA ODI 11564139

Driving on the freeway 70mph on cruise control. Not auto pilot. No one around us and no warning. Suddenly car applied brakes on its own and dramatically slowed. Good thing there was no one behind us or else there would have been an accident and we would have been badly injured. Monday Jan 1 2024 1:35pm

NHTSA ODI 11562918

Autopilot warnings are too excessive. Looking at the screen of the car causes autopilot warnings to trigger and disengage car, automatically slowing car down in the middle of traffic. Changes need to be reverted back to baseline from 11/2023.

NHTSA ODI 11561022

The fix for recall 23V-838; TC2023-657 has made using the feature more unsafe to use than in previous iterations.

NHTSA ODI 11560994

Tesla vehicles autopilot. I know you already have a situation with Tesla over the basic Autopilot. My safety report is about red lights and stop signs. Tesla reserves this feature for their FSD package. While basic and enhanced AP cannot identify red lights or stop signs. For the basic AP, I suggest that Tesla be required to include red light and stop sign identification in their basic autopilot system. While geo-locking AP is a current temporary solution, it is not the correct solution IMO. The correct solution I believe is to force Tesla to include red light and stop sign identifying in the basic and enhanced AP software. In addition to including red light and stop sign identification in their forward emergency braking safety system. Imagine how many intersection related collisions can be prevented if you make the vehicle capable of stopping. Especially when the driver could be having a medical emergency and cannot stop their car. Two ways. Option 1: Vehicle stops at red light for the driver, everyone is safe. Option 2: vehicle runs the red light, not using autopilot, vehicle T bones someone in the intersection. I highly suggest a pro-active approach that promotes a safe environment on the road rather than a punishing approach that promotes human drivers to continue as they are. After 40,000 miles of Autopilot, I can confirm that it’s a better driver overall than any human. Humans will eventually make mistakes, software will do the same thing repeatedly. The only reason software makes a mistake is because it wasn’t designed to be used in an application, so basically it’s still human error. I suggest to require the software to take over in more ways to prevent human error from happening more often. The less humans need to do, the less chance you have of collisions. Summary: Basic AP should have red light and stop sign ID to stop. And forward collision stopping should also have red lights and stop sign identification.

NHTSA ODI 11560627

If you are on a hill and if the Tesla detects both pedals are pressed. The car will drop into neutral on its own and free roll. The Tesla “one pedal stop and hold” will fail to maintain a stop and hold state if it detects both pedals are pressed. I was on an uphill driveway and I accidentally bumped my brake pedal when I went to press my accelerator pedal. (Big feet). My car free rolled backwards until I let off the accelerator and hit the brake. Luckily nobody was behind me. I moved a good 8 feet backwards during the situation. I tested this on my own in my slanted driveway at home and this problem can be easily reproduced. It happens when the car thinks both pedals are pressed and the brake isn’t fully pressed, it causes the electric motor to disengage causing the vehicle to free roll in neutral, and if “one pedal stop and hold is enabled”, it causes the brake to let go and the vehicle no longer stays stopped. This free rolling downhill. Case 1: stop and hold, in reverse or drive. Both pedals detected pressed, vehicle switches to neutral and free rolls downhill. Case 2: vehicle moving slowly uphill Via accelerator pedal pressed, but the brake is detected as pressed. And the the vehicle falls into neutral and starts free rolling downhill. The safety risk is when the vehicle free rolls downhill when both pedals are detected pressed. The safety risk can happen when the driver accidentally lightly presses both pedals. Or if there is an electrical fault where the vehicle may think both pedals are pressed. Vehicle risks free rolling downhill into other vehicles, buildings, or people Before the driver can realize what has happened and hits the brakes. A software patch will need to be implemented to correct this fault condition. It should be changed to the following: Case 1: if vehicle is in stop and hold mode, the vehicle should remain in stop and hold mode. Case 2: if vehicle is moving. The vehicle should engage stop and hold mode and stop. Thanks.

NHTSA ODI 11560099

For several months now, my Tesla Model 3 has exhibited a persistent issue with the turn signal blinkers. The turn signals operate visually as intended but fail to produce an audible clicking sound. Despite being advised by Tesla support that this issue is slated for resolution in a future software update, the problem persists, causing concern over the safety implications associated with the lack of auditory indicator. The absence of the audible turn signal notification may compromise overall road safety, especially for individuals who rely on both visual and auditory cues while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11560114

This happens at 2 particular exits on a 65mph highway. One time the car slows down by 10mph and the other spot it will swerve over almost to the lane next to me and slow down. Just dangerous when someone is tailgating me (thats reality of driving these days) as they will not have time to react and more than likely hit me. It happened once and someone behind me started honking and flashing their lights at me. I have done a bug report for the times it "phantom braked"

NHTSA ODI 11560010

Please help Phantom braking is getting worse

NHTSA ODI 11559426

The rear middle seatbelt in my Telsa Model 3 is stuck. Somehow it got stuck behind the middle seat after the seat was put down to put long items in the trunk. Tesla mobile service sent a tech to my house but he alleged intentional misuse - as if me or my family intentionally were playing with a seatbelt and wrapping it around a seat. Furthermore, even if we were to assume intentional misuse was correct I have 2 questions: 1 - why is the top of the seat belt (where the seat belt comes out of the seat) unable to be pulled to create any slack? 2 - why does Telsa need to replace a part if the seatbelt, or seatbelt mechanisms, are not defective? After searching online this seems to be a somewhat common problem with Tesla - especially the Model 3, at least as early as 2021 - both on reddit and Tesla Motor Club forum - this seems to be a recurring problem. How does one know it cannot get stuck while driving or while someone is buckled in and cannot be released or have any slack? This is a major safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11558979

This car has demonstrated repeated incidents of moving/driving backwards when it is set in Drive/Forward via the steering wheel control. This was first reported to Tesla in December of 22. Their service center responded that they could not identify a cause or propose a repair. They commented that it was an engineering and/or software problem. I provided them with multiple date/time stamps. videos of the car performing this way. In the interim the car has demonstrated ghost braking at high speed on an empty freeway. A complaint regarding this concern was provided to NTSA and I have not had a response. The car has subsequently repeatedly moved backward when in Drive. I also have videos of these occurrences. I returned the car to the service center for these behaviors and was told that there was nothing that could be done. The service center said that I "canceled" my request for servicing, and noted that in the Tesla service files. I did not cancel my appointment. They refused to examine and service the car. We recently experienced the car steering wheel locking and inableing the wheel to be turned right, during a 3 point parking exit. I took the car in and was told that the problem was a "firmware" update problem. The problem of driving in reverse when the car is placed in Drive has repeated itself in the past 3 weeks, and I again have videos of this occurrence. This in particular is a dangerous action as it can result in a collision or injury to persons. It is a servo-motor and control problem.

NHTSA ODI 11558820

It was a raining day. When I turned 90 degree to my right into the parking lot from local road, I hit the brake and the car slowed down for turning. FSD or autopilot were off for sure. Then I felt the car was moving down suddenly and made a big noise due to the a slightly slope down when I turned. I saw a parking slot right in front of me. I hit the accelerator a fraction of second to prevent the car to stop. In a fraction of second, the car accelerated like crazy. I immediately hit the brake very hard (95% of my force on brake). I have 30 years of driving experience. I knew that I hit the brake tightly, but the car still kept accelerate like crazy. I could forever remember the feel and moment of my foot was in the brake. Even after the accident, I went to test the Tesla car. I could feel the difference of brake and accelerator since the accelerator is much easier to push down and I needed to push much deeper in the right of my right foot for accelerator. And the brake is hard, and close to my foot. I thought the car would stop like what I had been driving this car for one year and about 20,000 miles. However, the car was stopping at all, but keeping accelerating for 2 seconds. No warning lights and AEB were on at working. The car hit the short of concrete wall and steel fence and then dropped and hit the tree in right front of me. Finally the car dropped into the short cliff. The airbags were off and warning lights were on. My son and me could use the manual door opener to go out.

NHTSA ODI 11558300

on Nov 26, 2023. I parked the car in driveway. After sometime started car to go someplace. The car could not move front or back and gave metal rubbing sound. Called tesla road side and arrange a tow truck. Car was towed to tesla service center in Springfield, New Jersey. On Nov 27, Tesla informed me on app to pick the car. I picked the car back on Nov 28. 2023. Tesla service informed by that they could not replicate the issue of brake jamming. They did some tests and told me that car is fine and safe to drive. At the time of pickup the technician told be that it could be software issue. (instances of brake switch mismatch) Want to inform that this is brake jamming issue and can stop the car any where. No clear or satisfactory explanation given be Tesla. I continue to drive the car.

NHTSA ODI 11557896

My tesla stopped on me in the middle of the interstate because the car thought it was not charged. Tesla assured me that the vehicle was fixed. A few weeks later the car started telling me again that it thinks it is not charged. Tesla is not providing no solution on what the problem is. This vehicle is a major highway hazard because it can stop suddenly with no warning.

NHTSA ODI 11555724

Over several occasions, this Model 3 Tesla has engaged the brakes heavily while using the autopilot, lane-assist function. This has always happened while going highway speeds. The braking is very abrupt and without any apparent reason (nothing in the front or beside the car). I do not recall this occurring unless the autopilot function is enabled. I am able to disengage the system and take control, but it's an alarming and unsafe glitch in the software.

NHTSA ODI 11554509

While driving both during the day and at nighttime on the freeway with cruise control, the car abruptly brakes itself. No car was in front of me in any of these incidents. I have owned the car for a year and it has happened at least once a month. (I drive a lot for work.) The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and others' safety was put at risk because when traveling at high rates of speed on busy freeways with multiple lanes, it is easy for something like that to cause a multi-car accident. I live in a major metropolitan area and the freeways are up to 5 lanes across going one way. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by anyone. The vehicle or component has not been inspected. there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. It first appeared within the first month of ownership.

NHTSA ODI 11554513

I was traveling on Interstate 40 in Arizona in a 75 mph zone with my cruise control set at 77 mph. Suddenly and without warning the car’s emergency braking system activate despite nothing being in the roadway in front of me and no cars ahead at all. I had to take evasive measures to avoid being hit from behind by a semi truck. Approximately 10 seconds later I began receiving error messages for several systems including emergency braking, traction control, steering alignment, lane departure, stability control, cruise control, vehicle hold, and regenerative braking. In addition, other systems were not working, such as an alert tone for when traffic lights turn green would activate indicating the driver should go even if there was a car in front that has not moved. The car is currently at Tesla being evaluated, however I really don’t think these cars should be trusted.

NHTSA ODI 11554448

There has been several false forward coalition alarms each month so far with no reason when I’m even driving in an easy and not a crowd street or highway. The alarm is so loud that everybody in the car panics including me and it dangerously interrupts my driving. This has caused me suddenly hit the brake several times which also may cause panic the drivers around me or at my back and put the or us in danger.

NHTSA ODI 11553514

There was a forward collision warning I got with a parked car when going less than 20 mph when the road was curving. The car is defective and I shouldn’t have gotten a forward collision warning which causes distraction from the loud and sudden noise it emits. It also negatively impacts my Tesla insurance safety score which is a scam.

NHTSA ODI 11553107

The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated there was wiring that was loosened from the ground unit. The camera was making an abnormal crackling sound when it was hot. The contact stated that the screen was pink or blank at times. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer six times, where it was diagnosed that the wiring was loosened. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 500.

NHTSA ODI 11552293

While driving on 4 lane Pkwy at 45 mph then slowing down to move into left turning lane, my model 3 gave warning of "parking brake failure" and stopped working at the same time. This means it slowed down to a stop on its own. I was "manually driving" the vehicle when this occurred. Luckily for me I was able to be in a "slower" left turn lane and I knew where the emergency blinker button was located and turned them on. The vehicle didn't even go into coast mode to allow me to move over to side of road. It just decided to stop where it was at. After reading about Tesla's stopping on their own in traffic and people crashing into them I knew this is a serious problem. Weather was clear, my car and its cameras were clean.

NHTSA ODI 11552051

On October 20th, 2023 around 3:00 pm I was driving eastbound on the highway 69 in Michigan. A friend of mine was seated on the front passenger side (no more other passenger). Autopilot was not installed on the car and the driver had both hands on the steering wheel. I was driving on the most left lane at speed about 75 mph. At about Exit#131, Suddenly, I felt the steering wheel turned right a little by itself and the car slowly drifted to the right a little, then the steering wheel quickly turned to left by itself and the car quick turned to the left. I tried to control the steering wheel but couldn't. The car zig-zagged forward and hit the center guardrail at about 45 degree angle. The car was pushed away from the guardrail and stopped in the middle lane. After the crush, the left side of the car tilted to the ground. The left side airbag was deployed and my head hit on the airbag (not injured). The bottom of the drivers side was steaming. At this point I thought the car was going to explode or catch a fire since EV's are known for doing that. My friend and I exited the car immediately and we called the police. No other car was involved and no people get injured. The wheel axle on the front left side collapsed and the wheel fell down on the ground but the tire did not blow up. There were severe damages on the left side of the vehicle: the lamp, the mirror, doors and charging port. The accident report can be retrieved at www.flinttownshippolice.org, report # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11551204