2020 Tesla Model 3 problems
Owners have filed 767 complaints about the 2020 Tesla Model 3 with NHTSA. Forward collision avoidance accounts for 28% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of vehicle speed control at 9%.
Complaints767
Crashes99
Fires5
Injuries54
Deaths5
What owners report breaking
Forward collision avoidance 28.0% · 215
Unknown or other 10.6% · 81
Vehicle speed control 9.0% · 69
Service brakes 6.0% · 46
Steering 5.9% · 45
Suspension 5.7% · 44
Lane departure 5.7% · 44
Electrical system 5.5% · 42
Severity
Of those complaints, 99 describe a crash, 5 describe a fire, 54 report an injury and 5 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 8 model years of the Tesla Model 3 in this data, 2020 sits 5th by complaint volume. 2018 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 264 in the last three years against 442 in the three before. The issues here may already have been addressed.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 3,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while utilizing the ADAS features including the Adaptive Cruise Control, the vehicle independently applied the brakes while driving at highway speeds. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. Forward collision avoidance · reported at 25,000 miles
Was driving Tela on 237 Clavaras Blvd heading towads 880 South just before Abott ave in Mlipitas town California Tesla Model 3 acelrated suddenly hitting the car in fronts, emegency automatic braking did not kick n. Earlier it had autopilot set not sure if it tured off. We were surirsed, my wife was driving and I was i passenger seat none of the safety measure worked in the Tesla. My car is totaled. Forward collision avoidance
While using the autopilot function car unexpectedly brakes almost to a stop for no apparent reason. This happened in different driving conditions, day, night, other cars around and on empty roadways, both divided and connected two and four lane freeway and side highways. Brakes so hard that objects fly off the seat and cars traveling behind my vehicle have had to break themselves and or change lanes. Forward collision avoidance
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Tesla Model 3 years
2018 1,686 complaints · 16.8% forward collision avoidance 2019 1,050 complaints · 21.9% forward collision avoidance 2021 1,225 complaints · 48.0% forward collision avoidance 2022 1,496 complaints · 52.6% forward collision avoidance 2023 726 complaints · 32.4% forward collision avoidance 2024 329 complaints · 18.8% forward collision avoidance