2022 Tesla Model 3 problems
Owners have filed 1,496 complaints about the 2022 Tesla Model 3 with NHTSA. Forward collision avoidance accounts for 52.6% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of vehicle speed control at 11.4%.
Complaints1,496
Crashes103
Fires6
Injuries76
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Forward collision avoidance 52.6% · 787
Vehicle speed control 11.4% · 171
Service brakes 11.1% · 166
Unknown or other 5.9% · 89
Electrical system 3.9% · 58
Lane departure 3.5% · 53
Steering 2.3% · 35
Visibility/wiper 1.0% · 15
Severity
Of those complaints, 103 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire, 76 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 8 model years of the Tesla Model 3 in this data, 2022 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 2018 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 308 in the last three years against 1188 in the three before. The issues here may already have been addressed.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 5,100 miles.
In owners' own words
TESLA "auto pilot" (adaptive cruise control) has activated breaking, with no object in front. Last event was 7/9/2022 on the highway going about 77 miles. Because the break are activated unexpectedly I almost lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle behind me almost collided with us. I this time I have discontinued using the autopilot. Using the autopilot on this vehicle is extremely dangerous. Please help Forward collision avoidance
We were driving on I35 in Missouri traveling north and only had the adaptive cruise control on, and the car slowed down for no reason multiple times when no cars were in frown of us, or on either side of us. A few times, the car slowed from 70 to 60 or 65, but there was one occurence the car was attempting to slow all the way down to maybe full stop. We took control in each instance and avoided any further issues Forward collision avoidance
I was hit by a woman driving a Tesla with autopilot turned on. The system did not detect the red light, and she hit the right front quarter panel of my vehicle, totally my vehicle. The autopilot system malfunctioned and should have detected both the red light and the collision which was likely to occur. To my knowledge, the vehicle is in the control of either the driver's insurance company or the Police. Forward collision avoidance
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Tesla Model 3 years
2019 1,050 complaints · 21.9% forward collision avoidance 2020 767 complaints · 28.0% forward collision avoidance 2021 1,225 complaints · 48.0% forward collision avoidance 2023 726 complaints · 32.4% forward collision avoidance 2024 329 complaints · 18.8% forward collision avoidance 2025 209 complaints · 15.8% forward collision avoidance