Complaint volume
640 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Tesla Model 3 Complaints
640 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Tesla Model 3, grouped by component category.
640 Total complaints
43 Crash reports
5 Fire reports
16 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are forward collision avoidance, service brakes,forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control,forward collision avoidance. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 43 crash reports, 5 fire reports, 16 injury reports, and 3 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 42 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 18,076 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to forward collision avoidance, service brakes,forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control,forward collision avoidance?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Tesla Model 3?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Tesla Model 3
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Tesla Model 3 complaints?
43 Crash
5 Fire
16 Injury
3 Fatality
37 Towed
18 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Tesla Model 3 complaint categories?
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 198
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 57
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 53
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 40
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 32
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18
VISIBILITY/WIPER 12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11
SERVICE BRAKES 10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10
640 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | After parking and leaving the car, I realize later the dashboard did not shut down. The dashboard was still illuminated, and I was also able to hear the sound from a tuned FM radio. I re-open and closed both the driver and the passenger doors in an attempt to shutoff the dashboard. Since I did not get the expected result, I decided to get back into the car. I sat down in the driver chair to investigate the problem when the car was instantly activated and switched to a sudden and uncontrolled acceleration. It crashed into a facing wall after a run of about 30 feet. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | I previously reported unexpected acceleration on two occasions with this car. This follow up not is to inform NHTSA that Tesla has not been willing to provide any information or investigation results more than 8 weeks after my report to them. They told me they couldn’t discuss it and I would be contacted within 5 weeks. When I inquire now they just say it’s still under investigation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Automatic cruise control (autopilot) has twice failed to decrease speed when it should have. The vehicle will also brake at a moderate to high rate on the highway with zero warning or message, with no obstacle or vehicle on the road, creating a dangerous situation with following vehicles. ACC also requires the use of automatic wipers and automatic high beams, both of which activate at random times and thus encourage their disuse (e.g. sunny clear day, or with obvious traffic in front of the vehicle, respectively). Automatic high beams turning on and flashing when they shouldn't is unsafe for other drivers. Finally, the use automatic wipers and high beams is not listed as a requirement for active safety features such as FCW and AEB to function. However, these two critical safety systems rely on the same camera array and systems with problematic functionality described above. It's hard to believe that these actual safety systems, listed as a feature of the vehicle, are able to function as required when the full array of sensors and logic, shared with autopilot, are unable to perform reliably. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While I was driving on the state way at about 50 to 55mph, the car suddenly sped up and the ABS system kicked ON and the brake pedal became tight and when I fully pressed the pedal to stop the car, the car would not move after that and it gave some random error messages. Called 911 since I was blocking the road and the informed Tesla. They towed the vehicle to their workshop. The tow truck drive mentioned that the car would not even go in to tow mode. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | On two separate occasions our Model 3 experienced uninitiated acceleration. Both times we were able engage the breaks and prevent any issue, but it’s disconcerting. We reported to Tesla on April 22nd and they said they would get back to us. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | At around 5:30pm on 5/16/2021 We were entering our garage when our tesla accelerated on its own into our garage extremely quickly and nearly brought the garage down. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | -BODY PARTS ON CAR A LOT WERE OFF ALIGNED, SERVICE DEPT WON'T HELP OR ANSWER CALLS - SENTRY MODE DRAINS BATTERY (SALES REP SAID IT DOESN'T, SINCE THE CAMERA STORAGE ISN'T STORED ON THE CAR) - REAR PASSANGER DOOR PANEL IS NOT ON CORRECT - THERE WAS GREEN TAPE INSIDE THE CAR - THE WINDOW TRIM WAS HANGING OFF. - ADAM TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD BE WORKING WITH THE 'REMARKETING TEAM' TO GET ME A BETTER THAN NORMAL TRADE IN QUOTE. SAID HE WAS WORKING WITH A SPECIAL TEAM TO GET ME A QUOTE - AND THAT THE TEAM SHOULD HAVE OFFERED ME A LONG RANGE VEHICLE AND HE APOLOGIZED - CALLED ME WITH A REGULAR TRADE IN QUOTE. HE WENT TO THE TESLA.COM WEBSITE AND SUBMITTED A TRADE IN QUOTE AND WAS NOT WORKING WITH A 'SPECIAL REMARKETING TEAM" - KEVIN CALLED ME AND ASKED FOR ADAM AND IF I HAD RECEIVED MY TRADE IN QUOTE THROUGH THE WEBSITE, FIGURED IT OUT THAT IT WAS ME AND NOT ADAM, HUNG UP AND BLOCKED ME. - CALLED AND WANTED TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE ISSUES - THE ADVISOR WOULDN'T GIVE ME HIS NAME AND THAT HE FELT THREATENED BECAUSE I ASKED FOR HIS NAME. - MY WIFE GOES DOWN TO TESLA COSTA MESA TO SPEAK TO KEVIN WONG THEN SPEAKS TO BRIAN AND FINDS OUT JARED IS WHO ACCUSED ME OF THREATENING HIM. - JULIA CALLED ME AFTER THAT INTERACTION, THE SAME DAY AND GAVE ME THE 3 OPTIONS - WENT BACK AND SAID 'IT WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION' -CAR AC STOPPED WORKING WHEN DRIVING -CAR WOULDN'T START -REAR SMALL WINDOW SHATTERED BY ITSELF WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY, CAUSING US TO SWERVE AND ALMOST HITTING THE SIDE BARRIER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,100 |
| Apr 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2021 TESLA MODEL 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO AN ISSUE WITH THE RIGHT PILLAR CAMERA. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAMERA FREQUENTLY DISPLAYED AN "OBSTRUCTED" ERROR MESSAGE, BUT THERE WAS NO OBSTRUCTION. *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | ON FEBRUARY 28, 2021 AT 4:08 PM.. THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF MY ARRIVAL AT WORKPLACE WHICH IS ALSO DISPLAYED IN MY NAVIGATION. AS SOON AS I'M DOING A REVERSE TO PARK MY TESLA FOR SOME REASON AND IT DID HAPPEN SO QUICKLY ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THE ACCELERATOR HARDER AND AS A RESULT I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THAT MY REAR BUMPER HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME THAT WAS PARKED. THE DAMAGED WAS HUGE THAT IT KNOCK OFF THE PARKED CAR FRONT BUMPER, IT BROKE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND BUCKLED THE ENGINE HOOD. IT REALLY BOGGLES ME AS TO HOW IT HAPPENED, I RE-CREATE THE SCENARIO AT HOME IT TURNS OUT AND I TRULY BELIEVED THAT I GOT CONFUSED WITH THE CURRENT DRIVING MODE AS I SWITCH THE CAR TO REVERSE WHILE I STOP TO CHECK MY PROXIMITY, BUT THE DISPLAY CHANGES TO 'HOLD BRAKE' FONT. NOT KNOWING THAT IT STILL IN REVERSE MODE, ALTHOUGH THE TOP LEFT VERTICALLY DISPLAYED DRIVE MODE INDICATOR STILL SHOWING BUT IT IS TOO SMALL/ MINIMAL THAT IT'S HARD TO DISTINGUISH WHICH ONE IS ACTIVE. FOR AN OWNER THAT'S NEW TO THIS ELECTRIC CAR IT IS CONFUSING AND SPECIALLY YOU HAVE OTHER ICE CAR YOU CURRENTLY DRIVING AT HOME.TESLA SHOULD CONSIDER AN UPDATE TO THE DISPLAY ON THE DRIVING MODE INDICATOR. THE DEFAULT AS YOU SWITCH THE STALK TO D, P, N OR R, THAT LARGE FONT ONLY DISPLAY MOMENTARILY AND IT CHANGES TO YOUR SPEED AND THEN CHANGES TO ' HOLD- BRAKE FONT ICON'. THOSE DISPLAY FONT P-D- R- N ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER IS TOO MINIMAL AND EVEN LIGHTLY OBSTRUCTED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. EVEN THE FONT COLOR IS HARDLY DISTINGUISHABLE, THE CURRENT DRIVE MODE IS ONLY BOLD IN THE SAME COLOR. THIS IS REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP. TESLA MODEL 3 DISPLAY SHOULD BE UPDATED, THE DRIVE MODE SHOULD BE VISIBLE ENOUGH AND PERMANENT ON THE DISPLAY. LOOK AT THE MODEL S.. IT HAS A VERY VISIBLE/ EASY TO DISTINGUISH YOUR CURRENT DRIVING MODE. ( P-D- N-R ) [XXX] CONTACT: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE CAR SUDDENLY POWERED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THE CAR REMAINED BROKEN DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THE SERVICE REPORT INDICATES THAT THE DRIVE UNIT FAILED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,661 |
| Feb 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | HEAT NO LONGER WORKS IN THE CAR'S CLIMATE CONTROL. THIS APPARENTLY IS TIED TO FAULTY HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE SENSORS THAT MUST WORK PROPERLY FOR THE HEATING SYSTEM TO WORK, AND TESLA SERVICE CENTERS ARE AWARE OF THIS YET ARE NOT PROACTIVELY REPLACING THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN COLD CLIMATES SINCE THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST NO LONGER WORKS, AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE OVERALL IN COLD TEMPERATURES WITHOUT FUNCTIONAL HEAT. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RESTRICTED TO THE 2020/2021 MODEL 3/YS WITH THE HEAT PUMP THAT REQUIRE THESE SENSORS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. ANOTHER SYMPTOM IS THE CLIMATE SCREEN DISPLAYS AN ERROR MESSAGE OF "CLIMATE KEEPER IS UNAVAILABLE DUE TO A SYSTEM FAULT." | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,900 |
| Feb 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WATER INTRUSION IMMEDIATELY AFTER TOUCHLESS CARWASH . WATER LEAKED FROM UNDER THE GLOVEBOX COMPARTMENT. DRIVING OFF THE CARWASH BAY, WATER WAS HEARED SLOSHING THEN THE LEAK | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,580 |
| Feb 2021 | LANE DEPARTURE | TESLA MODEL 3, WHILE DRIVING WILL REPORT A LEFT/RIGHT COLUMN CAMERA, IS OBSTRUCTED DO TO CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAMERA COVER. WHILE DRIVING ON THIS INTERRUPTS ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS SUCH AS AUTO LANE CHANGE, BLIND-SPOT DETECTION, AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING. THIS HAS ME CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE ADAS FEATURES AS CONDENSATION HAS IMPEDED FUNCTIONALITY MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE USING THE FEATURE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,200 |
| Feb 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED IN DANGEROUSLY COLD CONDITIONS IN A REMOTE AREA ON A WEEKEND TRIP TO THE ADIRONDACKS. I WASN'T ABLE TO REACH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE APP, AND I END UP DRIVING IT 7 HOURS HOME WITHOUT ANY HEAT. THE HEAT SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN LEAVING OUR HOTEL TO DRIVE HOME. THE TEMPERATURE -18 DEGREES F. AFTER IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED, THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY SEVERAL FAULTY SENSORS. HE INDICATED IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, RESULTING FROM A BAD BATCH OF SENSORS FROM A CERTAIN MANUFACTURER, AND THAT TESLA HAS SINCE STOPPED PURCHASING THE SENSORS FROM THAT MANUFACTURER. THIS IMPLIES THAT TESLA KNEW THE SENSORS IN MY CAR WERE DEFECTIVE. WHAT THE HELL?! THIS IS DANGEROUS!!! IF I WAS A LITTLE OLD LADY, I COULD HAVE FROZEN TO DEATH! WHY HASN'T TESLA ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL? | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,600 |
| Dec 2020 | STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | WHEN I TEST DROVE THE TESLA MODEL 3, THERE WAS AN OPTION TO TURN REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO LOW. THIS ALLOWED THE CAR TO HAVE MORE OF A COASTING EFFECT WHEN ONE LIFTS THE FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I RECEIVED DELIVERY OF THE CAR, THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING EFFECT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE REMOVAL OF THIS FEATURE IS BEING DISCUSSED AT LENGTH IN ONLINE FORUMS. THE LATEST VERSION OF THE OWNERS' MANUAL STATES THAT REGENERATIVE BRAKING IN THE STANDARD SETTING COULD CAUSE THE CARE TO LOSE TRACTION IN WINTER CONDITIONS AND THAT DRIVERS SHOULD SELECT THE LOW SETTING. BY REMOVING THIS ABILITY, TESLA, BY ITS OWN ADMISSION, HAS DECREASED THE CAR'S SAFETY IN WINTER CONDITIONS. A RAPID DECELERATION OF A CAR ON SLIPPERY ROADS IS ALMOST GUARANTEED TO INDUCE A SKID AND MAKE THE CAR DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY CONCERNING. TESLA NEEDS TO BRING THE FEATURE BACK, OR PUBLICIZE OTHER COMPENSATIONS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE UNBEKNOWNST TO OWNERS. I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE CAR ON 12/24/20, BUT ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED STARTING IN OCTOBER OF 2020. A SIDE COMPLAINT WOULD BE THAT TESLA DOES NOT UPDATE THE OWNERS MANUAL IN A TIMELY MANNER TO COINCIDE WITH THE MANY SOFTWARE UPDATES. THE ABOVE EXAMPLE IS JJUST ONE OF MANY, SINCE THE CURRENT MANUAL MAKES A RECOMMENDATION THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DO IN THE 2021 MODEL 3 REFRESH. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15 |