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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | Latest update changed the cruise control to force inclusion of autopilot. Cruise control function is now unavailable with without this autonomous feature. It's not only distracting, but aggravating. What's worse, is there's no online ability to inform or complain directly to Tesla. This isn't the first safety-related software glitch. Please get them to fix these issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES | I was driving in the street at 10 miles, I turned to the right and I push the break but the car didn't break and I crashed with the car in front of me. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Problem: As the vehicle is driven and the Adaptive Cruise Control, AutoSteer, FSD, …. is activated. As the system detects an unexpected outside event, the vehicle would slow down for a few seconds, then it would continue driving and re-accelerate to about the same speed that it was before and/or to the maximum set speed. Opinion: This is can be dangerous if the driver is not observant, alert, and does not control the vehicle which can be dangerous and cause death, destruction, and/or damage to the driver, passengers, pedestrians, vehicle, surrounding vehicles, fixed objects, etc. Possible Solution: As the vehicle is driven and the Adaptive Cruise Control, AutoSteer, FSD, …. is activated. Once the system detects an unexpected outside event the system should: * Temporarily Disable Adaptive Cruise Control, AutoSteer, FSD, …. * Interior Cabin LCD would flash Yellow/Orange and beep quickly 3 times in a row - Showing a message on the screen “For the safety of you and others _____ (Adaptive Cruise Control, AutoSteer, FSD, …. ) has been temporarily disabled due to an unexpected outside event. Please re-enable ____ (Adaptive Cruise Control, AutoSteer, FSD, …. ) when it is safe.” Possible Solution Reason: * Temporarily Disabling Adaptive Cruise Control, AutoSteer, FSD, …. disables the drivers dependence on the system, slows the vehicle, and forces the driver to take control of the vehicle, situation, and avoid the unexpected outside event. * Alerting/notifying the driver alerts the driver to a dangerous unexpected outside event that the driver needs to assess and know the best course of action. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | Autonomous Driving Problem [XXX] Driving from Cornelia, GA to Commerce, GA on [XXX] at 60 mph driving on the right lane with very lite traffic. 6 different times the FSD (Full Self Driving) (Supervised) 2021 Tesla Model 3 starts signaling left and changes lanes with no traffic or vehicles in front. The 5th time FSD (Supervised) changed lane to the left was a near car accident because a car was speeding at 70-80 mph from the rear and the vehicle changed lanes in front of the speeding car nearly causing an accident. The autonomous cabin driver detection sensor does continuously give false positive warning messages to the driver to "Pay attention to the road" when I am wearing my glasses, so I have to drive without my glasses. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | STRUCTURE | Automatic Trunk (Lift Gate) Guillotine Problem: The convenience of the trunk (lift gate) is a helpful feature to the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle, but this feature can be deadly at the wrong place and wrong time, for example: The driver/passenger presses the open/close trunk (lift gate) and a child’s hand, head, and/or body part is against/leaning/underneath/over that opening while the child is blocking/obstructing the opening/closing which can cause injury and/or death. That child’s body part can be crushed/trapped in between the closing/opening between the truck (lift gate) vehicle frame, for example: While a young child spontaneously darts in/around the vehicle during the opening/closing of the trunk (lift gate) and looks/sees/wants an item and instinctively runs to and grabs the item not knowing or forgetting about the opening/closing of the trunk (lift gate) and at that moment the trunk (lift gate) strikes and/or traps the child’s extremities causing injury, amputation, and/or death. * There should be an audible noise and sensors notifying the vehicle occupants about the opening/closing of the trunk/door/lift gate and 2 detection sensors. Audible Noise - A beeping noise or gentle soft song during the opening/closing of the trunk (lift gate). * Trunk (lift Gate) Opening/Closing Motor and Motion Detection Sensor. Trunk (lift Gate) motion motor freeze and stop - If there is an opening/closing abnormality the trunk (lift gate) would immediately freeze operation until the button is pressed to open/close. * Trunk (lift Gate) Opening/Closing Sensor. Trunk (lift Gate) that would make sure the trunk (lift gate) is completely open and/or completely closed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Hi Tesla installed a new software update yesterday. Today when I began driving my car and I turned on the adaptive cruise control I found that the car was completely in autopilot and it was extremely to take control over the car again as I was initially unable to steer and it took a few seconds for it to discontinue the autopilot. This is very concerning because the car was set in the preferences (see attached photo) to autopilot (Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" in the preferences) even though I have never used it and has it set to adaptive cruise control ("Traffic-Aware Cruise Control" in the preferences). I am concerned that Tesla switched the preference to autopilot just after offering a free 30 day trial which I did not accept. I understand that full self-driving has never been approved and yet Tesla is flaunting the law and forcing drivers to use it without notifying us or requesting our permission. Tesla needs to be immediately held accountable for this reckless and dangerous behavior which put myself and likely many other driver's lives at risk. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On or around March 31, 2024 Tesla delivered a software update to my vehicle that changed the way adaptive cruise control is engaged, as well as the behavior of the vehicle when the setting is activated. In the few days since the change, I twice inadvertently engaged the adaptive cruise control, once while attempting to park on a congested residential street where it was very dangerous to have the vehicle accelerate without my taking action. I panicked and was able to shut it off quickly, but I didn’t know why it had been enabled. Today I was driving and had intentionally engaged the adaptive cruise control when the car attempted to signal and change lanes. This was wholly unexpected, and I was not prepared to monitor the vehicle taking other actions besides maintaining its lane and speed in traffic. I reviewed the settings for the feature and discovered the adaptive cruise control with lane guidance, termed “Autosteer” in the Tesla vehicle, had been replaced by “Self-Driving (Supervised).” The activation of the feature was changed from a double pull on the shift lever to a single pull. This explained my twice inadvertently activating the feature, and the car propelling itself forward unexpectedly, on those two other occasions. It is extremely dangerous for the car manufacturer to suddenly and without warning change the way the vehicle is operated. I believe I was fortunate to avoid an accident on two occasions while the vehicle unexpectedly took control over driving. Had I not reacted within one second to disable the feature, I might not have avoided a collision. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | After a recent update to the "Full Self-Driving" software stack (new version2023.44.30.25; FSD Beta v12.3), we drove from Charleston to Atlanta and back, with much of the trip on Interstate Highways [XXX] and [XXX]. A very troubling new phenomenon was noted: every time we passed a "Minimal Speed" sign, the car would drop the Speed Limit setting on the control panel to 40 MPH. In many of the iterations of this problem, the speed of the car dropped precipitously, creating a potentially dangerous situation. I had the software set to Auto speed limit offset, which in some circumstances maintained the speed around 70 MPH because it was keying on surrounding traffic, but in some instances the speed did not reset until we passed another "Speed Limit 70 MPH" sign. Often, I had to react by manually raising the Max Speed setting to the speed limit. This happened repeatedly (essentially every time we passed a Minimum Speed sign, unless the sign was obstructed from camera view by a semi). Please address this with Tesla and ask for an immediate bug fix and recall (software update). It is potentially very dangerous. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving [XXX] on [XXX] in Texas, the Tesla autopilot abruptly and forcibly applied the brakes while I was driving approximately 77 mph. I was almost rear ended by a semi truck due to this issue. This happened again about 20 miles down the road and I disengaged the cruise control and autopilot altogether at that point. This is a continuous problem that needs to be addressed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Full Self Driving and cruise control brakes randomly and violently with no warning at highway speeds. This has happened no less than 20 times on one trip on 8 March 2024. This has put myself and other vehicles in extreme danger. The model has had this issue known by the manufacturer and nothing has been done. This braking occurs with no warning other than the vehicle slamming on the brakes. This needs to be fixed asap, its a hazard to me as the driver and the general public | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | UNKNOWN | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving in the rain, there was an auto rain-sensing feature on the vehicle that was inoperable. The contact stated that the front windshield wipers did not automatically turn on while it was raining and that the auto rain-sensing feature worked intermittently. The contact stated that the manufacturer was made aware of the unreliability of the auto rain-sensing feature, but stated it was a Beta feature. The contact stated that the risk was that there was no physical control for the front windshield wipers causing a safety issue because the contact could not engage the wipers safely when driving as it was not readily accessible via the entertainment panel when the auto rain-sensing was inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, but not repaired because there was no fix. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Complete computer failure leaving cars safety systems not working. Had to pay 3000$ for a new computer for a new car. Did not have car for three weeks. No systems would work. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The car was in an accident on 10/5/2022 when the autosteer over corrected causing the vehicle to strike the median of the road. It was subsequently totalled. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Auto windshield wipers do not turn on often when raining or misting. I constantly have to change the settings which takes my eyes off the road often. Very poor and unsafe system | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | Please note that the VIN I have used is not the VIN of the actual vehicle which is the subject of this complaint. There has been a fatal crash in San Diego. Here is a video of the aftermath. [XXX] I have taken stills from that video that show the Tesla wheel lying on the roadway well before the crash site and marks on the road that show the car slewed sideways after the wheel fell off and then crashed and burned incinerating the young driver. Photos are attached. You know full well that Tesla has defective suspensions. You have blood on your hands for failing to take action against Tesla. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: Yes Fire: Yes Fatalities: 1 Towed | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My 2021 Tesla Model 3 has various issues with the auto pilot feature. When engaged the car makes sudden and abrupt stops while driving. This has happened various times while driving on the freeway when there were no obstructions present. The autopilot feature also prompts to change to the right lane, when dismissed the prompt appears again repeatedly. This is repeated throughout the drive and poses a major distraction. There was supposed to be an “over-the-air” correction but my vehicle has never received the software update. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While traveling west on [XXX] in Dane county just before exit [XXX], I experienced unexpected braking while using TACC. My cruise speed was set at 72 MPH and I observed the set speed changed itself to (I think) 40 MPH. This caused the car to quickly begin braking to slow my speed to this new speed. I had to intervene and accelerate manually while also trying to reset the set speed. Thankfully no one was directly behind me, as this was incredibly unsafe. This has occurred at this location more than once. I'm not sure if the GPS perhaps thought I was on the exit ramp instead? TACC and autopilot seem to work normally elsewhere. It has not otherwise been inspected. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Auto wipers do not speed up in heavy rain forcing me to manually change the speed which can be dangerous while driving on the highway in heavy rain. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | You guys have ruined auto pilot and made it less safe. Quit trying to get a promotion or recognition by going after Tesla. My model 3 was the safest car to drive hands down. I've had 17 different cars in the last 20 years, Tesla's are like anything else I've ever driven. The problem you caused by forcing stricter safety for autopilot, actually makes it way less safe. Before it assisted on highways so I could briefly do things like change temperature, music, or navigation without accidently running off the road or colliding with another vehicle. Now it's so sensitive with warnings to pay attention, it's actually a distraction. Look at my speed, warning to pay attention. Check my surroundings in mirror, warning. Change temperature, warning. It's to the point where it's distracting me more then anything I would do in a traditional car. Seriously, NHTSA can go [XXX] itself. Someone in the government always trying to make a name for themselves acting like a savior for the people. Why don't you make yourself useful and go after those [XXX] traditional company's like Ford. Ford always rolls out vehicles with serious safety defects, but weigh the cost of recalls/lawsuits against profit. Ford shouldn't be allowed to sell vehicles in the US, yet you go after Tesla, who in my opinion makes the safest car ever created. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I leased a Tesla Model 3 on [XXX] in Tampa, Florida On [XXX] the car went into Sudden Unintended Acceleration as I was coming out of a "Hold" at a Yield sign where I was at a complete stop waiting for traffic to fully clear for a right hand turn onto a two lane street. I was coming off of [XXX] onto [XXX] in St. Petersburg, Florida. As I started the turn, the Tesla tossed me onto the curb and along a pedestrian sidewalk at high speed. I tried to brake, but the car continued plowing towards a traffic sign that I avoided hitting by making a hard left to try to get back onto the street. Instead of returning me to the street and my lane, the Tesla threw me left across two lanes of traffic, over a grass divider, and into two lanes of oncoming traffic heading straight for a head on collision. At this point, the steering wheel went out, was completely unresponsive and just kept spinning around. The brake was still not responding. I kept spinning the wheel towards the right until at the last minute the car sped back onto the correct side of the road where I was abruptly and without any kind of a jolt, able to regain control of the car: the brake responded and the steering wheel stopped spinning. I then drove at a speed of about 20 miles an hour to the closest residential street. After stopping to gather my wits for about half an hour, I slowly drove home with the emergency lights on and parked it in the parking lot. The Tesla had damage to the front and undercarriage. The Tesla's steering wheel pulled to the right. I did not get into that Tesla again and demanded that they tow the car away and warn others that it is a death trap. They towed the car. I am never getting into any other Tesla again for as long as I live. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | My car computer touchscreen has been rebooting with every entry since/start since software update 2023.44.30.5.1. in mid December, 2023. Software update 2023.44.30.8 did not resolve the issue. During the reboot process I am able to move my vehicle but the safety systems (parking sensors, back-up camera, wipers, etc) are inoperable for up 3 minutes during the reboot process. I have reported the issue to Tesla and brought my vehicle in for service 1/29/24. The service center claims that reboot issue is due to a software bug and is a “known characteristic” with this release. They also claim that the lack of the ability to use cameras/sensors while operating the vehicle is convenience related, not safety. Tesla can give me no ETA on when I can expect a software update to remedy the issue which has been outstanding for 5 weeks now. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I am encountering a serious problem with FSD 2023.44.30.8 06f534d46010. When navigating to a destination the vehicle will drive in a clearly identified bus turn off stop on the right side of the right driving lane. It then abruptly stops and is unsure what to do. The vehicle should not navigate to a bus turnoff stop. The vehicle repeatedly does this at not one but numerous bus turnoff stops in my area. The abrupt turnoff and stop is a hazard. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The recall you required has made my Tesla car far less safe to drive. I am an attentive driver and had grown accustomed to using Tesla autopilot to help me drive more safety to and from work. Without it I feel that I drive more aggressively and less safe. You should consider supporting Tesla in it's efforts to improve safety through technology | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The cruse control is unable to keep its speed and sometimes the vehicule breaks suddently on the highway, especially when the road is wet. The cameras are obstructed by mist or other dirt and the system does not work properly. Related to this problem, the wipers are dangerous to operate. When the cruse control is engaged, then the wipers are forced to automatic mode, which does not work properly. It could start to swipe the dirty mist and actually reduce visibility. Operating the wipers with the touch screen is a hazard, forcing the driver to leave the eyes from the road. I contacted Tesla about these problems last year and the company did nothing. Even worst, on their new cars they removed the stalks completely, which is a non sens. The NHTSA has to intervene. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |