Complaint volume
412 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
2023 Tesla Model 3 Complaints
412 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2023 Tesla Model 3, grouped by component category.
412 Total complaints
70 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
36 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, steering, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 70 crash reports, 1 fire report, 36 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 39 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 14,505 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to forward collision avoidance, steering, unknown or other?
- 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 2023 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.
2023 Tesla Model 3
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2023 Tesla Model 3 complaints?
70 Crash
1 Fire
36 Injury
1 Fatality
56 Towed
26 Medical attention
What are the most common 2023 Tesla Model 3 complaint categories?
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 76
STEERING 51
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 20
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11
STRUCTURE 10
VISIBILITY/WIPER 9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8
412 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Greetings, my name is --- My vehicle's VIN number is --- At the end of April 2024 I purchased a car from the seller, the seller claimed that my title was clean, he showed me pictures and it was indeed so When I came to Denver with this car, I put the car on the local registry and got a new title and it was clean too My wife was recently in an accident and the Tesla authorized service center didn't want to take the car in for service because the car has a salvage status in the title I started checking the car through several services that provide vehicle history, and found the following reports about it Source: [XXX] Date - [XXX] Type - Junk and Salvage Location - WESTCHESTER, IL Source: [XXX] Date - [XXX] Type - Total Loss Vehicle As we can see, this vehicle has 2 records of being Junk and Salvage and also a Total Loss vehicle But I was shown by the seller that the title is clean, also I was given a new title by the Arapahoe Motor Vehicle Services Office which is also clean. The official Tesla repair shops also refused to take my car for repair because they said that they do not support this title and that my car is salvaged. I would like to get the results of my car inspection from you if possible. I have also contacted the DMV of Texas and Colorado about this situation! Link to media files: --- (I can send you this information separately) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | Component or System Failed: The critical safety issue involves Tesla's door locking system, specifically the lack of a readily accessible and obvious manual door release in the rear seat. This design flaw could prevent any child or passenger from knowing how to open the door or escape in an emergency. Safety Risk: The absence of a clearly identifiable manual release mechanism for the rear doors creates a severe safety risk. In an emergency, such as a power failure or accident, a child or any rear-seat passenger may be trapped without an obvious way to exit, increasing the potential for injury or death. This is particularly concerning given two prior instances where the battery failed to charge, leaving the vehicle completely without power even while connected to a charger. Reproduction and Confirmation: Tesla refuses to address the issue, This is a critical fire hazard. Inspections Conducted: The vehicle has been inspected by Tesla service centers on at least two occasions to address charging and battery problems. However, the lack of an accessible rear door manual release remains unresolved and unaddressed. Warning Signs or Symptoms: There were no warning lamps or messages specifically related to the rear door safety issue. The charging and battery failure were preceded by warning messages indicating charging errors or reduced battery performance, which first appeared during the initial charging failure and notifications on the Tesla app. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request to verify the safety concerns and confirm the emergency safety issues with the rear door locks, charging, and battery systems. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN | Purchased 2023 Tesla Model 3 Performance in January 2024. On [XXX] at approximately 2 pm, I got a flat tire drivers side front on a remote highway outside of Reno Nv. At that time, I found out that I didn't have a spare tire or jack supplied by Tesla. I called Tesla Roadside Service and was told before they would send out assistance, I had to agree to purchase a new tire at 540.00 per tire, the towing company couldn't be to my location till after 6pm. I declined Tesla service. The Tesla had less than 18000 miles on it. My son came and assisted me in removing the flat and we took it to Les Schwab Tire center where I purchased a new tire for 375.00 dollars. Les Schwab stated that the wear on the tire was caused by alignment. I contacted Tesla made a service appointment for alignment for August 26, 2024. I got another flat on the drivers rear on [XXX], which cost 283.00 from Les Schwab with the same disposition as caused by alignment. I took the car in the next morning and had the remaining two tires changed as it was no longer safe to drive 766.00 cost, and alignment was to blame mileage was documented by Les Schwab at 18792. When I went for the service at Tesla, I was told they do not warranty tire or alignment and when I told them that I would let small claims decide if that the tire wear was excessive and caused by improper alignment, they threw me out of the dealership and have refused to work on my car. The main reason for filing the complaint is none of this was disclosed when I purchased the car, every car I have ever bought has come with a spare tire, jack, and tools needed to change it. There are no other tire repair shops that can do Tesla alignments, Tesla offers no warranty on their tires and Les Schwab stated even their lowest cost tires come with a 20k mile warranty. Tesla is price gouging for tires 540.00 each and alignment 275.00. Any of the Tesla forums state that this is happening thru all models and tire sizes to most owners. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | With the TACC system activated when traveling on a 2-lane road with a right-hand curve, if there is a semi-truck in the opposing lane, the emergency braking engages with a hard brake application. It can be overridden with accelerator pedal, but it endangers the car from collision with a following vehicle. There have been multiple incidents. I attempted to report the condition to Tesla customer support. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A COLLISION IN THE HIGHWAY | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When traveling on an interstate highway with a speed limit of 65 mph, with navigation system operating and with TACC engaged, the system sometimes resets the maximum speed to that of the speed limit of the exit ramp (usually 40 mph) when I am NOT exiting the highway. This results in rapid deceleration significantly below the prevailing highway speed with the potential of causing a rear end collision from following traffic. This is consistent some certain exit ramps along I-93 in NH, and is prevalent when traveling in the right traffic lane. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while entering a parking lot, the brake pedal failed to respond, the driver was unable to control the steering wheel and crashed into a Ford vehicle and a tree. The air bags deployed, and the vehicle stopped shortly after. The forward collision emergency braking system failed to engage. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and shoulder and had bruises. Medical attention was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 12,166. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed | 12,166 |
| Aug 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Windshield is defective which appeared crack without any solid object hitting incidence. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | SUSPENSION | Rattle sound in suspension and not sure if part is loose or bushing is worn out not even 1 year old car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While using standard cruise control (without autosteer), car sporadically & aggressively brakes for no reason with no obstruction or cars ahead and while at highway speeds. With cars close behind, a serious, life-threatening accident could've occurred. Can not determine how to recreate issue on demand. This is a known issue with Teslas that has not been addressed by Tesla. I have not reported this issue to Tesla. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | LANE DEPARTURE | model 3 self deleted after failing to maintain lane and crossed the white line, and off pavement, into eroded ditch. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING,VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Since I purchased my car in July 2023, I’ve had multiple false forward collision warning resulting in my insurance premium increasing by sizeable amounts and has caused me undue stress. I’ve reported this problem to Tesla but to no avail. Today 8/9/2024, between 5:17 and 5:21 pm, while driving my cars forward collision warning was activated while no vehicle was in front of my but instead to a parked car on the pavement. This has happened multiple times and Tesla denies being aware of any issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES | This is a duplicate of the letter I sent to Tesla on June 25, 2024. “For the past two weeks I have traveled to New Jersey and back to North Carolina. I’m writing to you because of my experience with TESLAS FSD. On one occasion I was traveling on [XXX] (NJ) heading to [XXX] -with my navigation and FSD engaged, I approached north and south exit ramps, my Tesla could not make a decision - I had to bring my car to a full stop before the apex of the exit. Cars wizzing by me on both sides. On [XXX] heading home on [XXX] somewhere in Virginia- with NO ONE around me doing about 65 mph, my car almost came to an abrupt stop ON THE HIGHWAY - once again, FSD FULLY ENGAGED - MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MY HANDS LIGHTLY ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WHY? I have NO CLUE - fortunately it reversed itself back into normal. Of course, both of the above incidents frightened me. I’m writing to you because I want a record of these events. I know my software is up to date and I’m not quite sure what to do about this. PLEASE ADVISE: Thank You [XXX] The above was sent to Tesla Inc 7101 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27612 0n June 25 and July 9, 2024 NO RESPONSE- INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at various speeds with the Adaptive Cruise Control or ADAS Self Driving feature activated, the vehicle would independently decelerate without warning. During the failure, there were no other vehicles or objects nearby. The Service Center was notified of the failure through the Tesla App. The contact was informed that since a time stamp could not be provided for each failure, the Technician could not determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet made aware of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Aug 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On [XXX] around [XXX], my daughter drove her Tesla Model 3 on [XXX] from school. Two strange/scary accidents happened to two different Tesla cars (Model 3 and Y). It was raining with low/medium visibility. One of the cars was driven by my daughter, and luckily, both drivers were safe with very minor injuries. The cars had significant damage but were drivable, and there were no airbags out. These two accidents occurred within 3 to 5 minutes at the “SAME LOCATION.” When I asked them what happened, my daughter and other Model Y drivers described a sudden loss of control, with their cars spinning and becoming unresponsive to steering and braking. They then hit the guardrail on the center line. I checked the video recordings of our car multiple times; no vehicle-to-vehicle collision was involved. I also checked the road to see if there was any oil spillage, but the lane was clean. She didn't use Auto Pilot, FSD, and Cruse Control. The office recorded it as Hydro Plane in his report, but my concern was incidents that happened only to Teslas. Also, when I posted this incident on a Tesla WhatsApp group, multiple Tesla owners reported that they had a similar issue when it was raining. It seems like Sensors malfunctioning in the rain. Also, my daughter was driving below the posted speed (68/70), and she gave a written note to the officer too, but the officer recorded it as 70/70. I need to check that in the Wake County traffic court. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Vehicle was in cruise control, and cruise control did not deactivate causing the vehicle to propel into a building, causing airbag deployment. Safety sensors of car failed to recognize building, other vehicles, and obstructions as required. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and it became difficult to steer the vehicle. The contact stated the vehicle failed to respond while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered and almost caused the vehicle to crash against a guard rail. The contact stated that the auto steer avoided the rail but caused the vehicle to spin out. A Police report was filed but was not available. There were no injuries sustained. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Aug 2024 | SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE | I am writing to file a claim regarding a safety issue with my Tesla vehicle, which is subject to the recall identified as NHTSA Recall Number 24V554. The recall involves a potential defect in the hood latch assembly, which may not detect an open condition. As a result, this defect can cause the front hood to unintentionally open while driving, potentially obstructing the driver’s view and increasing the risk of a collision. Safety Concerns: Although no crashes or injuries have been reported related to this issue, I experienced significant safety concerns while driving my vehicle. The possibility of the hood unexpectedly opening and obstructing my view caused considerable anxiety and distraction while operating the vehicle. Remedy and Actions Taken: Tesla has issued an over-the-air software update (firmware release 2024.20.3) to address this issue. However, despite the update, I remain concerned about the reliability of the latch system and the potential risk it poses to my safety and the safety of others on the road. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | SEAT BELTS | I am writing to file a claim concerning a recall affecting my Tesla vehicle, identified by NHTSA Recall Number 24V376. The recall involves a defect in the seat belt reminder system software logic affecting certain Tesla models, including my own. The defect causes a failure to provide audible and visual seat belt reminders when the driver’s seat belt is not fastened after the ignition is turned to the “on” or “start” position. This issue does not comply with FMVSS No. 208, S7.3(a)(1). Safety Concerns: While this defect has not led to any injuries, it has caused considerable anxiety regarding the safety and compliance of my vehicle. The absence of seat belt reminders can increase the risk of driving without a fastened seat belt, potentially leading to serious injury in the event of a collision. Remedy and Actions Taken: I understand that Tesla is providing an over-the-air (OTA) software remedy, firmware 2024.20.3, to address this issue. The remedy involves updating the seat belt reminder logic to rely solely on the seat belt buckle and ignition status, independent of the driver seat occupancy switch. Impact and Request: The ongoing concern about the functionality of the seat belt reminder system has affected my confidence in the safety of my vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Car stopped working in middle of road How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Luckly there were no traffic or car behind , I am not moving the lane. Personal safety and passenger safety Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Tesla service center at spring field NJ , told me, Front module was at fault and replaced Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? By Tesla Service Center at Spring Feild NJ Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Car shows CP_A044 Unable Charge error while car is running suddenly Car shows move the vehicle side , it will shutdown then shut down the car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,LANE DEPARTURE | On several occasions, the last being July 19,2024, auto correct on steering took control of my vehicle when no correction was needed. I’ve been taken by surprise and struggled on all occasions to gain full control of the vehicle. In addition, my car is not able to receive the over-air update to address the hood latch recall which leaves me more vulnerable to a catastrophic event. I can not reach a person in Service as Tesla pushes every communication through the app. My appointment was pushed out over three weeks and I still have not heard from Tesla to confirm this appointment nor reach out with any concern whatsoever regarding this horrific safety concern. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS | This complaint is about a Tesla rental car from Avis which has just shown up in the salvage yard. Because the VIN of the wreck can not be identified I have used the VIN of another wrecked Tesla. Here is the wreck in question. [XXX] It is available for inspection. The front wheels have clearly fallen off BEFORE the crash since they are shown in almost undamaged condition apart from popped ball joints. Your database has thousands of perfectly valid complaints on Teslas. You are publishing those complaints but taking no action. I suspect political interference. Tesla whistleblowers have been silenced. Norway has now cleared a whistleblower and he reports that he has already sent his evidence to NHTSA. People are dying. Stop the cover-up. Here is the report about the whistleblower in Norway. [XXX] Even a proxy for this whistle-blower has been gagged. [XXX] GET ON WITH YOUR JOB. Regards [XXX] Please note that I have used a dummy USA address to satisfy yopur webmasters requirements. My correct contact details are attached. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 2 Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | STEERING,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES | The components that failed or malfunctioned include the braking system, steering system, and the airbag deployment mechanism. These critical systems experienced sudden and unexpected failures. Yes, the vehicle and its components are available for inspection upon request. -The sudden brake failure and steering wheel lock resulted in a complete loss of control over the vehicle. The inability to stop or steer the car properly led to it veering over the curb/grass area, posing a severe risk of collision. Additionally, the failure of the airbags to deploy during the impact further compromised my safety. This incident not only endangered my life but also posed a significant threat to the safety of other road users on Highway I676. -At this time, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Further investigation and inspection are necessary to determine the root cause of these critical system failures. -There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating any issues with the braking system, steering system, or airbags prior to the sudden failure. The malfunction occurred without any prior warning, which exacerbates the concern regarding the vehicle’s safety systems. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On [XXX], I was driving my Tesla model 3 from California to my new home in Idaho as part of my move there. During the day, I had 6 or 7 situations where the car would suddenly go into full regenerative braking, or outright apply the brakes for no apparent reason. Most of these events took place of freeways at freeways speeds, or on highways (not freeways) at the local speed limit. Every situation was when I had supervised self drive or traffic aware cruise control enabled. These situations were extremely startling and in my opinion potentially dangerous. I don't want to imagine what might have happened if one of these "phantom braking" events had occurred with a heavy 18 wheeler behind me in traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an alert chimed for several seconds before the infotainment screen went blank. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power, the A/C became inoperable, the windows failed to roll down, and the doors failed to open as needed. The contact attempted to reboot the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to respond immediately. The contact was very concerned about her and her grandson's safety while the vehicle was inoperable. The contact and her grandson were unable to exit the vehicle immediately in hot weather. Moments later, the vehicle inadvertently rebooted, and the contact was able to drive to the residence, where she and her grandson exited through the front driver's door. Upon checking the Tesla app, four error codes were displayed: VCFRONT_a592, VCFRONT_a191, DI_a174, and DI_a183. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the vehicle was diagnosed through the Tesla App. The dealer determined that the high-voltage controller and relay needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,725. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,725 |