Complaint volume
101 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
2025 Tesla Model 3 Complaints
101 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2025 Tesla Model 3, grouped by component category.
101 Total complaints
21 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
4 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 unknown or other, vehicle speed control,forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 21 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 4 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 7 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 9,135 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to unknown or other, vehicle speed control,forward collision avoidance, electrical system?
- 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 2025 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.
2025 Tesla Model 3
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2025 Tesla Model 3 complaints?
21 Crash
0 Fire
4 Injury
0 Fatality
8 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2025 Tesla Model 3 complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 5
STEERING 5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2
LANE DEPARTURE 2
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2
101 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Using the navigation system in self driving mode the turn signal indicators start 500 feet from the intended turn, regardless of speed, and not influenced by cross streets or parking lot driveways thay are present before the intended turn. This takes place regardless of upcoming cross streets or driveways, but based on distance only, giving drivers coming out of these cross streets and driveways an indication that i intend to turn sooner. This has caused several "close calls". Reference: "The California DMV driver handbook similarly instructs drivers to start signaling about 100 feet before a turn so that other road users have time to see and react to your intention. On freeways, the DMV further recommends signaling for at least five seconds before changing lanes, which is a related but separate guidance from the 100‑foot rule for turns." I consider this a serious safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | STEERING | It threw an error that said “Steering assist reduced” and the power steering no longer functioned. It was very difficult to turn the wheel. The vehicle was stopped when the error popped up, but was driving fine up until that point. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | I am reporting a safety issue involving my 2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance. My steering wheel began shaking while driving, and the vehicle felt unstable, especially at speed. I brought the vehicle to Tesla Service in Las Vegas. Their inspection found that the outer tie rod nut on the passenger front side was loose, which created steering play and caused the steering wheel shake (documented in Tesla invoice #XXX). A loose tie rod nut is a serious steering safety defect that can result in loss of steering control. Tesla performed a four-wheel alignment and tightened the components but stated the issue is “maintenance” and not covered under warranty, despite the vehicle having only 12,890 miles. Tesla also stated the steering rack had “no issues,” but they did not perform any repair on the steering system beyond tightening the loose tie rod nut and charging me for alignment. They also did not explain how a nearly new vehicle could develop a loose steering component. A loose outer tie rod nut should never occur on a new car unless there is a defect or improper assembly from the factory. This poses a significant safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. Tesla did not treat this as a steering safety defect and only attributed it to alignment. They declined warranty coverage and did not fully address the root cause. I am filing this complaint because steering components should not loosen on a 2025 model vehicle, and the situation could have resulted in loss of control or an accident. I want NHTSA to be aware in case this issue appears in other vehicles of the same model year. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | LANE DEPARTURE | The Tesla FSD performed in a dangerous way. It came into a left lane when a speeding truck was in the lane and nearly hit my car. This occurred on Nov 12 around 5:30 pm near floor and decor at Kolb and Broadway Intersection in Tucson AZ. I engaged FSD to return home in Oro Valley. First the car did not follow straight path going from the parking store lot to make a right trun and enter Kolb road. It made right turn and left turn and then right to Kolb road to turn right. It was a busy time in the evening. When an opening was found it entered Kolb road and then rapidly zig zagged to change lanes to try to enter left turn lane only on Kolb to turn on Broadway. In the left most lane, it did not detect a fast approaching truck. The truck honked, and I took control of the car and sped through the intersection to avoid collision. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | While driving home from purchasing my new tesla a under dash panel just to the left of the steering column detached an fell on top of the brake pedal. This made it impossible to apply the brakes. Fortunately because of regenerative braking i was able to stop the car and replace the panel. The panel is only held in place with 2 magnets. I find this extremely dangerous and could have easily caused a life ending accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,TIRES | The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the vehicle was vibrating while driving at 60 MPH, and the vibration was going to the contact's head. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local Tesla service center, where it was diagnosed with needing the four tires balanced, and the passenger’s side rear tire was replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another local Tesla Service Center at 9950 NW 25th St, Doral, FL 33172) on four occasions. The dealer determined that the tires were unbalanced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the Tesla Service Center, where the suspension torque was adjusted. The tires were rebalanced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the Service Center, and it was determined that the failure was related to the front suspension. The vehicle was taken to the same Service Center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column was the cause of the failure. The electric steering column and steering wheel were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,434. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,434 |
| Nov 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Subject: Urgent Safety Concern – Tesla on FSD Drove Wrong Way on One-Way Street Message: Hello, I’m reporting a serious safety incident involving my Tesla while Full Self-Driving (FSD) was active. On [XXX] at [XXX], my son was driving our Tesla Model 3 2025 in Smithtown New York. While on FSD, the vehicle incorrectly entered and drove down a one-way street in the wrong direction, creating an extremely dangerous situation. Fortunately, no one was injured, but it could have been fatal. We have video footage recorded by the Tesla Dashcam clearly showing the event. I’ve already backed up the files from the USB drive and can provide them for review. Please investigate this incident immediately and confirm how I can securely share the video footage and retrieve the car’s internal driving logs for that time period. Details: Date/Time of Incident: [XXX] Location: Smithtown New York FSD or Autopilot: FSD Vehicle VIN: [XXX] I am very concerned about the safety implications of this malfunction and would like written confirmation that Tesla is investigating and will provide a technical report or response. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | I was driving on a straight interstate road between 60-70 mph using Full-Self Driving around 4:15pm and there was no traffic in front, behind, or next to me. Suddenly, the car tried to make a sharp right turn that felt like more than an obstacle avoidant move or lane keeping move. I had to grab the wheel even harder than I was (my hands were fortunately on the wheel) and force it back into the lane. If i did not make this intervention, I would've gone off the road and crashed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | STEERING | Turn signals buttons occasionally don't work. Brought in for service and was told through a message that this is a firmware issue. Tesla then releases the vehicle back to me without a fix. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I love my vehicle and its technology. However after installation of the latest (FSD V14) update, I observed issues I believe pose a risk to the safe operation of the vehicle. I have made dozens of reports for 30+ days to Tesla for these issues. 1. Driving Profiles and Speed The update features multiple driving profiles (e.g., "Sloth", "Chill", "Standard", and Mad Max). Only the "Sloth" profile drives at the “speed limit” (what their outdated map thinks speed limit is). All other profiles drive over the posted speed limit (sometimes significantly). The ability to manually adjust the speed limit setting has been removed or disabled in these profiles. Once the vehicle is in a profile, the system stays in its own selected speed. This behavior prevents the driver from easily controlling the maximum speed when using the system, undermining driver-intent. 2. Incorrect or Outdated Speed Limit Data The vehicle frequently displays incorrect speed limits: for example, school zones, reduced speed zones, temporary speed changes, work zones, and even a busy high way I drive everyday that’s been changed for 3 months now, are often not recognized or updated in the system. On several occasions over the past months, the system continued to use an outdated or incorrect posted speed, despite the road clearly being a lower limit. Because the system uses the erroneous speed data as the basis for its automated driving decision (and without manual override of speed in FSD), this situation increases risk-especially in areas where lower speed limits are enforced for safety (pedestrian zones, near schools). 3. Safety Risk Description The lack of manual speed adjustment under autonomous mode means the driver has less control over vehicle speed when using FSD, reducing the driver's ability to mitigate risk in a dynamic environment. I’m asking for Tesla to either make sure they have constant real time speed limit data, or allow again for manual speed adjusts when in FSD. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while coming to a stop at a traffic light, the vehicle’s autopilot system became inoperable, and the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated up to approximately 13 MPH without any warning lights illuminated. The contact attempted to regain control of the steering; however, due to the failure, the vehicle collided with another vehicle, resulting in severe damage to the driver’s side rear quarter panel, wheel, and tire. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy during the incident. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The contact expressed concern that the vehicle may present a potential safety hazard, as the failure had recurred on multiple occasions when attempting to drive the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,300. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 12,300 |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Right turn signal works only occasionally. Tesla has no fix since April 2024 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | STEERING | On my 2025 Tesla Model 3 Highland, the right-turn signal button on the steering wheel fails to activate approximately 25–30% of the time. The issue is random and unpredictable. This has occurred while changing lanes on the freeway and when turning into shopping centers or side streets, leaving drivers behind me unaware of my intent and creating a safety hazard. The problem is worse when lane assist is active, as the vehicle resists the maneuver when the signal doesn’t engage, interpreting it as lane departure. The problem started happening at around 3,000 miles on the odometer and continues intermittently. I have not had Tesla service confirm the issue yet, but other owners have reported that replacement of the steering wheel does not resolve it, suggesting a systemic or software-related defect. No warning lamps or messages appear. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | After upgrading to FSD (sull self driving supervised) v14, The speed limit function HAS BEEN REMOVED. THERE IS NO WAY TO SET A MAX SPEED FOR CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR SPEEDS UNSAFELY AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN FSD. THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTROL HOW FAST THE CAR CAN GO. It just "thinks" what speed is best. It constantly speeds 7-10 over in every setting above "SLOTH". SLOTH setting still DOES NOT have a speed limit setting. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING A MAX SPEED SETTING. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | In the New Tesla update to Full Self Drive they removed the ability to adjust the speed control while using FSD yet state "Note: You are responsible for the speed and control of your vehicle at all times, whether FSD (Supervised) is enabled or not." | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On [XXX] at approximately [XXX], I was driving northbound on [XXX] in Phoenix, Arizona in my 2025 Tesla Model 3 using Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) (Supervised) mode, when the incident occurred. I was paying close attention while driving in the left-most, non-HOV lane coming up to a bend just before the [XXX] overpass, when I noticed traffic ahead slowing down and coming to a stop. I monitored FSD as it went through the act of braking; however, it seemed to wait a little longer than I would have expected before it actually started to brake, and when it did, the FSD system had to brake more aggressively than I've previously experienced. As it neared the end of the braking event (while the car was still moving), the FSD system disengaged itself without any input from me (neither by manually applying the brake pedal, applying torque to the steering wheel, or pressing the FSD button). When the FSD system disengaged itself, my vehicle continued forward. Had I not been paying attention, my vehicle would have collided with the rear end of the vehicle in front of me. Since I was paying close attention, I immediately slammed on the brakes after noticing that FSD had disengaged itself. I have dashcam footage of this event from the TeslaCam system; however, it does not include audio or telemetry data. Even without that, you can see in the video that my car noses down while FSD applies the brakes, then noses up when FSD disengages itself, and then noses down again when I apply the brakes manually. (The dashcam footage exceeds the 20MB limit; however, I can provide it via other means upon request.) It should be noted that I am an experienced Tesla FSD user, as I used it for over a year in my prior vehicle (2018 Tesla Model 3, which had been upgraded with the HW3 FSD computer), and this is the first time I have ever experienced a near collision event while using FSD or an event in which FSD disengaged on its own. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Vehicle self drove took quick into an off ramp and took flight on cattle guard into a pole. The vehicle never attempted to make a emergency stop and no air bags deployed | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Tesla Model 3 2025, FSD V13.2.9, red light violation: Video enclosed: [XXX] It just happened and I have no more information can provide. Apparently FSD didn't warn me that it will run a red light. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | On [XXX], I was driving my new 2025 Tesla Model 3 from my home in The Woodlands, TX, to San Antonio for a weekend trip. At approximately [XXX], while traveling on [XXX] a few miles before Exit [XXX], the vehicle suddenly behaved abnormally. It appeared to take control without my input, causing the entire car to wobble violently. I completely lost control of the vehicle for several seconds. There were no obstructions, debris, or road conditions that could explain this behavior. I have video recordings from the car’s cameras clearly showing the incident. After pulling over safely, I contacted Tesla, who guided me through some reboot steps. I decided to cancel my trip due to safety concerns and began returning home. However, at approximately [XXX], near Exit [XXX] on [XXX], the same issue occurred twice more. I immediately pulled over again and arranged for the car to be towed to Tesla Service. This was a terrifying and potentially fatal malfunction. It appears to involve a serious defect in the traction control, steering, or drive system. I request that NHTSA urgently investigate this issue to ensure the safety of other Tesla owners. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On December 31, 2024, I purchased a new Tesla Model 3 Long Range with Full Self-Driving (FSD). The problem is the car goes faster than it should when Full Self-Driving is activated. I have attached an example photo of the Tesla screen taken while the car is being controlled by FSD. It shows that the speed limit of the road is 35 MPH, and the car is traveling at a steady speed of 51 MPH. It also shows a “Max Speed” of 64 MPH which means the car may travel that fast on this road if it chooses to. This is clearly a safety issue which can lead to accidents. Tesla has made 5 attempts to fix this without success. On the last attempt (September 24, 2025), they refused to answer my questions such as: Why does the Max Speed suddenly change to a value much higher than my specification? They simply stated that the system was operating as designed. Really? It’s design to drive 51 MPH in a 35 MPH zone? Furthermore, they went on to say I should disengage the FSD system or intervene manually if I believe the car is operating in an unsafe manner. One reason I purchased this car was for FSD. I would expect them to fix it rather than my having to abandon this feature that I pay for. I hope you will encourage Tesla to fix this issue before there are any more FSD-related accidents. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I want to add an update to my previous report # 11690629. I think it would be helpful to provide what the Max Speed should be based on my input. So, I will just resubmit the previous report with some additional information. On December 31, 2024, I purchased a new Tesla Model 3 Long Range with Full Self-Driving (FSD). The problem is the car goes faster than it should when Full Self-Driving is activated. I have attached an example photo of the Tesla screen taken while the car is being controlled by FSD. It shows the actual speed limit of the road is 35 MPH, and the car is traveling at a steady speed of 51 MPH. It also shows a “Max Speed” of 64 MPH which means the car may travel that fast on this road if it chooses to. Since I use an Offset of 10%, the Max Speed in this 35 zone should be 39 MPH. However, the car increased it to 64 MPH, and I certainly did not use the right scroll wheel to increase it. This is clearly a safety issue which can lead to accidents. Tesla has made 5 attempts to fix this without success. On the last attempt (September 24, 2025), they refused to answer my questions such as: Why does the Max Speed suddenly change to a value much higher than my specification? They simply stated that the system was operating as designed. Really? It’s design to drive 51 MPH in a 35 MPH zone? Furthermore, they went on to say I should disengage the FSD system or intervene manually if I believe the car is operating in an unsafe manner. One reason I purchased this car was for FSD. I would expect them to fix it rather than my having to abandon this feature that I pay for. I hope you will encourage Tesla to fix this issue before there are any more FSD-related accidents. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | The vehicle has loud creaking and groaning noises when turning the wheel at low speed or at a standstill, I’ve taken it to a Tesla service center where they claimed that this is just a characteristic of the vehicle yet I myself and a mechanic and understand that the fundamentals of suspension are the same regardless of what type of vehicle it may be and know that this is actually a known issue with Teslas especially with Model 3s. My vehicle is at 10,683 miles and still within the warranty, on Friday, September 26 at 8 AM. I dropped off my vehicle for repairs later that day at around 1645 or as known as 4:45 PM. I was messaged saying that my vehicle is ready for pick up as I read the service notes, I saw that they did not do any repair on my suspension. This is concerning to me because this is a safety issue and I highly believe that the vehicle needs to be repaired. The service center is located in Santa Clarita, California. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Description of Issue: The car displayed error code DI_a137 and unable to drive/pull over safely. The vehicle became undrivable and had to be towed to the Tesla service center. The service center diagnosed a rear drive inverter failure and replaced the entire inverter assembly. Safety Concern: It is alarming for a critical drivetrain component to fail completely within the first year of ownership and at such low mileage. A sudden loss of power while driving poses a serious safety risk to the driver and passengers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | The reason that I'm currently writing you this letter is to report an incident that happened on Sep. 16th, 2025. This is the date that I was very excited because I got my first EV - Tesla Model 3 new car. Me and my wife went over to the delivery plant in Fefe, Washington. The address is 3701 20th St. E., Fife, WA 98424. We took the car and I myself drove it back home around 2:45ish (-3 :00 pm the latest). It was just two blocks away from the plant outbound to the eastward trying to get to the entry of the highway. I stopped my car on my brake, and suddenly my car went forward by itself. This unintended acceleration caused me to hit the car in front of me. We had to stop in the next parking lot on my left side as soon as we passed the traffic light. This intersection happened right at the intersection of 54th Ave. E (Northbound) and Pacific Highway E. I hit the car in front of me. My front bumper got some damage. The car is still drivable and I have put the photos and maps for your understanding. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | STRUCTURE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the turn signal buttons on the steering wheel used to activate the turn signals were designed with a flaw that might cause an accident if depressed intentionally. The contact was a retired Service Technician for over 40 years. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |