Complaint volume
108 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
108 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2025 Tesla Model 3, grouped by component category.
108 Total complaints
23 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
6 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, steering, 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 23 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 6 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, steering, 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?
23 Crash
0 Fire
6 Injury
0 Fatality
9 Towed
3 Medical attention
What are the most common 2025 Tesla Model 3 complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 24
STEERING 11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6
SERVICE BRAKES 5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL 4
ENGINE 2
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 2
108 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | STEERING | Lately I keep getting the following concerning message on the dashboard of almost brand new 2025 Tesla 3 car, even after reset the screen : Steering Assist Reduced Steering may require Increased Effort See the attached picture of this message, I took this photo On Dec 25, 2025 at 12:56 pm with parked car. I am pretty concerned with potential safety issue with the important steering-function while driving on highway and other roads. The car has only 804 miles as of Dec 26, 2025. The new car was picked up on May 31, 2025 with 15 miles. I have the FSD on monthly subscription. I have sent a message to Tesla. It has provided me with a service appointment at its West Bloomfield Township Center in Michigan on Jan 26, 2026 at 10:30 am. At the time of setting the appointment an estimate of about $450 was provided. It is concerning since the new car is under warranty. I am submitting this concerning safety related issue to NHTSA - to please investigate. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This is a new one but not new for me as this vehicle was the first under my own registration/not rental. Had passenger in car and with music down the passenger heard a very clear odd word which I can only assume was its desire, we declined. This is the umpteenth of many odd and offensive remarks that can cause odd distortion to within the immersive sound system and was what I previously attributed to rental vehicle blue tooths or dysfunctional family raising. Its offensive, distracting, and sometime low-level so unhealthy. Im awaiting the response from tesla but it should be documented as ive seen ISAC section on this website, and ive dealt with it since 2018 , and ended up having to put boxing gloves in my trunk for potentially violent followers trying to pair and talk obscene. Im not sure what but its been confirmed and im awaiting the reply from manufacturer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I drove my car today after it snowed a few inches the night before and while I was driving, I tried to press the horn, but there was no noise coming from the horn. when I went back home I noted that the speaker used for the horn is located near the passenger side wheel well. The speaker was blocked due to snow accumulation. This is dangerous because that means whenever there’s any snow on the road and I try to press the horn in an emergency then I cannot I might get into an accident because of my horn failing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE | The steering was hard to turn, and the fully supervised driving mode didn't work. This has happened twice, and both times the issue went away on its own after a few minutes. I performed a soft reset both times, but it did not resolve the issue. The first time, the steering was very heavy, i.e., hard to turn. The second time was less difficult, but in both cases, FSD (Full Self-Driving) did not function. General Guideline questions: 1. The steering system malfunctioned. The car is available for inspection. 2. The car was very difficult to drive. I was able to turn the wheel, but I won't let my wife drive it. 3. No. The nearest service center is 90 miles away, and so far, they want me to bring the car to them. I am still working to resolve this, as I believe this issue requires mobile service. 4. No inspections have been done. 5. Yes. An alert message on the main display stated: "Alerts - Steering & Braking - Steering assist reduced/Steering may require increased effort." | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Horn on vehicle is too quiet. Poses a safety risk for cars who will not be able to hear it. Volume needs to be increased or put an actual horn on the vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I am submitting this complaint to report a safety issue with the turn-signal buttons on my steering wheel of the 2024–2025 Tesla Model 3 Highland. The turn-signal buttons are located on the steering wheel surface instead of a traditional stalk. When the steering wheel is turned at any angle, the buttons are difficult to locate by feel, often requiring the driver to look down to activate them and take his eyes off the road. Trying to signal during turns, lane changes, or roundabouts is not intuitive, and I have nearly had several collisions. This design presents a potentially dangerous safety hazard and could increase the risk of collisions. Tesla should be required to recall and retrofit these vehicles with turn signal stalks on the steering wheel column. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| 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 |
| Dec 2025 | STEERING | I drove car for about 15 minutes and pulled into a parking space. There was no bumping or other incident. I left the vehicle for about 10 minutes and returned. The screen on my return showed 2 warnings, 1. Steering assist disabled, and 2. Collision avoidance system currently inoperable. Dealing with warning number 1: On starting to back out of parking space, i discovered there was no assist for steering, and a high degree of force was needed to turn the steering wheel and guide the car. This required considerable force. I tried a "system reboot" twice to no avail (this is done by holding 2 steering wheel buttons for about 10 seconds). I called Tesla for service and they towed to car to their service center. I do not know what steps were taken to diagnose or repair the problem. Warning number 2 disappeared from the screen when I started trying to back up.. | 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: ASSIST | 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: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 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: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | 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 | Right turn signal works only occasionally. Tesla has no fix since April 2024 | 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 | 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 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | 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: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | 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 | LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST | 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 |