InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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Tesla Model 3 Driver-assist systems problems

5.41 vs. all vehicles Rising

1,312 of the 4,228 complaints about the Tesla Model 3 (31.0%) concern Driver-assist systems, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 5.4× the Driver-assist systems share across all tracked vehicles.

1,312Complaints · Driver-assist systems
31.0%Share of complaints
5.41×vs. all vehicles
100Last 12 months
6.0%Share involving a crash or fire
3Related recalls

Analysis

By model year, Driver-assist systems complaints peak with the 2022 model (392, 51% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (23). 100 Driver-assist systems complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 71 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.

Owners most often describe: “cruise”, “autopilot”, “phantom”, “braking” and “control”. 79 of these reports (6.0%) describe a crash or fire, with 39 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.

3 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 24V153000 (2024-02-27, model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022).

By model year

2018: 150 150 2018 2019: 153 153 2019 2020: 135 135 2020 2021: 295 295 2021 2022: 392 392 2022 2023: 124 124 2023 2024: 40 40 2024 2025: 23 23 2025
YearComplaintsShare of complaints
201815014.9%
201915325.2%
202013530.2%
202129544.9%
202239251.4%
202312429.7%
20244018.6%
20252320.4%

When complaints were filed

2021: 74 74 2021 2022: 691 691 2022 2023: 295 295 2023 2024: 109 109 2024 2025: 76 76 2025 2026: 67 67 2026

Last 12 months: 100 · Previous 12 months: 71

Common terms in reports

  • cruise616
  • autopilot423
  • phantom431
  • braking550
  • control681
  • behind344

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Related recalls

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT Campaign 24V153000 · 2024-02-27 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Campaign 22V317000 · 2022-05-09 · Model years: 2021

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Model 3 and 2021 Model Y vehicles. The fisheye and narrow camera cable terminals were incorrectly installed in the cable harness connector, resulting in swapped camera views.

Remedy: Tesla Service will correct the swapped terminals and recalibrate the cameras, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-17-007.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 21V846000 · 2021-10-29 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.

Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.

Problem areas · Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3 problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

How common are Driver-assist systems problems on the Tesla Model 3?

1,312 of the 4,228 complaints about the Tesla Model 3 (31.0%) concern Driver-assist systems, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 5.4× the Driver-assist systems share across all tracked vehicles.

Which Tesla Model 3 model years have the most Driver-assist systems complaints?

By model year, Driver-assist systems complaints peak with the 2022 model (392, 51% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (23).

Is there a recall for Tesla Model 3 Driver-assist systems problems?

3 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 24V153000 (2024-02-27, model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022).