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ProblemsByVin Index / 2020-TESLA-MODEL-3 / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2020 Tesla Model 3 owner complaints

427 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 2 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

other 8 complaints shown

12/31/2020 19,000 mi ODI #11385765.0

While driving, the driver's seat will randomly start moving forward, back, up or down with no input from the driver. It is very distracting and can make it difficult to see out of mirrors or reach pedals. Notified Tesla and problem continues to happen occasionally after 2 service visits attempting to remedy the issue. Have numerous videos of this happening while driving. This has happened on at least 6 separate days beginning on october 27th, 2020.

12/27/2021 ODI #11445035.0

Tesla pushed an update (v. 2021.44.25.2) to my Model 3 a couple of days ago that has dramatically altered the usability of the car, and potentially has safety implications. There was no warning prior to the update being applied that such changes to the car's user interface were included, nor is there any option to revert to the prior user interface. Major issues with the changes are outlined below: - 1-button, single-click shortcuts to seat heating, defrost/defog functionality have been removed; when driving in bad weather where the screen may fog up rapidly, you're now required to take your eyes off the road, and click twice on a small target on the touch screen to activate the required functionality. - 1-button, single-click access to the wipers has been removed, now requiring one

12/24/2022 ODI #11498743.0

While using the autopilot function car unexpectedly brakes almost to a stop for no apparent reason. This happened in different driving conditions, day, night, other cars around and on empty roadways, both divided and connected two and four lane freeway and side highways. Brakes so hard that objects fly off the seat and cars traveling behind my vehicle have had to break themselves and or change lanes.

12/24/2019 ODI #11291019.0

This car forces the driver to look away from the road for a few seconds(at least 10 seconds or more) to adjust common things like adjusting mirrors, changing ac functions,setting wiper speed. As weather conditions change from location to location on a long drive, it is not possible , convenient or safe for the driver to pull aside the vehicle to adjust heat settings or wiper speed or mirrors.this is dangerous than texting and driving. I request NHTSA to recall all the Tesla model 3 and have the issue fixed by providing a physical way to adjust many things in the car. This problem occurs irrespective of the vehicle motion status.

12/23/2023 ODI #11561638.0

At 11:47 AM Pacific time on December 23, 2023 my Tesla model three auto pilot system failed after a recent update mandated by the NHTSA. Ever since the update, the vehicle, cruise control and auto pilot systems no longer function properly, and while I was in, cruise control and auto pilot traffic stopped ahead and the auto pilot system disengaged while I was waiting while it was slowing down, which has never happened in four years of ownership and over 60,000 miles of driving. The new recall software update has made the vehicle unsafe and it should be retracted and corrected. What once was a safe feature is now unsafe. Please investigate this with Tesla to prevent possible injury or death resulting from this programming failure.

12/22/2022 Crash ODI #11498596.0

Was driving Tela on 237 Clavaras Blvd heading towads 880 South just before Abott ave in Mlipitas town California Tesla Model 3 acelrated suddenly hitting the car in fronts, emegency automatic braking did not kick n. Earlier it had autopilot set not sure if it tured off. We were surirsed, my wife was driving and I was i passenger seat none of the safety measure worked in the Tesla. My car is totaled.

12/21/2023 ODI #11561228.0

Your latest mandates has arguably made the car less safe by removing what allowed the system to operate safely. Please roll back this “recall” it’s not a recall in the slightest it’s a shot at someone or multiple people that dislike Tesla.

12/20/2023 ODI #11561104.0

An incident occurred in April of 2023 while running FSD Beta 11.3.6 firmware. I have been unable to retest this location on more recent software, so this concern may have been mitigated with a subsequent update. As seen in the video, the yellow lane marking on the left transitioned from the roadway up onto the movable center median. Once on the bridge, the left repeater camera and the center display visualization both illustrate the lane centering was definitely biased towards the left side of the lane, a possible indication the vision-based lane centering was miscued by the yellow line now appearing on the barrier instead of the road surface. This left bias brought the vehicle uncomfortably close to the barrier, which resulted in a manual takeover. It is difficult to judge based on the lo

cruise control 4 complaints shown

59 total in this category · severe · avg repair $600 · see cruise control cluster analysis →
12/31/2022 Crash ODI #11499653.0

I was on the exit lane coming from Costco on 12/31/2022 at around 12:20 PM with a speed of about 40 miles . My exit is about 100 yards away. Tesla model 3 that I’m driving suddenly accelerated at high speed and pulled towards right and hit the wall next to freeway exit lane. Then it hit the wall on rear tailgate and rolled to middle of freeway within a fraction of seconds. Two vehicles coming on the freeway hit my car and after second hit my car completely stopped in the middle of freeway. I was able to come out safely and later CHP officers came and towed the vehicle

12/26/2023 ODI #11561858.0

While operating TACC with lane keeping assist, I experienced multiple iterations of phantom braking when the road and weather was clear ahead. This phantom braking could potentially cause other drivers to collide with the vehicle that unexpectedly braked in the middle of the highway. This problem has been a common issue with multiple people taking their cars to the service center to get checked out with no problem identified. There are no warning lights or indicators that the Tesla is going to phantom brake on the highway. Recommend having Tesla provide information regarding this phantom braking.

12/25/2019 ODI #11291194.0

Driving in freeway fast lane in light traffic at 10:30 am on overcast morning with Tesla adaptive cruise control set for 70 MPH and 4-car following distance. The car in front moved 1 lane to the right leaving no cars ahead. My car accelerated gently to 70 and then as I approached an overpass the car suddenly braked (or went to regeneration) and slowed instantly to about 40 MPH when I was able to apply the accelerator and return to surrounding traffic speed and move right to the next lane and recovered from the shock and surprise of what other Tesla owners refer to as "phanton braking". I was fortunate that no other cars weren't following me or they likely would have crashed in the back of my car. I spoke with other Tesla owners who report the same random, surprise, powerful braking when a

12/21/2022 ODI #11498445.0

Phantom braking: While in cruise or autopilot mode, it suddenly brakes on freeway without any obstacles observed.

lighting 2 complaints shown

11 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
12/29/2022 ODI #11499378.0

Recall 21v-00d was registered DEC 2021, notice said waiting for parts. It's been OVER 12 months and no parts yet? Also, the phone number Tesla has listed on the recall notice and their recall info on your website goes to a self-service site that states to use your Tesla app to schedule a repair so there is no way of contacting the company directly to find out about the status of the recall.

12/27/2021 ODI #11445034.0

Tesla issues an update to software that forces drivers to go through a jumble of menus to do important tasks like turning on defrosters and windshield wipers. These used to be one touch items on the home screen, but now require drivers to take their eyes off the road for a dangerous amount of time.

body 1 complaint shown

14 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,500 · see body cluster analysis →
12/30/2021 ODI #11445543.0

The paint on the car is chipping all over.

seatbelts 1 complaint shown

11 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $500 · see seatbelts cluster analysis →
12/29/2025 ODI #11707511.0

The car has message saying "Safety Restraint System issue" . There has been no event to cause this. No recent MVA or any stress or damaging incident to the seat belt or seat in general. Reviewing this on the internet, this is a common defect on Tesla's. The company won't fix it unless you pay them to do so which is crazy considering it is a defect in their safety system. And a well known one to them from my communication with their Tesla service centers which have a monopoly on fixing Tesla's. He said there would have to be a recall. So that is exactly what needs to happen from the NHTSA.

airbags 1 complaint shown

27 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/28/2024 ODI #11632840.0

I was driving my vehicle. It said there was an issue with code "RCM_a056 Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault." Many older model 3's are having this issue and with the quote from tesla, they would need to perform a retrofit for the electrical wiring system.

brakes 1 complaint shown

23 total in this category · severe · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
12/27/2022 ODI #11498978.0

This vehicle has the phantom braking issue whether you are using adaptive cruise or autopilot, and has happened at least 15 times in the past two years. Because of the sudden braking, we almost had a collision with a semi-truck coming up behind us on I-5 heading south the last time and the driver thought I was brake-checking him, making him very angry and giving obscene gestures at us for it. We reported it to the Tesla service center, and they basically said it happens, and they disclosed it in the operator manual. That is unacceptable. This is very dangerous, and lives could be lost in the circumstance where someone is following close behind. Tesla basically is saying it can happen and there is no fix which absolutely unacceptable and this car is dangerous to drive.

steering 1 complaint shown

43 total in this category · critical · avg repair $700 · see steering cluster analysis →
12/23/2025 ODI #11706691.0

Steering wheel covering delaminates and peels during normal use, creating loss of grip and distraction while driving.

suspension 1 complaint shown

22 total in this category · severe · avg repair $900 · see suspension cluster analysis →
12/23/2020 6,000 mi ODI #11384742.0

This is mind boggling! Here is a 2020 model 3 Tesla in the junkyard. Https://www.iaai.com/vehicledetails/37712955?rownumber=3 it has not been in a collision, no air-bags have deployed and there is no sign of any impact to the bodywork. The front suspension has simply fallen to bits. All the ball-joints have popped apart and even the steering knuckle has snapped in half. And musk claims that this is the safest car in the world! Pigs bottom! Have a great day and be sure to ban these junkheaps from the highways. Thanks keef

Showing 300 of 427 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Tesla/Model 3#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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