the car consistently has phantom braking. the speed will drop around 15 miles of speed immediately. it also will slow on rolling hills and random long turns on cruise control. most recent date listed
2024 Tesla Model 3 cruise control problems
moderate 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
The failure pattern owners describe
The 16 complaints cluster around six distinct cruise control and autopilot safety issues. Most common is phantom braking: vehicles drop speed 5–20+ mph without warning, no obstacle visible, and no dash explanation—often brake-testing following vehicles hard enough to smoke tires. This happens repeatedly, day and night, on curves and straights alike.
FSD v14 software deliberately removed the speed-offset adjustment that all prior versions had; now there's no way to cap maximum speed while under FSD supervision, forcing owners to override entirely when the system ignores speed-limit signs and cruises 5–20 mph over the legal limit, even in school zones.
Cruise control disengagement lags 1–2 seconds, allowing the car to accelerate hundreds of feet against driver input—genuinely dangerous at highway speeds. One owner reported FSD Supervised v13.2.7 accelerating suddenly from a stop at a traffic light (third or fourth such event). Lane-keep assist cameras fail in darkness, auto steer can jerk sharply when disengaging, and one Autopilot failure had the car trying to drive straight in a left-turn lane.
Tesla's response has been slow or absent: one owner couldn't get a written evaluation report after two months, and Tesla remotely locked the vehicle without consent.
Same Tesla Model 3 cruise control reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Phantom Braking / Unexplained Deceleration
Vehicle applies brakes or reduces cruise control speed sharply with no apparent obstacle, collision warning, or driver input. Drops range from 5 to 20+ mph below set speed, sometimes multiple times per trip. Occurs in daylight and darkness, on highways and curves. No dash warnings or explanations shown. Causes brake-tested trailing vehicles and smoke from tire friction.
When: Observed repeatedly over multiple trips and months (narratives span 2025)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden speed reduction without driver command; Brake activation with no visible hazard; No dashboard warning or explanation displayed; Trailing vehicles brake-tested; tire smoking reported; Occurs during day and night operations; Happens on curves, hills, and straightaways
FSD v14 Max Speed Offset Removal
Full Self-Driving v14 software (version 2025.38.x and later) permanently disabled the right scroll wheel speed-offset control that existed in all prior versions. Vehicle now routinely exceeds posted speed limits by 5–20 mph with no user override available short of full FSD disengagement. Ignores speed-limit signs, relies on map data inaccuracy, and follows surrounding traffic instead of legal limits. Affects school zones, construction zones, residential areas, and adverse weather conditions.
When: Rollout in late 2025, version 14.1 confirmed problematic
Symptoms owners cite: Speed offset control grayed out and non-functional in FSD v14; Vehicle exceeds posted speed limits by 5–20 mph; Ignores speed-limit signs; No way to adjust max speed except full disengagement; Follows surrounding traffic speed instead of legal limit; No warning lamps or messages
Repairs/costs cited: Feature present and functional in v13.2.9 and earlier
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Feature grayed out by design in v14; multiple owners filed in-car bug reports
FSD Supervised Unexpected Acceleration at Stop
While vehicle is stopped at traffic lights using FSD Supervised mode, vehicle suddenly accelerates without driver input. Occurred 3–4 times; driver reported using FSD v13.2.6 and v13.2.7. First incidents occurred when vehicle was lead car at stop light; later incident occurred when truck ahead blocked view of traffic lights. Driver braked immediately each time and reports no issues with safe braking at other times.
When: Multiple incidents across v13.2.6 and v13.2.7, with latest update triggering issue
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected acceleration from full stop at traffic light; No driver throttle input; Occurs both as lead vehicle and when following vehicle ahead; Driver unable to confirm vehicle would stop on its own
Repairs/costs cited: MP4 video files of incidents exist but could not be uploaded to NHTSA
Cruise Control Disengagement Lag
1–2 second delay between when driver disengages cruise control and when the system actually stops. Vehicle continues maintaining acceleration for several hundred feet despite driver input to the contrary, particularly dangerous at highway speeds. Driver has required emergency braking multiple times to prevent collision.
When: Recurring across multiple driving events
Symptoms owners cite: 1–2 second lag before disengagement takes effect; Vehicle continues acceleration hundreds of feet after driver command; Particularly hazardous at high speeds; Requires emergency braking to override
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Community reports indicate this is a known issue
Lane-Keep Assist Camera Failure in Low Light
Lane-keep assist cameras do not function properly in darkness, causing system to operate without adequate visual input. Driver reported being surprised by this limitation during night driving.
When: Occurs during night/dark conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Camera failure in darkness; Lane keep assist unable to function properly; Driver unaware until system disengages or errs during night drive
Auto Steer Wheel Sensor Disengagement Jerk
When auto steer disengages due to wheel sensor torque limits, vehicle can jerk unexpectedly, potentially causing driver to swerve into oncoming traffic. Reported as unsafe for busy traffic and slippery roads.
When: Occurs when auto steer is engaged on busy or wet roads
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden jerk when auto steer disengages; Potential swerve into oncoming traffic; Unpredictable behavior on slippery roads
Autopilot Left-Turn Lane Navigation Failure
Vehicle attempted to drive straight while in a left-turn lane with Autopilot engaged. When driver took over to correct the error, the system malfunctioned severely. Vehicle was towed to service center.
When: Single incident reported
Symptoms owners cite: Incorrect navigation in left-turn lane; Attempted to go straight instead of turn; Severe malfunction upon driver takeover; Required towing to service
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to Tesla Upland Service Center; photo evidence available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla demanded customer pay for repairs; refused to provide written evaluation report
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
See attached document for complaint.
I reduced my set standard cruise control speed when traveling on a road curve and the speed drastically reduced by over 15mph lower than my setting on it's own. If i was traveling in a group then this would have created a dangerous situation for the following vehicles. This is another FSD/Beta programming in regular cruise control. Why are you still allowing this to exist???
Traveling with cruise control at 80mph with the flow of traffic and the speed setting dropped to 60mph. Why do you still allow this?
Traveling with cruise control with the flow of traffic at 75mph and the setting dropped to 60mph. I thought FSD/Beta programming was not allowed as regular vehicle settings so why does this continue?
Had cruise control trouble with your 2024 Tesla Model 3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2024 Tesla Model 3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2024/Tesla/Model 3.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.