Owners filed 620 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the automatic emergency braking. It has been recalled 22 times.
“Traveling west in I8 between Gila Bend and San Diego I experienced over 20 automatic hard braking events while using TACC. The road was clear, there were no vehicles in front of me within 400 yards. It appeared to be correlated with heat mirages on the road surface ahead though some may have been caused by differences in asphalt color in sections.”
Owner complaint, filed Jul 19, 2023
“Driving on a clear, sunny day in Arizona on interstate 8 at highway speed with the Tesla AutoPilot engaged. There were no vehicles in front of me and no obstructions in the road when the car did heavy braking (aka phantom braking) for no known reason. I immediately had to override the braking with pressing on the accelerator. This occurred multiple times on the same road.”
Owner complaint, filed Jun 10, 2023
Complaints and recalls over time
By year of filing
All complaintsAbout the automatic emergency brakingRecall (red: the automatic emergency braking)NHTSA investigation opened
Complaints about the 2019 Model 3 peaked in 2022, with 166 filed that year. Owners had filed 3 complaints about the automatic emergency braking before the first recall that covers it, 21V846000 in October 2021; 90 more have come in since. In 2026 owners filed 55 so far.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The headlight low beams may be too bright and exceed the maximum light output. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk. Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla Service will replace the headlights, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were be mailed October 3, 2026. Another notice will be sent once the repair becomes available. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-003.
Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems24V935000
Filed Dec 17, 2024696,281 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk. Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices24V376000
Filed May 28, 2024125,233 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk. A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Defect. 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."
Risk. Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel24V051000
Filed Jan 30, 20242,193,869 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk. Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Electrical System › Adas › Driver Monitoring › Software23V838000
Filed Dec 12, 20232,031,220 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Risk. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.
Risk. A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-835.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Risk. FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during vehicle service.
Risk. An incorrectly reassembled seat belt anchor can impair the performance of the seat belt during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy. Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-20-004.
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls22V702000
Filed Sep 19, 20221,096,762 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3, 2020-2022 Model Y, and 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles. The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Risk. A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy. Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-013.
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel22V263000
Filed Apr 18, 202248,184 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Model 3 Performance vehicles. The unit of speed (mph or km/h) may fail to display on the speedometer while in Track Mode. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk. The driver may not know how fast the vehicle is traveling without the mph or km/h unit display, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-008.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y, Model X, Model S, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure 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."
Risk. Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk. A delayed rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-004.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure 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."
Risk. Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall has been superseded by Recall 22V-235. Tesla's number for the new recall is SB-22-00-003.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk. The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
Risk. Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles. The rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Risk. A rearview camera that does not function reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla Service will inspect and install a guide protector and new cable harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-17-008.
Forward Collision Avoidance › Sensing System › Camera21V846000
Filed Oct 29, 202111,728 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. 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.
Risk. Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Model Y and 2019-2021 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.
Risk. A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-003.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Critical Fasteners21V387000
Filed May 25, 20215,974 vehiclesTesla, Inc.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model 3 and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
Risk. Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-33-002.
Defect. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached.
Risk. An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy. Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.
Defect. Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. The driver-side sun visor may not have the required air bag warning information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk. Failure to provide the air bag warning information increases the risk of injury.
Remedy. Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will inspect the visor and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 6, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-19-15-003.
All 22 campaigns on file, newest first.
NHTSA investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
Before a recall there is often an investigation: NHTSA opens one when complaints or manufacturer data point to a safety defect. 14 name the 2019 Model 3.
Lower Lateral Link detachmentPreliminary evaluation PE26006Open
Opened Jul 29, 2026suspension
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 156 complaints alleging a suspension failure in model year (MY) 2018-2020 Model 3 and MY 2021-2023 Model Y vehicles. The suspension failure involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link, which potentially causes a loss of vehicle directional control. In most cases, there was no advance warning or indication that the suspension failure would occur. Some cases cite noises occurring prior to failure, but note that the vehicle provides no visual warnings. Once the failure occurs, the vehicle may not be drivable, thus requiring a …
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsEngineering analysis EA26002Open
Opened Mar 18, 2026electrical system
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Tesla’s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the system’s ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient time to respond. ODI will evaluate the performance of FSD in degraded roadway conditions and the updates or modifications by Tesla to the degradation detection system, including the timing, purpose, and …
Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engagedPreliminary evaluation PE25012Open
Opened Oct 7, 2025electrical system
The Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute traffic safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automation system requiring a fully attentive driver who is engaged in the driving task at all times. Level 2 partial automation systems are designed to support and assist the driver in performing certain aspects …
Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting RequirementsAudit query AQ25002Open
Opened Aug 20, 2025electrical system
The Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”) in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the “SGO”), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the Standing General Order in place at the time required a report to be submitted within one or five days of Tesla receiving notice of the crash. When the reports were submitted, Tesla submitted them in one of two ways. Many of the reports were submitted as part of a …
Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.Preliminary evaluation PE24033Closed
Opened Jan 6, 2025Closed Apr 3, 2026electrical system
On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private property. ODI analyzed complaint data provided by Tesla as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers to identify Summon incidents resulting in crashes. ODI's analysis indicates that almost all …
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsPreliminary evaluation PE24031Closed
Opened Oct 17, 2024Closed Mar 18, 2026electrical system
On October 17, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031) of Tesla’s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) to assess: the ability of the FSD system to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions; whether any other FSD crashes had occurred under degraded roadway visibility conditions that are similar in nature to the four SGO-reported crashes identified in the opening document, and if so, the contributing circumstances for each of those crashes; and any updates or …
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report (Recall 23V838) applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its Autopilot system, which Tesla described as an SAE Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Autopilot is the simultaneous engagement of Tesla’s Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC) and Autosteer. In describing the safety defect, Tesla’s Defect Information Report (DIR) explained that “the prominence and scope of the …
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12VDC systems may have caused some or all of the incidents examined by ODI in DP20-001. The petitioner bases this information on a review of open-source research and the DP20-001 denial. The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number: 11528471.
Opened Apr 7, 2023Closed Mar 18, 2026unknown or other
On March 21, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting a “recall of all Tesla cars” produced from 2013 to the date on which the petition was filed due to what Petitioner considers to be the increased likelihood of pedal misapplication. Attached to the Petition is a paper authored by Petitioner. According to Petitioner, the differences in the operator controls between the subject Tesla vehicles and internal combustion engine powered vehicles promote driver pedal misapplication, leading to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incidents. To fix this alleged …
Opened Jan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023Led to recall 22V063000electrical system
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after …
Autopilot System Driver ControlsEngineering analysis EA22002Closed
Opened Jun 8, 2022Closed Apr 25, 2024Led to recall 23V085electrical system
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded PE21020 to EA22002 on June 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the PE21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how Tesla’s Autopilot system may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision. To support this work, ODI collected additional crash information and assessed vehicle control authority, driver engagement technologies, and related human factors considerations associated with partial automation …
Tesla Passenger PlayPreliminary evaluation PE21023Closed
Opened Dec 21, 2021Closed May 26, 2023equipment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-023) on December 21, 2021, to evaluate the driver distraction potential and use frequency / circumstances of in-vehicle game-play functionality referred to as ?Passenger Play? in certain model year (MY) 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles. Distracted driving can result in an increased risk of a crash. PE21-023 was prompted by the receipt of Vehicle Owners Questionnaire (VOQ) 11439598 from the owner of a 2021 Model 3 on November 6, 2021. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Tesla on January 20, …
Autopilot & First Responder ScenesPreliminary evaluation PE21020Closed
Opened Aug 13, 2021Closed Jun 8, 2022electrical system
On August 13, 2021, NHTSA?s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-020) to assess the performance of Tesla?s Autopilot system (a system characterized by Tesla as an SAE Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task) available in Tesla vehicles. The investigation opening was motivated by an accumulation of crashes in which Tesla vehicles, operating with Autopilot engaged, struck stationary in-road or roadside first responder vehicles tending to pre-existing collision scenes. Upon opening the …
Opened Jan 13, 2020Closed Jan 8, 2021electrical system
On December 19, 2019, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Brian Sparks requesting that the Agency recall all [Tesla] Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles produced from 2013 to the present due to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA). In his petition and follow-up submissions, the petitioner identified a total of 232 non-duplicative complaints to NHTSA, including 203 reporting crashes. On January 13, 2020, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition DP20-001 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI's evaluation included reviews of all complaints and supporting …
Technical service bulletins
106 on file
Repair instructions the manufacturer sent its dealers for the 2019 Model 3. Not recalls: the fix is usually free only while the car is under warranty.
equipment 25body and frame 10airbags 7electrical system 7suspension 3seats 3brakes 2headlights 2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-star safety ratings
Version tested
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
2019 Tesla Model 3 4 DR AWD
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
6.6%
2019 Tesla Model 3 4 DR RWD
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
6.6%
New Car Assessment Program results for this model year. Ratings compare cars of similar size and weight only.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Steering
Filed Oct 21, 202613,721 milesCA
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the service controller warning light illuminated and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer service center and was diagnosed with steering rack, wiring harness, and control module failure caused by corrosion from water. The steering rack, control module, and wiring harness were replaced and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 13,721.
Air Bags
Filed Oct 19, 2026TX
1. Component/System Failed: Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) — Front Passenger Seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) / Occupant Sensor. Component intact and available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: Failure disables or compromises front passenger airbag deployment and seat belt pretensioner logic. In a crash, the vehicle may fail to deploy the airbag/pretensioner for an adult passenger or deploy improperly, creating severe risk of serious injury or fatality. The passenger seat cannot be safely occupied. 3. Problem Reproduced/Confirmed: Yes. Tesla Service confirmed an active SRS/OCS fault (OCS1P_w127_seatbackSelfOpen). The technician acknowledged this failure is widespread on 2018–2020 Model 3s and noted their own personal Model 3 experienced the exact same issue unaddressed for years. Technicians stated company guidelines require recommending the fix due to liability, though many owners decline due to high out-of-pocket costs. 4. Manufacturer Inspection & Design Defect: Inspected and repaired by Tesla Service. Resolving the faulty OCS sensor required replacing the seat cushion/sensor assembly AND upgrading the front passenger airbag. Tesla redesigned the SRS signaling on newer revisions in a backwards-incompatible manner. This forces out-of-warranty owners to pay for a mandatory airbag replacement simply to achieve physical/electrical compatibility for a failed sensor pad. 5. Warning Messages & Timeline: Persistent "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System
Air Bags
Filed Oct 17, 2026CA
I’ve been seeing lots of similar front safety restraint issues from other Tesla owners on different sites. This safety restraint issue is regarding the wiring under the seat that get Pinched or Loose Wires: Movement of the front seat can pinch wires or dislodge connectors underneath, triggering errors like RCM_A028 or RCM_a033. If you’re out of warranty, Tesla charges a lot of money to have them fixed but I would say it is a safety issue that they should recall and fix without charge.
Air Bags
Filed Oct 6, 2026SC
My 2019 Tesla Model 3 (approx. 95,000 miles) displays a persistent 'Front passenger safety restraint system' alert. The car drives normally and there has been no crash, fire, or injury. Tesla Service's estimate lists $631.60 for the alert diagnosis, $458.50 to replace the front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS), and $699.44 to update the front passenger airbag for compatibility, an update Tesla's own service bulletin SB-23-20-001 requires alongside the OCS repair. The total is about $1,790 before tax. Tesla declined goodwill coverage and said the supplemental restraint system warranty expired in 2023. The alert means the front passenger airbag and seat belt pretensioner may not work correctly in a crash. This appears common: NHTSA's database already holds over 100 complaints on the 2019 Model 3 describing the same alert and repair path. I am asking NHTSA to review whether this is a defect in the occupant classification system. I have the Tesla estimate and will keep it.
Seat Belts
Filed Oct 5, 2026VA
There's a faulty connector for the drivers seatbelt pretensioner. The car is reporting RCM_a021_pretenLabFrontLeft and internet searches show this is a somewhat common error for a faulty connector that fails under normal usage.
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 26, 2026TX
On September 22, 2026, my 2019 Tesla Model 3 was involved in a very low-speed front collision. The Tesla Vehicle Data Report records the front collision event at approximately 23:21:26.933 and shows vehicle speed of approximately 2–3 mph at the time of the recorded collision. Despite the extremely low recorded vehicle speed, the vehicle’s airbags deployed. The airbag deployment caused an eyebrow/facial laceration that required six stitches and medical treatment. The Tesla vehicle data also shows an accelerator pedal position of approximately 70–75% around the collision event, while brake pressure was essentially zero at the recorded collision timestamp. Significant braking appears in the data after the collision event. I am concerned that the restraint system may have deployed the airbags during an unusually low-speed collision. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether the airbag/restraint system in this vehicle may have a safety defect or an inappropriate deployment threshold. I have retained the Tesla Vehicle Data Report, photographs of the vehicle and injury, and medical documentation. I am also requesting that Tesla preserve the vehicle’s crash data and all deployed airbag/restraint components for investigation.
Steering
Filed Sep 23, 2026WA
The vehicle reported an error with steering. I brought the vehicle into tesla service. Upon inspection the connector to the steering rack was heavily corroded from water intrusion and had broken clean off upon removal. Confirmed with dealer that corrosion had caused the issue. If the connector had failed while driving the vehicle would have lost all power steering immediately and placed myself and others on the road in danger. The connector was corroded enough that the spade connector detached completely upon inspection. The steering rack is not easily accessible by the consumer and could not have been impacted by circumstances outside of normal driving.
Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Sep 21, 2026FL
On September 12, 2026, at approximately 2:05 PM, while operating on Full Self-Driving (FSD v14.1 Lite) on Hardware 3 (HW3), the vehicle experienced a critical, unprompted loss of path control. While traveling on the highway, the vehicle sharply veered off the left side of the roadway, caught air, and violently impacted an emergency barrier, resulting in the destruction of 9 steel poles and causing physical injuries to both the driver and front passenger. Despite the severe frontal impact and structural collision, neither the front nor knee airbags deployed, raising serious concerns regarding the vehicle's crash-sensing algorithms, structural impact detection, and restraint system integration under this software version. This incident highlights major safety risks associated with running computationally heavy FSD stacks on legacy HW3 architecture: 1. Uncommanded Steering Deviations: The system abruptly executed a violent, unprompted hard turn away from the path of travel, indicating severe lane-detection or path-planning failure. 2. Restraint System / Safety Failure: Critical secondary safety systems (front and knee airbags) failed to deploy in a high-impact structural collision involving multiple steel barrier poles. 3. Hardware Constraint Risks: The compounding computational and thermal load on HW3 hardware running v14.1 Lite continues to manifest in erratic vehicle control, latency, and hazardous tracking behavior. This severe safety defect requires an immediate federal inv
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 13, 2026TX
Tesla FSD made Left Turn on Red Left-Turn arrow: On August 12, 2026, at approximately 4:30 PM, my 2019 Tesla Model 3 was operating in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode at the intersection of US-71 West and Pedernales Summit Parkway in Austin, Texas, 78738. The vehicle proceeded to make a left turn while the left-turn traffic signal was displaying a red arrow. This was an unsafe traffic-control violation and created a potential collision risk. I had to monitor the vehicle and be prepared to intervene. I am reporting this as a safety issue with the vehicle’s automated driving/Full Self-Driving system. I also reported this issue to the Tesla through my Tesla APP but no action was taken from them. They have not even called and asked for this issue. I would request you to investigate this matter promptly and provide a detailed report on how this simple mistake could happen with the software.
Air Bags
Filed Sep 10, 2026CA
The Restraint Control Module (RCM) fault code RCM_a056 intermittently appears and disappears on the vehicle's display. This code indicates a fault in the front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) — the sensor responsible for detecting passenger presence and weight to determine whether and how the passenger airbag deploys in a crash. Because the OCS sensor is malfunctioning, the passenger airbag may fail to deploy, deploy incorrectly, or deploy with wrong force in a collision, putting any front passenger at serious risk of injury or death. The fault is intermittent — it appears and disappears without any change in vehicle configuration or seating — which is consistent with a failing OCS sensor or degraded wiring harness connection under the passenger seat. No collision or injury has occurred. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealer or service center. No independent inspection has been performed. Tesla has issued Service Bulletin SB-23-20-002, which has been revised at least seven times, acknowledging a known OCS sensor defect across multiple Model 3 vehicles. Despite this, no safety recall has been issued. The repair cost quoted by Tesla service is approximately $800–$2,000 out of pocket for what appears to be a widespread manufacturing defect in a critical safety system. Numerous other Model 3 owners have reported the identical fault code. The component is available for inspection upon request.
Air Bags
Filed Sep 5, 2026MA
Safety restraint system tsb technical service bulletin, a known problem with my 2019 Tesla model three
Air Bags
Filed Aug 25, 2026NC
Alert RCM_a021pretenLapFrontLeft. Caused by the seat harness wires being pinched and stretched when moving the seat back/forward/up/down. Eventually the wires are damaged by the seat movement. Tesla has touted a feature called "Easy Entry" which moves the seat to a preset position to allow the driver to get in and out of the car more easily. This moves the seat lower and farther back and then moves the seat back up to the driver's position when ready to drive. This increased seat movement, every time the driver gets in and out of the car, causes the wires to wear prematurely and the above fault to trigger. In the event of an accident the driver side airbag may not deploy and/or the seat belt pretensioner may fail to lock the seat belt in place, leaving the driver exposed to serious potential injury risk. This issue can be seen in 2019 Tesla Model 3s and I believe an investigation by the NHTSA is warranted, at the very least.
Air Bags
Filed Aug 25, 2026CA
Front passenger safety restraint system issue requiring replacement of Occupant Classification System and updating front passenger airbag to maintain compatibility with front passenger seat. Costing almost $2000. Many others have reported of multiple repairs
Air Bags
Filed Aug 13, 2026OR
To Whom It May Concern, I am logging a safety defect complaint regarding my 2019 Tesla Model 3, which displays active fault code RCM_a056 – Front passenger safety restraint system fault. This error deactivates the front passenger airbag and seatbelt pretensioners, creating an immediate, severe safety hazard. The Defect: The failure involves the Occupant Classification System (OCS) seat sensor and affects passengers in two ways: 1. Children (Current Stage): The fault triggers primarily when a child sits in the front seat. The degraded sensor mat cannot process lighter weight accurately, throwing an "implausible voltage" error that disables the airbag system. 2. Adults (Advanced Stage): online data shows this same code eventually locks out for adults due to internal wiring harness fraying or sensor circuit failure. Manufacturer Response: Tesla is aware of this fleet-wide defect and issued Service Bulletin SB-23-20-002 to address it. However, because my vehicle is out of warranty, Tesla refuses to cover this critical safety repair. Service centers are quoting owners $1,300 to $1,500+ out-of-pocket to fix an inherent manufacturing flaw in a federally mandated safety system. I urge the NHTSA to investigate the 2019 Tesla Model 3 OCS system and compel Tesla to issue a safety recall to fix this hazard at no cost to consumers. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering
Filed Aug 12, 2026CA
Tesla recently introduced auto parking as part of its FSD technology (Software 2026.20.6.11). Whenever we set the car destination to “home”, the auto parking has been able to gradually maneuver the car and self park in our garage. On 8/11, around 8:30pm, the car made a mistake during the auto parking. During the auto reverse into garage, the car came too close to the side of the garage and the driver side mirror hit the wall and partially broke. The driver was monitoring the car. If the car has kept its angle, it would have made it through correctly. But looks like it miscalculated and in a fraction of a second, the car’s side mirror hit the garage wall. Given the “ park” feature is new, looks like it hasn’t been tested well. It should be recalled until it is fixed and impacted drivers should be compensated for their repairs.
Seats1 injured
Filed Aug 3, 2026NC
I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my 2019 Tesla Model 3. My goal is not to assign blame, but to make Tesla aware of an incident that I believe warrants review from a safety perspective. While the vehicle was parked, my children were sitting inside watching TV, we were standing 5 ft from the vehicle. My younger son was seated in the front passenger seat, and my older son, not realizing his brother had leaned over the top of the seat, adjusted the passenger seat upward. As the seat moved up, it trapped my younger son's neck against the seat and obstructed his airway. Fortunately, we were a couple of feet away and heard the sound of glass breaking. We were able to free him, and he began breathing again and no serious injury occurs. It was an extremely frightening situation that could have had a much more serious outcome. During the incident, the panoramic glass roof also shattered from the pressure of my youngest son's head. I understand this may have occurred because of the force involved, but I wanted to include it as part of the overall event. I recognize that children should not play inside vehicles unsupervised, but they are 8 and 10 and were not rough housing just watching Netflix in the Telsa. However, this incident made me question whether additional safeguards could help prevent a similar situation in the future. Specifically, I wonder if there are opportunities to improve obstruction detection or pinch protection when a seat encounters resistan
Suspension
Filed Aug 3, 2026DC
Over a period of several weeks, the front suspension increasingly made noise (squeaking and groaning) and felt loose when turning and going over bumps. The front control arms were replaced 10/31/24. The problem has begun recurring over the last few months, with the same noise occurring and progressively worsening.
Suspension
Filed Aug 3, 2026TX
Noise came from front left wheel while driving around a turn. Later the same day another noise when turning the wheel when leaving a parking spot. Steering felt strange. It was late at night, so left the vehicle until the morning. In the morning, discovered a large bolt in front of the vehicle. The front left wheel was turned differently than the right front wheel. Had to spend almost $400 to get the vehicle towed to a Tesla service center. They later confirmed, "The cause was detached links from the bushings and bolts. Technician replaced the front lower lateral links, front lower compliance links, and front stabilizer bar bushing brackets. Total cost for those repairs was $1,902.90. This could easily have resulted in an accident and even a fatality if we were not so lucky.
Suspension
Filed Aug 1, 2026WA
The vehicle has quite a bit of noise coming from the suspension during normal driving. Creaks and groans.
Suspension
Filed Jul 31, 2026AL
About one month ago, my 2019 Tesla Model 3 developed a suspension issue that caused a noticeable vibration in the rear of the vehicle whenever I drove above 40 mph. At first, we suspected the problem was related to a tire. However, after the technicians at the Tesla Service Center lifted the vehicle for inspection, they discovered a much more serious issue. They brought me into the service area to show me that the right rear suspension was being held together by only the front portion of a bolt. The retaining nut had completely come off, leaving the bolt barely in place. Had that bolt shifted even a few millimeters while I was driving, it could have resulted in a catastrophic suspension failure and a serious accident. Tesla determined that the loose bolt had caused damage to the right rear (passenger-side) suspension assembly. The necessary repairs totaled approximately $1,800, which I paid to restore the vehicle to safe operating condition.
Suspension
Filed Jul 31, 2026CA
Honestly since I took delivery the vehicle I did notice a clunking sound every time I would turn into a steep driveway. I reported the problem to Tesla on multiple occasions and they either could not replicate the sound or find the problem when they inspected the vehicle. So I lived with the on and off clunking sound. Years later while driving on the freeway I heard a really hard clunk and I began to lose control of the car luckily I was close to home and I was able to make it to my street. Upon arrival my tires completely fell off the control arm and I could move the steering wheel at all. I had to get it towed to the body shop. Long story short the lower control arm bolt completely fell off. I just happy this didn’t result in a major accident. But I had to get the car towed. I am pretty upset that Tesla pretty much said there is no issue. My family has Teslas and in all of them I hear the same clunking sound.
Suspension
Filed Jul 31, 2026WA
Between 2023 and 2026, I have had several clunking and creaking sounds from the suspension. These were then found isolated to "lateral and compliance link detachments" and Tesla noted these were "serious safety issues" and fixed them out of warranty at a cost of roughly $2500. When I pointed out that vehicles within this model range (manufactured April 2019 at the Fremont, CA plant) were flagged for a recall, they mentioned my vehicle was outside that range and insisted on an out-of-pocket repair. Further, I have similarly had to have the front left driver's side seat belt harness replaced because of a restraint control module failure. I have owned 3 other vehicles and have never had a restraint control module/seatbelt fail over just 82000 miles of use.
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2026AL
My brake lines have corroded to the point where half a liter of brake fluid has leaked out rendering the vehicle unsafe. Tesla admits that this is a design flaw but says that it does not affect this particular VIN number but the damage is exactly as described: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air Bags
Filed Jul 28, 2026WA
The Front Passenger Safety Restraint System failed prematurely on my 2019 Tesla Model 3 at only 23,105 miles, triggering the alert 'Alerts - Seats - Front passenger safety restraint system issue/Service is required' and disabling passenger airbag functionality. Upon inspection, Tesla Service quoted $1,285.13 out-of-pocket to repair the system. While the root failure involves a $12 occupant occupancy sensor (Part #1099592-00-F), Tesla's mandatory service procedures require a full subsystem revision cascade to fix it. Specifically, under 'Replace Occupant Classification System (OCS) of Front Passenger Seat while Servicing Subcomponents' and 'Update Front Passenger Airbag to Maintain Compatibility with Front Passenger Seat,' Tesla requires replacing the right-hand seat harness assembly (Part #1489060-03-G) and the complete Front Passenger Airbag (Part #1077823-00-G) solely to maintain hardware compatibility with the revised sensor. Because Tesla redesigned subcomponent hardware without offering a backwards-compatible replacement sensor for earlier Model 3 production units, restoring a critical primary safety system creates an exorbitant financial barrier, forcing the vehicle to be operated with disabled airbags.
Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control
Filed Jul 28, 2026ID
Tesla rolled out FSD 14 Lite to hardware, including to my vehicle and it’s become extremely unsafe.The past several days the vehicle will suddenly slow down/break causing people to almost crash into me, make sudden and indecisive lane changes, and constantly rocking the steering wheel left and right. I hope someone takes this seriously and has Tesla revert back to the old software or make changes before someone is killed.
Electrical System
Filed Jul 22, 2026MO
I was locked inside my tesla model 3 two stories down in a parking garage with no internet access to find out where the emergency release was for my door. I KICKED my driver side window to survive. It wasn't until after I was told that the doors are tied to a 12v battery that had died without warning. I did not know the doors tied to that nor that there was a secret emergency release. There are no clear indicators within the car that this is how it operates and you SHOULDN'T NEED INTERNET ACCESS AND ELECTRICITY TO SURVIVE EXITING A CAR.
Air Bags
Filed Jul 21, 2026CA
Front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) failed on its own, without accident, misuse, or modification, at low mileage. The fault disables proper airbag deployment logic for the front passenger seat. Tesla has issued multiple service bulletins acknowledging this as a known condition. **Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):** [XXX] **Model Year:** 2019 **Make:** Tesla **Model:** Model 3 **Mileage at time of failure:** Approximately 27,800 miles **Date of incident/failure:** XXX (date alert was first detected, per invoice) **Component:** Air Bags / Occupant Classification System (Front Passenger) **Crash involved:** No **Fire involved:** No **Injuries:** None **Number of injuries/fatalities:** 0 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air Bags
Filed Jul 10, 2026WA
I am getting an electrical fault which has disabled my front passenger seat airbags. They need to replace the wiring, which means they also now need to replace the passenger airbag itself because wiring has changed and the old airbag is not compatible with the new wiring. Replace Occupant Classification System (OCS) of Front Passenger Seat while Servicing Subcomponents Update Front Passenger Airbag to Maintain Compatibility with Front Passenger Seat I had this same error 4 months ago and it ended up shorting out the entire electrical system, which disabled autosteer and eventually completely disabled power steering which made the car unusable. Tesla service center called it a water intrusion problem and had to replace the entire front electrical harness system and steering rack costing $4500. Now the problem has resurfaced and I'm afraid I might lose power steering again which is extremely dangerous and could happen any time, in addition to my airbags potentially not deploying.
Structure › Body
Filed Jul 5, 2026CA
Summary of the Problem Rear subframe assembly and multiple rear suspension links required full replacement due to failure/wear at approximately 51,890 miles, on a vehicle with no history of collision or accident damage. Tesla diagnosed the issue as an interior rattle/squeak reproducible over bumpy roads and speed bumps, which led to replacement of the rear subframe and nearly the entire rear suspension link set. Total repair cost was approximately $7,667.65, entirely out of pocket, as Tesla stated no recall applies to this VIN. Full Description (detailed narrative field) In December 2025, I began noticing a rattling/squeaking noise from the rear of my 2019 Tesla Model 3, reproducible on bumpy roads, speed bumps, and rail tracks. The vehicle has never been in an accident and has no history of collision damage. I brought the vehicle to Tesla Service (Fremont, CA) on 07-Jan-2026 at 51,890 miles. Tesla's diagnosis found it necessary to replace: The rear subframe assembly Rear toe link assemblies (left and right) Rear upper fore link assemblies (left and right) Rear lower fore link assemblies (left and right) Rear upper aft link assemblies (left and right) Front lower compliance links (left and right) Front lower lateral links (pair) A four-wheel alignment This amounted to nearly a full rear (and partial front) suspension rebuild, at a cost of $6,843.34 for this job alone, and $7,667.65 total, entirely at my expense. Tesla confirmed there is no open recall covering this VIN or thi
Air Bags
Filed Jun 18, 2026MI
It was raining and my passenger got in the car (slightly damp). When he sat down, I reveived an error message on the screen saying "Front passenger safety restraint system issue". The airbag light is red indicating that it won't work for my passenger. You should be able to get into a car wet without your airbag no longer working. My understanding is that this is a common problem. Tesla wants > $1000 to replace the seat sensor + requires me to pay to have my airbag replaced so the part matches the sensor. According to Tesla Service Bulletin SB-23-20-002, the new style of seat sensor is strictly incompatible with the older style of airbag (known as a "Full Suppression" airbag). $182 (Diagnostic Fee) $475 (OCS Replacement) $318 (Airbag Update) + Labor + Tax The internet is full of reports of this issue. Just google "Front passenger safety restraint system issue". I do not have an invoice for the repair yet. Tesla's service center's first available appt is in 25 days. This means I have to go 25 days without a passenger in my front seat.
Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control
Filed Jun 4, 2026CA
I was using Full self driving (FSD), but I notice the autopilot gets "impatient" when (correctly) stopped for a "long" period of time (~2 minutes), but will then try to proceed in dangerous conditions. 1. I had FSD engaged while waiting to make an uncontrolled left turn. The street I'm turning onto is busy, so both lanes are going at a steady pace. After about 2 minutes of waiting, the autopilot decided to make the left turn while BOTH directions had cars approaching. It turned towards a motorcyclist (which might be why it thought the lane was "empty"), and cut off a rather large car behind the motorcycle which almost caused a collision. I was honked from both sides (rightfully so) and put in a very dangerous position as my car was now stopped in the middle of the row of both lanes. 2. I was at a red light intersection with no traffic coming from either side with FSD engaged. After about 2 minutes of waiting, the car tried to go on its own while the light was still red. After manually stopping the autopilot, the light naturally turned green a few seconds later.
Air Bags
Filed Jun 3, 2026MA
Our seatbelts and airbags required replacement as Tesla stated safety equipment on a Tesla is only guaranteed until 60,000 miles and after that they often need repairs. It was quite expensive. The seatbelts and airbags total cost was $1296.40 and already the Tesla says the front passenger airbag needs to be replaced again.
Suspension
Filed May 19, 2026MI
These cars have a defective control arm system and they are prone to messing up over and over, they have replacement revisions but try to charge you for labor and parts if youre out of warranty even though they know the parts were a problem and revised them. Tesla does nothing to help you and will even try to charge you $200 just to diagnose the issue.
Structure › Body1 injured
Filed May 14, 2026CA
Component: Exterior Door Handle (Front Passenger) Incident Description: A latent manufacturing defect resulted in the structural delamination of the interior chrome plating on the front passenger door handle. This failure occurred after the last use of the handle, creating a razor-sharp metallic edge that was not visible during a normal approach to the vehicle. Upon contacting the handle to open the door, a passenger sustained a deep laceration from this jagged metallic blade. Safety Hazard: The defect transforms a primary vehicle touchpoint into a concealed cutting hazard. The chrome skin peels and curls into a sharp edge without warning or visible signs of wear, posing an ongoing risk of serious physical injury to any occupant. Manufacturer Response: Tesla Service (Los Gatos) was provided with photographic evidence of the razor edge and the resulting injury. While acknowledging the injury, Tesla refused a safety-based "goodwill" repair, citing the vehicle’s age (2019) and the absence of a formal recall. Tesla further attempted to attribute this structural material failure to cleaning products, despite the vehicle being garage-kept and maintained only with pH-neutral enthusiast-grade soaps. Tesla has since refused further discussion. Request: This defect poses an ongoing risk of serious physical injury to any occupant using the handles. I am reporting this to assist in identifying a trend of material failure in 2017–2020 Model 3 chrome door handles.
Lane Departure › Assist
Filed May 14, 2026MA
Tesla FSD on HW3 vehicles has become very unstable. Users complain the car ping pongs within the lane and occasionally will steer onto the left or opposite lane. This seems to have happened after a recent update between Feb/March 2026. Growing reports of the same issue reported on Reddit. Ping pong tesla fsd Sources: r/TeslaFSD, r/TeslaLounge, r/TeslaSupport Tesla FSD Ping Pong Effect Software Updates Recent Updates: Many users have reported that the ping-pong effect started after recent software updates, particularly 2026.8.6 and 2026.14.3. "Yes, this started for me after the update to 2026.8.6 and continued on 2026.8.6.1" HW3 Issues: Some users with Hardware 3 (HW3) have noted that FSD has become unusable due to this effect. "I'm HW3 Software 2026.14.3 FSD Software V12.6.4 Driving on the highway is completely unusable and would result in a crash if I kept it on." Troubleshooting Steps Camera Calibration: Several users have suggested recalibrating the cameras, which can sometimes help. "Try a camera housing cleaning and a camera calibration" DAS Reset: Performing a Driver-Assist System (DAS) reset has also been recommended. "Also reset the DAS" Cleaning Cameras: Ensuring the cameras are clean can improve performance. "Ask SC or mobile service to check camera alignment AND clean the front cameras, and recalibrate cameras." Hardware Issues IMU/Gyroscope: A few users have been told by Tesla service that the issue might be due to a failing gyroscope/IMU in the HW3 Autopilot comp
Electrical System › Seat Heater › Wiring Harness
Filed May 7, 202678,000 milesVA
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the rear seat warmer was active, a hole had burned through the seat due to the heat coming from the seat warmer. The contact stated that a blanket was placed over the seat which caused the blanket to melt and fuse into the seat. As a result of the failure, the contact had to tear apart the back of the seat where the failure occurred. The contact spoke to a Tesla service technician who gave the contact an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Back Over Prevention › WarningsCrash
Filed May 6, 2026NM
There was a failure of a rear camera to detect the proximity of a closed garage door when in reverse in a driveway. The result was hitting the garage door and damaging the garage door as a result. This could be dangerous as there was no warning on the backup camera screen and no audible warning. This was a very expensive repair given the garage door was a unique color and design.
Air Bags
Filed May 4, 2026VA
I am submitting a complaint regarding a “Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault” warning that recently appeared on my Tesla vehicle. My vehicle currently has approximately 45,000 miles. This warning indicates a potential issue with the passenger airbag or related restraint system components, which is a critical safety feature. A malfunction in this system raises serious concerns about whether the passenger airbag would deploy properly in the event of a crash. I contacted Tesla service, and I was informed that the repair would cost over $1,500 out of pocket. Given the relatively low mileage and the importance of the safety system involved, I am concerned that this may represent a broader defect rather than normal wear and tear. Additionally, I have found similar reports online from other Tesla owners experiencing the same warning, which suggests this may not be an isolated incident. A failure or malfunction of the passenger restraint system presents a significant safety risk to occupants. I believe this issue warrants further investigation to determine whether there is a systemic defect affecting Tesla vehicles. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue and consider whether further action, including a potential recall or manufacturer responsibility, is appropriate. Vehicle details (VIN, model, year, etc.) can be provided as needed.
Seat Belts
Filed May 2, 2026FL
The car was giving me a warning "Front Left Restraint System Fault" (RCM_a021) approximately for 4 months (Jan 2026?) - I brought the car in for service April 2026 and after researching, the technician found that there was a failure in the wiring harness - this is the wiring harness that is responsible for the seatbelt pretension mechanism that activates in a accident. The technician had to replace the harness for the issue to resolve. However, it's my understanding that, had an accident occurred prior to the repair, that the safety system would not have operated properly.
Service BrakesCrash3 injured
Filed Apr 27, 2026AZ
The Tesla was hit on the passenger side by a Honda civic that ran a red light traveling more than 25 mph The Tesla spun 180 degrees after impact. No airbags deployed. Immediately after impact the Tesla turned on hazard lights. However the vehicle would not come to a stop after pressing on the brakes. After impact the vehicle was coasting backwards at probably less than 5-6 mph. It would not respond to brake presses. Oddly the vehicle had regen braking enabled which should have brought it to a stop, but it didn’t. The vehicle kept coasting backwards as if it was in neutral for about 20 meters until it hit a curb and stopped. BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK!!!
Air Bags
Filed Apr 26, 2026CA
I received a notice onscreen (photo attached) that says "Front passenger safety restraint system issue, Service is required." I did some research online and a number of other owners of 2019 Tesla Model 3 vehicles have received this warning, which involves a malfunction that is a combination of the front passenger seat belt, air bag, and seat sensor for the air bag. A number of people with this year and make have gone to Tesla, and Tesla service workers have said "this a known issue" for this year and make. Since this issue involves a number of safety components, and is a known issue, Tesla should be required to fix this as a product defect recall. Instead, they quoted multiple owners, including myself, approximately $2,000 to fix.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 23, 202680,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a residential gate, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a private residence. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Structure › Body1 injured
Filed Apr 20, 2026OR
The chrome lamination/sticker is peeling from the underside of the door handles. This peeling causes an extremely sharp edge that cut my finger. This issue is noted rather constantly over the internet. The sharp edge is hidden by the retracting mechanism of the door handles, and so you don’t see it until you grab it and cut yourself.
Seats
Filed Apr 12, 2026MS
An error message appears every time my husband drives. Whenever he moves the driver seat backwards, “Front left safety restraint system issue” message appears on the display screen.
I was involved in a collision while driving my 2019 Tesla Model 3. The incident occurred on April 2nd 2026 in [XXX] Prior to the collision, the vehicle was operating normally The crash resulted in damage to the front driver-side of the vehicle, including a destroyed headlight and body panel damage. At the time of the incident, weather and traffic was light and normal. The vehicle was set and supposed to head straight when suddenly at the intersection it jerked right and headed straight into another vehicle. I attempted to take control but was unable to due to resistance on the wheel and how quickly the incident occurred. There was no warning or emergency braking which should've also been expected from my tesla. I am submitting this report to document a potential safety concern and request review. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Suspension
Filed Mar 14, 2026CA
Suspensions. I know there’s been known defects with the suspensions and they’ve only recall 422 vehicles so far (2018-2019 Tesla model 3, I feel more vehicles in those years are affected.
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 14, 2026CA
Poorly sealed front monitoring cameras. I know it’s poorly sealed on many Tesla vehicles and my own. Allowing fluid and dust to enter to block camera view and use.
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 4, 2026WA
Chrome peeling on the underside of multiple door handles has created razor sharp edges that slice fingers open. Online it appears to happen with Tesla 2018-2020 models.
Suspension
Filed Feb 17, 2026TX
While driving, the front driver-side suspension collapsed due to a complete detachment of the front lower lateral link. The fastener (bolt) backed out entirely and fell onto the road/under-shield. This matches the failure mode described in NHTSA Recall 21V-835, although Tesla has previously claimed my specific VIN was not included. The failure caused an immediate loss of steering control and structural instability. I am reporting this as a potential 'recall bypass' where the defect exists outside the currently identified recall population
Back Over Prevention
Filed Feb 11, 202681,952 milesFL
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rearview camera became inoperable while opening the trunk. The message “Camera Not Available” was displayed. The contact stated that the rearview camera functionality returned after opening and closing the trunk several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rearview camera wiring harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact informed the dealer that the vehicle had previously been associated with a recall related to the failure; however, the dealer did not repair the vehicle under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,952.
Complaints 1-50 of 620, newest first, reproduced as filed.
It is not among the Model 3 years to avoid. Owners filed 620 complaints, against about 537 for a typical Model 3 year. The most common complaint is about the automatic emergency braking (15%). In NHTSA crash tests it scored 5 stars overall.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
The automatic emergency braking: 93 of the 620 complaints (15%) are about it. Owners most often say it brakes on its own (26%) and sets off warning lights on the dash (11%). The typical report comes at 28,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2019 Tesla Model 3 have?
22 safety recalls on file with NHTSA, the most recent filed Aug 4, 2026. The largest, 24V051000, covered 2,193,869 vehicles. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
At what mileage do 2019 Tesla Model 3 problems start?
Half of the complaints that record an odometer reading came in before 10,000 miles. For the automatic emergency braking the midpoint is 28,000 miles.
Has NHTSA investigated the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
Yes, 14 times. The latest, PE26006 ("Lower Lateral Link detachment"), was opened Jul 29, 2026 and is still open. 6 investigations are open.
Are there service bulletins for the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
The manufacturer filed 106 technical service bulletins and other notices for it with NHTSA, most of them about the body and frame (10), the airbags (7) and the electrical system (7). A bulletin is a repair instruction to dealers, not a recall: the fix is usually free only under warranty.
Reading this record
4 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Aug 4, 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.