90 of the
7,584 complaints filed about the Tesla Model 3
are about the transmission —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
90
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
14
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I am reporting a front suspension failure on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor, that appears relevant to NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE26006 and similar to Recall 23V-235. While driving slowly in a parking lot, I heard a clunk and felt the front wheel/steering alignment become slightly skewed. After entering the highway, the vehicle developed severe vibration and became unstable and difficult to control. I exited and stopped as soon as safely possible. While attempting to park it at a curb, during reverse, the suspension entirely collapsed and left front wheel was then severely displaced and the tire was rubbing the wheel well. Tesla inspected the vehicle and confirmed: “The left lateral link was found detached with missing hardware.” Tesla also found the left front halfshaft detached from the drive unit. Tesla replaced the front subframe, both front lower lateral links, both front lower compliance links, the left front halfshaft, and performed an alignment. Total cost was $6,328.96. The failed parts were replaced by Tesla; I do not know whether they remain available for inspection. This failure created a serious risk of loss of vehicle control at highway speed and could have endangered me and surrounding traffic. The problem was confirmed and inspected by Tesla Service. There was no collision or other discrete impact event that I recognized as causing the failure. There were **no warning lights, warning messages, or other vehicle alerts before or during the failure**. The first noticeable symptom was the clunk in the parking lot, followed by the skewed steering/wheel position and later severe highway vibration. I have pre-repair photos showing the displaced wheel, tire contact, and detached suspension component, as well as Tesla’s final repair documentation. I request that this incident be considered in connection with PE26006 and Recall 23V-235.
NHTSA complaint #11757214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description of the Safety Defect:My 2018 Tesla Model 3 AWD suffered an abrupt and catastrophic total loss of mechanical braking power while driving. The brake pedal went completely soft, and the vehicle lost hydraulic pressure.An independent mechanic inspected the undercarriage and confirmed that the factory steel hydraulic brake lines completely rusted through and ruptured, leaking all brake fluid from the system. This vehicle has 142,905 miles and has been operated in regions that use winter road salt.Tesla is aware of this severe corrosion defect under Service Bulletin SB-26-33-001, but they have categorized it as a service bulletin rather than a safety recall. A factory brake line rusting through to total fluid failure is an extreme and immediate safety hazard to occupants and the public. Furthermore, the vehicle simultaneously threw a "Front Motor Disconnected" warning. A federal investigation and mandatory recall are urgently required to ensure Tesla replaces these defective lines for all affected owners before a fatal accident occurs.
NHTSA complaint #11756949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My RWD motor completely went out and lost power on the highway off ramp. Could have turned into a dangerous situation. Not sure why these motors seem to be very unreliable. Tesla has not given me an explanation as to what is exactly causing this. Happens to thousands of owners. And this car is only 5 years old. I had the motor replaced in November 2022 and 3 years later it’s out for good. Now I have to deal with teslas insane costs. I feel like they sold me a defective car.
NHTSA complaint #11735962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HVAC system which provides cooling/heating for all the systems including the powertrain, battery, inverters, Full-Self Driving computer malfunctions randomly shutting itself off due to a known issue of failing pressure and temperature sensors. Tesla is aware of this issue where the sensors may fail prematurely and in 2021 they issued a service bulletin SB-21-18-002. I was told It would be fixed with a software update... In other words it was never fixed. Now my car says that cooling and heating may randomly be unavailable due to invalid readings from the pressure and temperature sensors. They want me to pay to have the sensors replaced despite them acknowledging that they have a defect causing premature failure. This issue is safety related because in the event that I was supercharging and the HVAC system shuts down it could potentially lead to a battery fire or thermal runaway. Not to mention that the car left me without heat in subzero temperatures on a roadtrip.
NHTSA complaint #11717809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The high-voltage traction battery pack has failed twice on my 2021 Tesla Model 3, both times while the vehicle was under the original battery warranty. The failures occurred on: • 08/30/2022 at approximately 15,100 miles • 11/08/2025 at approximately 57,222 miles The exact error code by Tesla was bms_a079, which doesn’t let the vehicle charge at all. The vehicle was drivable before the battery depleted. The defect has been reproduced, confirmed, and repaired by the manufacturer twice, but the same critical system has failed again after replacement, raising concern of a recurring defect. The failed component is the high-voltage battery pack. The component was inspected by Tesla, and in both cases Tesla confirmed battery failure and replaced the entire HV battery pack with a remanufactured unit under warranty. The failed components were retained by Tesla and are available for inspection by the manufacturer.
NHTSA complaint #11711847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle has developed a rapidly worsening battery performance issue. It loses range far faster than expected, shows inconsistent energy usage, and experiences sudden drops in projected mileage even during normal driving. Charging behavior is irregular, and the vehicle’s energy regeneration is inconsistent. There was no crash, fire, or damage. Based on the symptoms, this appears to be a potential battery or propulsion system defect. The issue continues to worsen and affects the safe and reliable operation of the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11702593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front upper control arms on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 have failed multiple times, producing loud clunking, popping, and binding noises during steering. The issue has worsened and poses a serious risk of loss of control while driving. Tesla replaced these parts under goodwill in the past, but the failures have returned. The most recent incident occurred around 03/05/2025 at approximately 106,867 miles. The failure has been confirmed and documented by Tesla Service Centers, and I have multiple invoices showing repeated replacements of the same components. The problem directly affects steering and suspension safety.
NHTSA complaint #11694649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Possible unintended acceleration incident While approaching the driveway the car accidentally accelerated on its own, cause a collision. We request that Tesla preserve all vehicle logs and telemetry data for safety investigation. VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11693178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description of Issue: The car displayed error code DI_a137 and unable to drive/pull over safely. The vehicle became undrivable and had to be towed to the Tesla service center. The service center diagnosed a rear drive inverter failure and replaced the entire inverter assembly. Safety Concern: It is alarming for a critical drivetrain component to fail completely within the first year of ownership and at such low mileage. A sudden loss of power while driving poses a serious safety risk to the driver and passengers.
NHTSA complaint #11690077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - ABS, Automatic Emergency Braking, Traction Control, Stability Control failed while braking using the regenerative braking. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - While coming to a stop using the regenerative braking, the regenerative braking immedietely ceased to work, and the driver had to immediately apply the hydraulic brakes to avoid a rear end collision Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - No, they appeared while braking. This issue is not new to this vehicle and has happened in the past, however the errors cleared themselves out.
NHTSA complaint #11677290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear motor became completely disabled while driving. The rear motor suddenly made noise and locked up when I was driving about 10 mph. I received a red alert on my screen saying to pull over now and another alert saying the car is shutting off. The car suddenly stopped on its own before I could do anything. I then got a yellow warning message saying that the rear motor is disabled. I was luckily driving slowly in a parking lot when this occurred but if it happened on a public road, things could have gone much worse. I contacted Tesla support when it occurred but I cancelled the support request because the alerts went away once I exited the car. The vehicle drives normally but not sure if it will happen suddenly again.
NHTSA complaint #11674805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On June 19, 2025, while parking my brand new 2025 Tesla Model 3 in a residential lot, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated forward over a curb, crashed through a iron fence, and struck an outdoor A/C unit and patio furniture on the back of a neighbor’s unit. The car became stuck and had to be towed. On June 19, 2025, while parking my newly delivered Tesla Model 3, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lurched forward, resulting in a crash. I was parking slowly and cautiously with my foot on the brake at all times. According to a neighbor who witnessed the incident, I was moving at a very slow speed when the vehicle suddenly surged forward without warning. I did not intend to accelerate, and I firmly believe this may have been the result of a system malfunction—possibly involving the vehicle’s sensors, software, or misinterpretation of pedal input. Tesla Service reviewed the driving log and stated that it showed I “stepped on the accelerator.” I respectfully dispute this conclusion, as the vehicle’s behavior was completely inconsistent with my actions. I am a careful, experienced driver with no prior accidents in over 30 years of driving. This incident raises serious concerns about Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA), a known issue that has been reported by other Tesla drivers in past years. If the vehicle misinterprets driver input or experiences a sensor/software glitch, this can lead to property damage or bodily injury, especially in tight parking situations or near pedestrians. I am submitting this complaint to ensure this matter is documented and investigated appropriately. Safety should not rely on logs alone — real-world behavior, driver feedback, and potential software/hardware flaws must be examined carefully.
NHTSA complaint #11669732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was in a drive thru of a fast food restaurant and the car rapidly accelerated on its own and crashed into a wall. The air bags deployed and we were injured. We also narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian. The car hasn’t been inspected by anyone yet, however it is available if someone wants to inspect it.
NHTSA complaint #11668314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
If you are on a hill and you accidently press both the brake an accelerator, the car will fall to neutral and free roll. In whatever direction is downhill. I have big feet. Happened again to me, I bumped the brake pedal (but not enough to apply the brakes to stop) when attempting to pull forwards slowly and my car beeped with the "both pedals detected pressed" alert. and then it free rolled backwards (because I was on an uphill). THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FREE ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN IN DRIVE, THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. It has been 4 years now, and no action has been taken to adress this software defect. a NORMAL gas car does NOT do this. If you bump the brake in a normal gas car, IT DOES NOT FREE ROLL IN ANY DIRECTION. This is a tesla software problem that tesla needs to promptly fix ASAP!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11658650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I just traded in my vehicle for a Tesla from 3rd party dealership on [XXX] A light came on once I reached my home. I called right away before the dealership closed but no one answered. So I took it upon myself to make a service call to Tesla to get my vehicle checked come to find out my vehicle has extensive damages from my unit drive, my subframe and the battery pack is severe punctures and needs to be replaced. Choice Automotive LLC in Honolulu Hawaii didn’t disclose anything to me before purchasing this vehicle. also they didn’t disclose that this vehicle was in a car accident, but they carried on with the sale. I have pictures of what needs to be repaired. Tesla said, I will need $20,000 to repair these damages. So I’m trying to take legal action against Choice Automotive LLC for selling me a vehicle that needs a lot of repair to drive normal again. I need them to pay for these repairs immediately. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11658029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
my 21 M3P 27K miles threw BMS_a079 I've never used a supercharger and rarely charge over 80% mostly charging at work on lvl 2 & occasionally at home on lvl 1 vehicle will no longer charge I've tried 2 Button reset and HV disconnect no help. 27k miles seems unreasonable for a battery malfunction on a vehicle that has been cared for meticulously.
NHTSA complaint #11657017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while his wife was driving at approximately 29 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated and the front of the vehicle crashed into a tree, where it came to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The front driver's side air bag was deployed. A police report was filed. Medical attention was sought as a precaution; however, there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,340.
NHTSA complaint #11655429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On March 21, 2025, my Tesla Model 3 Long Range entered "Power Reduction Mode" — a safety feature that limits power to protect the high-voltage battery from overheating or failure. Tesla later diagnosed a coolant leak near the battery area. Their own service advisor stated in writing that the failure was “most likely related” to the battery’s thermal management system — the very system responsible for regulating battery temperature and preventing damage. Despite the connection to the battery protection system and the vehicle being under the 8-year/120,000-mile battery warranty, Tesla has refused to cover the repair. The issue remains unresolved, and I have not picked up or approved any repairs on the vehicle. My concern is that driving the vehicle in this state — or leaving this failure unaddressed — could lead to further battery damage or pose a safety risk. I am requesting that NHTSA evaluate this issue as a potential safety concern, especially as the manufacturer is refusing to repair a system directly linked to high-voltage battery safety.
NHTSA complaint #11651017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ISSUE: PTC Heater failed at 63,617 miles after 6 years of use WARNING MESSAGE: "Vehicle may not restart" CONTACT: [XXX] [XXX] main contact for owner [XXX] . VIN: [XXX] MAKE: MODEL 3 YEAR: 2018 REPAIR QUOTED: $1,104.18 LINE ITEMS: PTC HEATER DUALZONE(1088218-00-I) HVAC, PTC SERVICEASSY(1107677-00-A) LABOR & DIAGNOSTICS SUMMARY: TESLA Model 3 Electric Vehicle shut down into "Asleep mode" and will not respond (turn back on). Locked out. Will not wake up. Will not respond to software nor car keys. All systems turned off. Will not charge. Will not release charger from charge port. Issue suddenly happened after [XXX] software load (deemed to not be the cause of issue). Dealership diagnostic shows PTC Heater failure which cuts off the battery. Dealership quoted estimated repair (see below). This could have happened while driving causing the vehicle to be uncontrollable, and a major safety issue. Fortunately, my incident happened after I parked the car in the garage. Overnight there was a software install (supposedly not causing the problem). In the morning the vehicle would not turn on. PRECEDENT: There were several small claims filings in Canada for same issue. This was deemed a design flaw, and safety issue. (See [XXX] ) DIAGNOSTICS: On-line debugging is pointing to resistance issue with 1 of the 5 heating elements in the PTC Heater. PTC Heater cuts off supply to PCS which charges the 12V battery when there is an issue with the heater. This allows the 12v battery to drain, and the EV becomes unresponsive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11625537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.