2020 Tesla MODEL 3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Tesla MODEL 3 has 739 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 9.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is speed control problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: driving in freeway fast lane in light traffic at 10:30 am on overcast morning with tesla adaptive cruise control set for 70 mph and 4-car following distance. the car in front moved 1 lane to the right leaving no cars ahead. my car accelerated gently to 70 and then as i approached an overpass the ca. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 76 crash reports 32 injuries

739

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

9.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SPEED CONTROL

172 complaints

23%

• DRIVING IN FREEWAY FAST LANE IN LIGHT TRAFFIC AT 10:30 AM ON OVERCAST MORNING WITH TESLA ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 70 MPH AND 4-CAR FOLLOWING DISTANCE. THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED 1 LANE TO THE RIGHT LEAVING NO CARS AHEAD. MY CAR ACCELERATED GENTLY TO 70 AND THEN AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS THE CA
• WHILE NAVIGATING ON AUTOPILOT ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR TOOK THE INTENDED EXIT RAMP, HOWEVER NEVER SLOWED DOWN UNTIL I HAD TO INTERVENE. REMINISCENT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH LED TO THE RECENT FATAL CRASH REPORTED OVER THE LAST WEEK.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO A PARKED TRUCK AND PUSHING IT SOME DISTANCE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES SUCH A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 19 crashes

“DRIVING IN FREEWAY FAST LANE IN LIGHT TRAFFIC AT 10:30 AM ON OVERCAST MORNING WITH TESLA ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 70 MPH AND 4-CAR FOLLOWING DISTANCE. THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED 1 LANE TO THE RIGHT LEAVING NO CARS AHEAD. MY CAR ACCELERATED GENTLY TO 70 AND THEN AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS THE CA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

161 complaints

22%

• I BOUGHT A TESLA MODEL 3 ON 9/19/20. ON 9/23/20 I WAS WAITING IN MY CAR IN A LINE OF CARS AT A FAST FOOD DELIVERY WINDOW, STOPPED 8-10 FT BEHIND A LARGE VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS WELL AS IN THE PARK MODE BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SERVICE AHEAD. AFTER A WHILE I REALIZED THAT MY TESLA HAD STARTE
• I BOUGHT A TESLA MODEL 3 ON 9/19/20. ON 9/23/20 I WAS WAITING IN MY CAR IN A LINE OF CARS AT A FAST FOOD DELIVERY WINDOW, STOPPED 8-10 FT BEHIND A LARGE VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS WELL AS IN THE PARK MODE BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SERVICE AHEAD. AFTER A WHILE I REALIZED THAT MY TESLA HAD STARTE
• FROM THE MOMENT I DROVE MY BRAND NEW TESLA OFF THE LOT - THE SCREEN - THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL ANYTHING ABOUT THE VEHICLE - WOULD FREEZE; BLACK OUT; AND TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES TO RESET ITSELF. WHILE IN THIS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE STATE: THE AUDIO SYSTEM WOULD EMIT A HIGH PITCH NOISE; ANY ABILITY TO TEL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 22 crashes

“I BOUGHT A TESLA MODEL 3 ON 9/19/20. ON 9/23/20 I WAS WAITING IN MY CAR IN A LINE OF CARS AT A FAST FOOD DELIVERY WINDOW, STOPPED 8-10 FT BEHIND A LARGE VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS WELL AS IN THE PARK MODE BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SERVICE AHEAD. AFTER A WHILE I REALIZED THAT MY TESLA HAD STARTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

80 complaints

11%

• THIS CAR FORCES THE DRIVER TO LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROAD FOR A FEW SECONDS(AT LEAST 10 SECONDS OR MORE) TO ADJUST COMMON THINGS LIKE ADJUSTING MIRRORS, CHANGING AC FUNCTIONS,SETTING WIPER SPEED. AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION ON A LONG DRIVE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE , CONVENIENT OR S
• THE AUTO STEER IN MY TESLA MODEL 3 FAILED TODAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING ON A CURVY DOWNHILL ROAD. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THE LANE MARKINGS ON THE RIGHT SIDE ENDED JUST BEFORE THE CURBING STARTED. THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT AND HIT THE CURB BRUSHING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FAT
• WHEN I SLOWED DOWN ON A CITY STREET, AND TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR SPEEDED UP BY ITSELF. AND THE BRAKE DIDN'T RESPOND WHEN I STEPPED ON IT. THE CAR GLIDED INTO A POWER POST.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 12 crashes

“THIS CAR FORCES THE DRIVER TO LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROAD FOR A FEW SECONDS(AT LEAST 10 SECONDS OR MORE) TO ADJUST COMMON THINGS LIKE ADJUSTING MIRRORS, CHANGING AC FUNCTIONS,SETTING WIPER SPEED. AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION ON A LONG DRIVE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE , CONVENIENT OR S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

46 complaints

• WHILE NAVIGATING ON AUTOPILOT ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR TOOK THE INTENDED EXIT RAMP, HOWEVER NEVER SLOWED DOWN UNTIL I HAD TO INTERVENE. REMINISCENT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH LED TO THE RECENT FATAL CRASH REPORTED OVER THE LAST WEEK.
• SO REGARDING THE CAR BRAKES THEY ARE VERY HARD TO FULLY DEPRESS AND I BELIEVE ITS BECAUSE OF THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN GOING EAT HIGHWAY SPEED AND YOU NEED TO PRESS THE BREAK PEDAL HARD IT LITERALLY FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS REFUSING TO LET YOU USE THE FULL CAPACITY OF THE BREAKS. ITS V
• WHEN ON CRUISE CONTROL OR AUTOPILOT, CAR STOPS ABRUPTLY GOING FROM 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY TO 38 MPH BEFORE I CAN OVERRIDE AND TAKE CONTROL. THERE IS NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAPPENS ON A CLEAR OPEN HIGHWAY.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“WHILE NAVIGATING ON AUTOPILOT ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR TOOK THE INTENDED EXIT RAMP, HOWEVER NEVER SLOWED DOWN UNTIL I HAD TO INTERVENE. REMINISCENT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH LED TO THE RECENT FATAL CRASH REPORTED OVER THE LAST WEEK.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

43 complaints

• THE AUTO STEER IN MY TESLA MODEL 3 FAILED TODAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING ON A CURVY DOWNHILL ROAD. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THE LANE MARKINGS ON THE RIGHT SIDE ENDED JUST BEFORE THE CURBING STARTED. THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT AND HIT THE CURB BRUSHING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FAT
• FRIDAY JUNE 26TH, 6:00 P.M. PUBLIC ROADS. SUNNY, DRY. SOMETHING SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AT THE MOMENT I STARTED A SLOW LEFT TURN. THE CAR LURCHED TO A HALT. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS ANGLED LEFT AT ABOUT A 35 DEGREES, WHILE THE LEFT WHEEL POINTED STRAIGHT. TESLA SENT A FLAT BED. THE TRUCK TE
• HERE IS A 2020 MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37237764?ROWNUMBER=6THE FONT SUSPENSION GIBLETS HAVEALL FALLEN TO BITS. BOTH FRONT WHEELS ARE SPLAYED OUT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WHICH WOULD PROBABLY MAKE IT A LITTLE HARD TO STEER. IWOULD YOU PLEASE ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“THE AUTO STEER IN MY TESLA MODEL 3 FAILED TODAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING ON A CURVY DOWNHILL ROAD. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE THE LANE MARKINGS ON THE RIGHT SIDE ENDED JUST BEFORE THE CURBING STARTED. THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT AND HIT THE CURB BRUSHING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FAT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 739 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SPEED CONTROL: DRIVING IN FREEWAY FAST LANE IN LIGHT TRAFFIC AT 10:30 AM ON OVERCAST MORNING WITH TESLA ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 70 MPH AND 4-CAR FOLLOWING DISTANCE. THE CAR IN FRONT MOVED 1 LANE TO THE RIGHT LEAVING NO CARS AHEAD. MY CAR ACCELERATED GENTLY TO 70 AND THEN AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS THE CA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: I BOUGHT A TESLA MODEL 3 ON 9/19/20. ON 9/23/20 I WAS WAITING IN MY CAR IN A LINE OF CARS AT A FAST FOOD DELIVERY WINDOW, STOPPED 8-10 FT BEHIND A LARGE VEHICLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS WELL AS IN THE PARK MODE BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SERVICE AHEAD. AFTER A WHILE I REALIZED THAT MY TESLA HAD STARTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS CAR FORCES THE DRIVER TO LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROAD FOR A FEW SECONDS(AT LEAST 10 SECONDS OR MORE) TO ADJUST COMMON THINGS LIKE ADJUSTING MIRRORS, CHANGING AC FUNCTIONS,SETTING WIPER SPEED. AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION ON A LONG DRIVE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE , CONVENIENT OR S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE NAVIGATING ON AUTOPILOT ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR TOOK THE INTENDED EXIT RAMP, HOWEVER NEVER SLOWED DOWN UNTIL I HAD TO INTERVENE. REMINISCENT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH LED TO THE RECENT FATAL CRASH REPORTED OVER THE LAST WEEK.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)