2020 Tesla Model 3 Owner Complaints

I was told my car is unsafe to drive after taking it to the mechanic for a routine tire balance and rotation. I currently need both rear control arms replaced. I had them replaced in the past. In addition, I have had the front control arms replaced more than once, the lower lateral links replaced, numerous hubs repaired, forelinks and knuckles all replaced not too long ago, so this news comes as a shock. The first control arm failure occurred when the car was only a year and a half old with very little milage. I have all of the service records in my tesla app vehicle repair history. They are in a pdf format and I would be happy to send them in, if helpful.

NHTSA ID

11756378

Incident

Aug 10, 2026

I was operating my Tesla with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged when the incident occurred. I was turning right onto [XXX] from [XXX] and was positioned in the left right-turn lane approaching a railroad crossing. The railroad crossing gates were already fully lowered, indicating an approaching train. Despite the lowered crossing gates, the vehicle accelerated forward into the crossing rather than stopping. The vehicle drove through the lowered crossing gate, which struck and shattered the windshield. Seconds later, the train passed through the intersection. I did not command the vehicle to proceed through the lowered gates. The incident resulted in significant damage to the windshield and raised serious safety concerns because the vehicle entered an active railroad crossing immediately before the train arrived. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center due to the damage. Fortunately, no collision with the train occurred and there were no injuries, but the incident had the potential to result in catastrophic injury or death. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755168

Incident

Aug 2, 2026

All Teslas vehicles running HW3 / AI3 Autopilot self driving computers have been known for years to have a defective design problem with the cooling system without its own dedicated cooling and which puts the self driving computer last in the cooling looping at the top of the cooling stack. When the computer fails and they will Tesla requires the owner to replace the computer. This does not result in a redesigned improvement to the computer or cooling system that reduces the thermal stress being applied to the new computer. Tesla is now pushing a new version of the self driving FSD software with the “v14 Lite” release over the last two weeks. This software release uses large complex software models which Tesla design to use every part of the HW4 / AI3 compute power which stressed the computer by pushing it to it compute limiting. All this compute is causing the computer to overheat and fail. Tesla then require owners who are all out of warranty now to pay thousands to replace the computer. This replacemen uses the same flawed cooling system and the same computer incapable of dealing passive compute requests on it by the latest v14 Lite software to eventually cause the computer to just require the replacement computer to eventually need yet another replacement of the same flawed design at owners cost. There is also supposed to systems which monitor the thermal stress on the computer and shut it off abruptly until it cools down which is not ideal at freeway speeds which is not happening. Recall to address and resolve the issue with improved cooling, more powerful computer that doesn’t reach maximum capacity and it’s each use, and less taxing software needs to be issue. This is a major safety design problem which Tesla has not addressed. There only solution is to just replace design constrained components with the exact same parts at owners cost. These multiple design issues can and often result is sudden shutdown of the computer, or worse case sudden complete failure.

NHTSA ID

11754878

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

I own a Tesla Model 3 and have been experiencing concerning front suspension and steering issues that appear to be worsening over time. While driving and especially during low speed turns, parking and maneuvering, the front suspension produces loud screeching, squeaking, and rubbing noises. The steering has also become noticeably stiffer that normal at times, and the noises can be felt through the steering wheel. The sounds are coming from the front suspension area and occur repeatedly during normal driving. The issues raises significant safety concerns because I am worried there may be a defect affecting the front suspension of steering components. Unexpected steering resistance combined with loud suspension noises creates concern that a suspension component could fail while the vehicle is in motion, potentially resulting in loss of steering control or a crash. There were no warning lights or messages displayed before or during these symptoms. The vehicle has not been involved in any collision that would explain these symptoms. The problem has continued during normal operation and appears to be getting progressively worse. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I am submitting this complaint because I understand NHTSA is investigating front suspension issues involving 2018-2020 Tesla Model 3 vehicles, and my vehicle is experiencing similar symptoms. I believe this issue should be investigated to determine whether it is related to the front suspension components under investigation.

NHTSA ID

11754693

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

The front upper control arms. Causing poor steering and unbearable loud creaks when turning wheel. Mobile tesla tech confirmed upper control arm

NHTSA ID

11754639

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

Component that failed was the lower lateral link. There was no loss of control but there was a sound going over any uneven surface. Upon bringing the vehicle to the Tesla dealership they recommended a replacement of the upper and lower control arm on both the driver and passenger side. This greatly increased the cost of the repair to a total of $2356.84

NHTSA ID

11754443

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

Suspension is grinding. I had it replaced once at Tesla and it began grinding again in less than 18 months. I took it to Tesla and was informed the lower control arm failed and the price had more than doubled from the prior replacement. No warning lights have come on regarding this issue. The original replacement was 3/7/2024. I noticed the grinding between 12-18 months later. Also, the rear brake light gets condensation in it somehow. I had noticed this about 1 year ago.

NHTSA ID

11754235

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

In Jan, 2026, the front suspension in the 2020 Model 3 started making a cracking, catching, grinding and/or popping noise as I turned the steering column while parked or driving slowly. When investigating, it sounded like it was coming from bearings in the front suspension. It continued to get worse, making the catching / grinding / popping noise when driving on the highway, turning or not turning, to the point that it felt like the suspension would completely tear apart, and I took the vehicle in for service in early March. Telsa service ended up replacing the left and right upper control arm assembly, the front left and right lower compliance link and the lower lateral links. Online research on various tesla forums showed this to be a known problem with vehicle owners. Unsure if continuing with the issue prior to service would have caused a safety concren, but it was beyond the point of sounding safe to operate to me.

NHTSA ID

11754038

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

I was making a right turn from the parking lot onto the street, a maneuver I have made hundreds of times previously without any issue. My foot was on the accelerator pedal as normal for this turn. The vehicle accelerated far faster than intended for this maneuver, with tires screeching, and continued across the width of the street. The vehicle's front left wheel struck the curb on the opposite side of the street from the parking lot exit. The wheel sustained significant damage, and the wheel rim was torn. When I regained my bearings, I lifted my foot off the accelerator and the vehicle slowed down. At the time, I believed a serious crash was imminent. I was able to drive the vehicle home, which was about 1 1/2 miles away, but it is not safe to drive so I won't drive it until it is repaired. I am aware that Tesla and NHTSA have attributed many prior sudden acceleration incidents to drivers unintentionally pressing the accelerator when intending to press the brake. Due to the vehicle's regenerative braking, I rarely use the brake pedal during normal driving, which makes this explanation virtually impossible in my case. I am also aware that NHTSA reopened an investigation in 2023 after learning about a potential inverter-related design flaw that could cause sudden unintended acceleration in Tesla vehicles, and that this investigation remains open as of this writing.

NHTSA ID

11753407

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

On XXX, at approximately 2:47:42 PM, I was driving a 2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD VIN [XXX] on a two-lane road in the Adirondacks with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) active. The vehicle was traveling approximately 50–52 mph. An oncoming SUV moved toward or across the double-yellow centerline while passing a bicyclist. FSD reacted with a sudden and aggressive steering maneuver to the right. The vehicle crossed the white edge line and entered the paved shoulder. Because it appeared that the vehicle might leave the roadway, I immediately took control and steered it back toward the travel lane. The vehicle then oscillated sharply in both directions before stabilizing. External telemetry shows lateral acceleration reaching approximately 0.88 g in one direction and 0.84 g in the opposite direction, with a 1.72 g peak-to-peak lateral swing. Vehicle speed fell from approximately 50 mph to approximately 28 mph during the recovery. No collision or injury occurred. The rapid deceleration and stabilization appeared consistent with possible electronic stability-control intervention, but I cannot confirm that from the available external telemetry. I have preserved the front dashcam video and telemetry file. I request that Tesla preserve and review the internal vehicle logs, including FSD commanded steering, planned path, driver steering torque, road-edge perception, oncoming-vehicle perception, stability-control activation, individual-wheel braking, and motor-torque reduction. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753097

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

Car was sitting at a red light while in Full Self Driving (supervised). The screen showed at least four red lights. Suddenly the car started to move forward while the lights were still red. I was able to stop it from going further. This has happened before and I reported it then. If I had not had my foot near the brake pedal the car might have just run through the light.

NHTSA ID

11751847

Incident

Jul 16, 2026

On July 11 at approximately 6:47 a.m., I was operating my Tesla Model 3 on Interstate 65 in Hart County, Kentucky, with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged during normal highway travel. Approximately one hour earlier, I had departed a highway rest area after sleeping from the previous day’s travel. Rain developed during the trip, but I observed adequate visibility, apparent roadway traction, and I was not impaired. I was traveling in the far-right lane of a three-lane interstate. The posted speed limit was approximately 70 mph; however, FSD limited the vehicle to approximately 65 mph and displayed warnings indicating that the higher speed was unavailable. While FSD remained engaged, the system initiated a lane change from the far-right lane into the center lane. After entering the center lane, the vehicle began displaying repeated warning messages and FSD disengaged multiple times. I attempted to locate settings related to the warnings on the touchscreen but could not identify an available adjustment. During the third disengagement, I perceived that the vehicle continued braking without releasing while steering resistance increased significantly. The steering wheel then rotated abruptly, and I was unable to regain normal directional control before the vehicle departed its intended travel path and struck a concrete median. The collision caused personal injuries and substantial vehicle damage. I have not been able to reproduce the condition. The incident was investigated by the Kentucky State Police. Based on the sequence of repeated FSD warnings, disengagements, continued braking, and abrupt steering behavior, I believe this event warrants investigation. I request that NHTSA review the vehicle’s Full Self-Driving logs, telemetry, Event Data Recorder (EDR) data, steering and braking commands, diagnostic records, and software history to determine whether a vehicle or software malfunction contributed to the collision. Almost like someone had control, into the wall -KM

NHTSA ID

11750430

Incident

Jul 11, 2026

Suspension defects, control arm noise, vibration, .

NHTSA ID

11750088

Incident

Jul 11, 2026

On XXX at approximately 5:00 PM, I was driving my 2020 Tesla Model 3 on [XXX] from [XXX] toward [XXX], with Tesla FSD engaged. Near the area where the center divider begins/ends, the vehicle crossed the double yellow/divider area and entered the opposing traffic lane. There was no oncoming traffic at that moment, so there was no crash, but this created a serious potential head-on collision risk. The car also did several hard jerks that aggravated my neck and back that it has been consistently doing for a long time which cause worse ongoing headaches. The system/component that malfunctioned was Tesla FSD/Advanced Driver Assistance, including lane keeping/steering behavior. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle moved into the lane for oncoming traffic. I had to intervene and no longer feel safe using FSD. I have reported unsafe FSD behavior to Tesla multiple times before, but the issue has not been resolved. Tesla service has previously listed the concern as “FSD not working properly/test drive required” and/or general diagnosis, but I have not received a clear written resolution explaining why the vehicle crossed into the opposing lane or how Tesla will prevent this from happening again. There were no warning lamps or messages that I recall before the vehicle crossed into the opposing lane. If Tesla has vehicle logs or telemetry for the incident, I request that they be reviewed. I am reporting this because the vehicle may repeat this unsafe behavior and create a head-on collision risk. The car continues to behave unsafely and erratically. i have a log of some of the incidents. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11748025

Incident

Jun 16, 2026

The wiring in my trunk harness was severed due to the repeated opening and closing of my trunk. This caused my reverse lights to fail and my trunk latch to stop working. This issue is part of a known recall: Campaign 21V-00D. Tesla attempted to fix the issue in 2023 but the poor repair did not work. I took my Tesla to the dealer and they refused to remedy the issue unless I would pay $1300. I persuaded them to lower the feet to $300 but still feel that I should not pay anything because this issue was due to the recall.

NHTSA ID

11746953

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a clinking sound coming from the front of vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted, and a repair was pending on the lower lateral link. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V835000 (Suspension). The contact associated the failure with the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11746313

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Mileage

40,000 mi

Subject: Tesla HW2 FSD – Advertised Safety/Autonomy Features Not Provided Description: I am reporting an issue regarding my 2020 Tesla Model 3 equipped with Hardware 2 (HW2) and Full Self-Driving (FSD) package. Although the vehicle is listed and sold as “FSD capable,” Tesla has stopped providing FSD software updates for HW2 vehicles. My vehicle is stuck on FSD version 12.6.4 and cannot receive newer versions (v12.7, v12.8, v13, etc.). Tesla continues to advertise FSD as an evolving safety and autonomy system, but HW2 vehicles are no longer receiving the required updates to maintain or improve safety functions. This results in: • Safety-related features not being updated • Autonomy features advertised at purchase not being delivered • OTA updates being discontinued without notice • Tesla refusing to provide a hardware upgrade path (HW3) despite FSD being purchased on this VIN This creates a safety concern because the vehicle is operating with outdated perception and driving models while newer vehicles receive critical improvements. Tesla has not provided a remedy, timeline, or alternative solution. I request NHTSA to investigate Tesla’s failure to provide advertised and safety‑related FSD functionality for HW2 vehicles. Vehicle Info: 2020 Tesla Model 3 Hardware: HW2 FSD purchased on VIN (previous owner) Purchased used in July 2023 Current FSD version: 12.6.4 (no further updates)

NHTSA ID

11745633

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

This was not an incident. Instead I’d like to report it as a design flaw. I discovered low speed noise and got it fixed at Tesla service center. Upper control arms and lower control links have both been replaced at ~70k miles and the cost to repair was over $2k at Tesla service center in Feb 2026. Later in May 2026 Tesla published a service bulletin acknowledging this is a design flaw

NHTSA ID

11743946

Incident

Feb 16, 2026

The screen (which controls all functions of the vehicle) starts to go haywire. It's almost like there is a phantom touching the screen and pressing buttons. The screen will start zooming in and out - changing your navigation destination. The air controls will turn on full blast and then you are unable to shut them off because the screen will not respond. It becomes a giant distraction to the driver (imagine a screen that large malfunctioning) and tesla does not think this is a safety issue. We reported it to them. They couldn't replicate the issue (is what they told us and then let us know it was out of warranty and we could just replace the screen to a tune of almost $2000). There are no cracks or issues with the screen itself. I cannot upload the videos as they are too big to share but I can send them to an email address.

NHTSA ID

11739307

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Tesla was on Full Self Driving following a curve in the road were traffic lights. Lights were red Car should have stopped but did not. Ran red light with no attempt to stop or slow down.

NHTSA ID

11737235

Incident

May 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound while turning the steering wheel. The messages "Traction Control Disabled", "Lane Departure Avoidance Feature Disabled", "Automatic Vehicle Hold Disabled" and "Stability Control Disabled" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was discovered that the lateral link was not attached to the control arm due to a defective bolt. The contact was informed that the subframe and the front passenger’s side lower control arm needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V835000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was 46,124.

NHTSA ID

11734843

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

Mileage

46,124 mi

Driving S/B on Ann Arbor Saline Road. Had FSD on the Tesla engaged. Needed to make left turn onto Maple. Left arrow light to Maple was red. Traffic light to continue straight on Ann Arbor-Saline was green. Despite left arrow being red, Tesla did not slow and ran red light to make left turn onto Maple.

NHTSA ID

11733532

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, VIN [XXX] restraint control module fault codes RCM_a056 and RCM_a058. Passenger front seat occupancy sensor failure triggering "Service Required" airbag system alert. September 2024: fault code RCM a056: Tesla repaired this issue under the Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty (5 years, 60,000 miles) at Tesla Service Latham NY (326 Old Niskayuna Rd, Latham NY 12110). January 10, 2026: Fault code RCM_a058. Reported in writing through the Tesla app. Tesla scheduled a service visit for January 13, 2026. Technician assessed the vehicle in person and declined to repair, verbally stating the fault may be a one-time occurrence and to monitor and return if it continued. April 2026: Fault continues recurring. Tesla Service Latham issued estimate #XXX dated April 18, 2026 for $1,076.32 customer pay. Repairs include resistive occupancy sensor replacement and seat back trim cover replacement. This is a safety-critical system governing airbag deployment. Tesla has documented this failure mode in internal service bulletins citing electrical interference in the seat harness as a design issue. Tesla repaired this under warranty, dismissed a related restraint fault for the same seat when reported within months of the repair, and is now billing the owner for a safety system that failed due to a known design defect. A recall is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11732996

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

Both front wheel and rear rims cracked under normal driving conditions. This is the third occurrence of rim failure on this vehicle. The most recent incident occurred in Ewing, NJ near Parkside Ave and Hillcrest Ave. There was no significant impact or major pothole at the time of failure. Multiple wheel failures indicate a potential structural durability issue. Cracked rims pose a serious safety risk due to the possibility of sudden tire pressure loss or blowout while driving. The vehicle has been operated under normal road conditions, and this repeated failure should not occur. The damaged wheels are available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11730669

Incident

Apr 11, 2026

My wife was cleaning the interior and wiped the center main display of her model 3. While doing that somehow she managed to Turn the heat on set the fan/temp controls to HI and popped the front frunk to open. When she exited and closed all doors, it looks like the heat kept running at max for more than 24 hours in the garage. When I entered the garage it was hot in there and inside temp of the car was at 87f. Not sure if there was a fire hazard due to heaters over heat. Just wanted to bring this to your attention.

NHTSA ID

11728751

Incident

Mar 27, 2026