2020 Tesla Model 3 Exterior lighting Problems

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

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

License plate light has a recall

NHTSA ID

11652421

Incident

Mar 27, 2025

I am writing this claim to report a headlight assembly passenger side has failed at 22,000 miles in a Tesla model three 2020 year

NHTSA ID

11621520

Incident

Oct 23, 2024

Subject: Non-Functional Left Rear Tail Light Due to Condensation Build-Up in Tesla Vehicle Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report an issue with my Tesla vehicle concerning the left rear tail light. The tail light has stopped functioning, and I believe this failure is due to condensation build-up within the light assembly. When I previously reported the condensation to Tesla, I was informed that it was normal and not a cause for concern. However, it now seems that this persistent condensation has led to the failure of the tail light. This issue raises significant safety concerns, as fully functional tail lights are essential for safe driving. *Especially during automated self-driving which disregards the alert of a nonfunctional tail light. * I am seeking your assistance in addressing this problem and ensuring that it is properly investigated. I am concerned that other Tesla owners might experience similar issues, which could compromise vehicle safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your guidance on the next steps. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] VIN: [XXX] --- INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11590195

Incident

May 20, 2024

FSD Beta 11.4.9 - A concern documented in NHTSA Complaint ID 11555478 and subsequently remedied with later releases has returned in the current FSD Beta build 2023.44.30.14. When engaging FSD ,the display screen enters an AUTO brightness mode and requires driver intervention to adjust brightness back to the driver's desired setting, as described by the following. When FSD is engaged, display AUTO brightness is activated and the screen adjusts up in brightness from the previous setting, which is often too high. The driver's attention is then taken away from road and traffic ahead while the screen is reset to the driver's preferred setting. In the current build the following anomalies also occur. When FSD is engaged and the display is set to AUTO brightness, if the driver opens the Display menu and adjusts brightness down, that driver setting is held even though the Display brightness is still shown to be in AUTO mode. However, if after activating FSD and the AUTO brightness is engaged, and the brightness is then adjusted down using the left scroll wheel, the display remains in AUTO mode and the screen is automatically adjusted back up to the AUTO set point. This is true when the driver's preferred setting is lower than the AUTO set point, but not true if the driver's preferred setting is higher than the AUTO set point. When the initial driver setting is higher than the AUTO set point, the screen remains at the driver's preferred setting. While these anomalies are not safety concerns, per se, they do require that the driver's attention is diverted to resetting the desired display brightness. If, as if often the case, FSD is disengaged and then reengaged, the process described above is repeated. In the course of a 30 minute drive this can require that the driver adjust screen brightness multiple times, sometimes repeating the adjustment process within minutes after prior adjustment.

NHTSA ID

11572855

Incident

Feb 20, 2024

FSD Beta Firmware Version 2023.27.7. -- When operating with FSD Beta in control of the vehicle, the turn signal is activated and the appropriate left or right side blind spot video is brought upon the driver's display automatically. This works perfectly for city street lane changes and turns at intersections or driveways, etc. When operating on a controlled access highway the systems works in the same manner, activating the turn signal and displaying the blind spot video on the driver's display when changing lanes and exiting the highway. However, the turn signal is not activated and the blind spot video is not displayed on the driver's instrumentation when first entering a controlled access highway. This is the one exception where the driver is required to activate the turn signal while FSD Beta is in control, and seems like an oversight or 'bug'. However, it might be by design, in which case the intent that the driver is required to activate the signal indicating the vehicle's merge has not, to my knowledge, been communicated to the driver as the one exception to the otherwise automatic operation of the turn signal and blind spot video display while the vehicle is under FSD Beta's control.

NHTSA ID

11555494

Incident

Nov 16, 2023

Activating FSD Beta Version 2023.27.7 switches the Display brightness to AUTO and to a brightness that is higher then the level set by the driver. In a darkened vehicle at night the Auto setting was too bright and a distraction to safe driving at night. I then spent 2-3 seconds with my attention away from the road ahead as I reset the brightness on the display screen to the comfortable level. After disengaging FSD Beta the display remains at the brightness level set buy the driver. The next time FSD Beta is activated the display brightness is once again set to AUTO and the distracting process of taking the display out of AUTO and adjusting the brightness to a level comfortable to the driver must be repeated. Activating FSD Beta puts the High beams into AUTO and allows the system to use the high beams when the Vision system requires it. This is excellent and works well. The display brightness is a driver preference and adjusting the display brightness is not needed for the vision system to operate effectively and should remain set at the driver's preferred setting so as to no be too bright and so the driver does not need to repeatedly adjust the brightness each time FSD Beta is activated.

NHTSA ID

11555478

Incident

Nov 16, 2023

I was driving to work on the morning of February 24th 2023 and it was raining. After some time, and while on the freeway, I noticed that my low beam headlamps icon (green telltale) on the center display was not showing. As I always drive with lights in AUTO, and since it was raining (windshield wipers were activated automatically), I expected the headlights to turn on automatically. I worried that I would not be seen well by other drivers, and had to navigate to the controls on the center display and switch the headlights from AUTO to ON manually. The headlights then turned on (I assume, since I couldn't see indications on whether they were on or off on the outside, but the green icon did appear after I pressed the "ON" button). Given that it was raining outside, relatively dark, and the windshield wipers were on, I would expect the headlights to be activated while in the AUTO mode. I have never had issues with this before, and wonder if this came from a software update. The switch to go from auto to manual lights isn't very easy to reach from the driver seat so I would expect the auto mode to work well so this situation doesn't have to happen.

NHTSA ID

11508942

Incident

Feb 24, 2023

Recall 21v-00d was registered DEC 2021, notice said waiting for parts. It's been OVER 12 months and no parts yet? Also, the phone number Tesla has listed on the recall notice and their recall info on your website goes to a self-service site that states to use your Tesla app to schedule a repair so there is no way of contacting the company directly to find out about the status of the recall.

NHTSA ID

11499378

Incident

Dec 29, 2022

This cocksucker blasts oncoming traffic with DISCO HIGHBEAMS every single fucking time there's a lonely oncoming car on the highway. Someone's gonna shoot my ass for blasting them repeatedly with highbeams. Because autosteer is connected to auto highbeams, I can't turn it off unless I turn autosteer off and drive like a 1995 peasant.

NHTSA ID

11491852

Incident

Oct 31, 2022

Tesla issues an update to software that forces drivers to go through a jumble of menus to do important tasks like turning on defrosters and windshield wipers. These used to be one touch items on the home screen, but now require drivers to take their eyes off the road for a dangerous amount of time.

NHTSA ID

11445034

Incident

Dec 25, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TESLA MODEL 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT. DUE TO THE FAILURE, CONDENSATION FORMED INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT SOCKET WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT TO BE DIM. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED A CONCERN THAT THE ELECTRICAL CHARGING PORT WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE TAILLIGHT REPLACED, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID

11327846

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

4,000 mi

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 VERY SCARY IT HAPPENED TO ME AND I COULD NOT PRESS THE BREAK PEDAL COMPLETELY DOWN. AND REGARDING THE LIGHTS MY CAR HAS FOG LIGHTS INSTALLED BUT I'M UNABLE TO TURN THEM ON BECAUSE ACCORDING TO TESLA SUPPOSEDLY I DID NOT PAY FOR THEM BUT THEY ARE INSTALLED ON THE CAR AND THEY DON'T WANT TO ALLOW ME TO TURN THEM ON BECAUSE ITS CONTROLLED VIA SOFTWARE. THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY THING BECAUSE IF THEY ARE INSTALLED ON THE CAR I SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THEM BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS COULD PUT US THE DRIVERS IN A HAZARDOUS CONDITION IN FOG OR OTHER LOW VISIBLY CONDITIONS UNNECESSARILY.

NHTSA ID

11300192

Incident

Jan 16, 2020

Mileage

5 mi