2023 Tesla Model 3 Driver assistance Problems

Two separate incidents occurred on July 10th and July 12th 2026 involving adaptive cruise control. While adaptive cruise control was engaged my car slammed on the brakes for no reason. There was nothing in the roadway to cause abrupt braking. The second time it occurred my car was close to being rear ended by a vehicle driving behind me. I took the car which is still under warranty to Tesla who confirmed there is a known firmware issue. No time frame was provided as to when the issue will be fixed.

NHTSA ID

11755758

Incident

Jul 10, 2026

Whilst driving on highways which feature multiple speed limits - eg. 70 cars, 65 Trucks, 60 Buses. If full self driving more or when in adaptive cruise control - the car systems fail to recognize the restriction linked to the lower speed limits. As a result, you can be driving on Full Self Drive at 75mpm, the car sees a 65 followed by a 60 speed limit (neither applicable to cars), but the car brakes hard dropping the speed from 75 to 62 almost instantly and, on more than one occasion, a closely following car has almost collided with me. Until such time as the Tesla system can recognize the 'sub text' on a speed limit - the FSD and Adaptive cruise should not be certified. I also drive a BMW i4 and this reads all signs correctly, only applying those applicable to a car to the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11754804

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

My 2023 Tesla Model 3 (VIN [XXX]) has a recurring safety defect in its driver-assistance system involving two unsafe behaviors. First, “phantom braking”: while driving with Autopilot/FSD engaged, the vehicle decelerates suddenly and without warning when there is no obstacle or threat in its path, creating a rear-end collision risk. This was first reported within the vehicle’s warranty period and has recurred. Second, on the most recent occurrence, with a Tesla service technician riding along to witness the issue, Full Self Driving (Supervised) failed to proceed safely through the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX]. The vehicle stopped mid-turn while another vehicle approached from the opposite direction. I had to take manual control to complete the turn and avoid a hazard. The Tesla technician witnessed this directly, and the service summary states FSD “did not proceed through the intersection properly.” The vehicle has been to a Tesla service center twice for this defect. It has not been resolved. The behavior occurs without warning and is unpredictable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11747048

Incident

May 7, 2026

I was driving today in California, to TopGolf. I had to cross a railway crossing around [XXX] I think, or [XXX] - one of those 2, between [XXX] and [XXX] pm.. I was using Tesla's FSD driving to go on a local road. I was not distracted or occupied - the vehicle was going at a fairly high speed like maybe 35 or so, and in a couple of seconds, it broke the red and white safety gate at a railway crossing, inspite of it being down and the train being on the tracks - I WAS IN SHOCK. The car completely missed the red and white gate, and just blew past it, damaging my windshield completely to smithereens and throwing glass all over the car. I was in such SHOCK and TRAUMA that I literaly wanted to exit the car and sit down somewhere, but i gathered my composure and drove quickly to the nearest safest place I could stop, and got into some office parking garage. I then called the cops and reported it. This was such a shock, and thank the Almighty God that I wasnt hurt and that the train didn't just hit me. This HAS to be recalled, and there is no way this should be allowed on the roads. I used FSD a Lot and i will never use it again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11746850

Incident

Jun 26, 2026

A fatal crash occurred involving a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The vehicle departed the roadway, impacted a guardrail, struck a utility pole on the driver’s side, rolled down an embankment, and came to rest upright. The crash resulted in catastrophic intrusion into the driver’s compartment and a fatal injury to the driver. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the crashworthiness and occupant protection performance of this vehicle, including the structural integrity of the occupant compartment, airbag deployment and effectiveness, and the performance of any advanced driver assistance systems, including collision warnings and automatic emergency braking. I am also requesting review and preservation of all available vehicle data, including Event Data Recorder (EDR) information, vehicle telemetry, driver assistance system status, warning notifications, braking data, steering data, and any other information recorded before and during the crash. At this time, I do not know whether a vehicle defect or system malfunction occurred. My concern is whether the vehicle’s safety systems and occupant protection systems functioned as intended and whether additional vehicle data may help determine if any safety-related issues contributed to the severity of the crash.

NHTSA ID

11746034

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

The vehicle was purchased pre-owned directly from Tesla. On the day of pickup and five days later, while operating on Full Self-Driving (FSD), the vehicle phantom-braked abruptly and then dangerously accelerated through a solid red light into cross-traffic intersections. The driver had to forcefully override the vehicle to prevent a crash. Tesla Service Center was notified but dismissed the issue, performing only a camera recalibration and charging a fee. Following the service appointment, the red-light running behavior stopped, but the vehicle continues to suffer from aggressive, sudden phantom braking multiple times on every single trip, creating a severe and continuous risk of a rear-end collision on public highways.

NHTSA ID

11745364

Incident

Jun 6, 2026

I am reporting a safety concern involving a Tesla operating with Full Self-Driving Supervised active. On June 5, 2026, at approximately 7:50–7:55 AM Pacific Time, the vehicle was being driven with FSD Supervised engaged. The vehicle was in a turning maneuver when the driver mistakenly applied the accelerator. Vehicle data provided by Tesla appears to show ACTIVE_FSD shortly before the incident, a turning/steering angle, accelerator-pedal input/override, FSD becoming unavailable, and then crash-related/braking/tire-pressure signals shortly afterward. I am not claiming the vehicle accelerated on its own. The data appears to show driver accelerator input. My concern is that while FSD Supervised was active and the vehicle was already turning, the system allowed a strong accelerator override that rapidly worsened the situation. In this case, the vehicle went over a curb/sidewalk area and sustained significant damage. The safety concern I am reporting is whether FSD Supervised should better limit, warn, or manage strong accelerator override during low-speed turning maneuvers, especially where the vehicle may leave the roadway, cross a curb, or enter a sidewalk area. I believe this involved driver error as a mistake pedal acceleration, but the system design may have allowed that error to create a more dangerous outcome.

NHTSA ID

11742926

Incident

Jun 5, 2026

-I was driving down into an indoor basement level garage very slowly as there is a steep incline. It descends from street level to basement level within a distance of approximately 30 to 35 ft. At the end of the incline is a sharp curve to the right, followed by a sharp left turn to proceed straight. -While on the incline, the car was slowing to a stop. I gently tapped the accelerator to keep it moving. -The car suddenly lunged forward, rapidly accelerating. The acceleration was not consistent with the amount of accelerator input I applied. -I quickly steered right to avoid hitting the wall, then immediately steered left to avoid hitting parked cars and garage columns. -I braked as hard as possible, pumping it. The brake pedal was stiff. The car kept moving forward despite my efforts and did not stop until I crashed into a parked car at the end of the garage. -My son was in the front passenger seat. We both had seatbelts on. Other than whiplash, there were no major injuries. -There were no warnings, messages or any indications that a problem was present prior to the incident. -There was no one in the parked vehicle that was struck and no other people in the garage. -My cell phone automatically alerted emergency services. The police responded, and I reported the incident.

NHTSA ID

11742761

Incident

May 18, 2026

I was traveling east on I-215 in [XXX] , exiting on [XXX] . I was in the RH lane, signaling to turn Rt. A small commercial van was in the two lanes Left of me with no turn signal on. Suddenly the van began coming into my lane. I turned my steering wheel slightly to the Rt to avoid a collision. Suddenly the autocorrect turned my wheel sharply Rt, then sharply Left. The car was rocking so sharply I feared a rollover or collision. The blind spot camera on the driver’s side did not pick up the van on my Left. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11738836

Incident

May 19, 2026

While driving at highway speed under normal operating conditions with the accelerator engaged and no braking input, the vehicle suddenly experienced a sustained 6-minute-12-second ADAS/EDR degradation cascade. This included OVERHEAT_PROTECT_FANONLY activation, repeated AEB_CAN_STATE_UNAVAILABLE toggling, FAULT 14.0 brake-signal mismatch, impossible negative brake pressures, and 27+ ABS/EBD/ESP fault-lamp cycles. No warning lamps, messages, or alerts appeared prior to the cascade. The degradation resulted in loss of braking assist and stability control functions, causing two collision events (right-side T-bone impact followed by curb strike) despite no driver error or input. This failure mode matches the exact ADAS/EDR degradation pattern under active NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA26002. Full technical details, timestamps, fault logs, sampling gaps, and EDR data are provided in the attached narrative PDF and supporting CSV files.

NHTSA ID

11732616

Incident

Jan 6, 2026

The Full Self Driving (Supervised) system (FSD(S)) failed by running a red light. Video is available for inspection upon request. My safety was not at risk - this time - because the system waited until there was no cross traffic to resume motion, even though the light was still red. I have not tried to reproduce the problem for a dealer since it happens infrequently. (This is the third time in perhaps 6 months of subscription to TESLA's FSD(S). TESLA has not informed me of any inspections they have performed, even though they have been notified through the channel they provide. There was no indication from the car that it perceived any failure. It stopped only when I applied the brake. Prior symptoms include two previous incidents of stopping for a red traffic light, waiting until there was no cross traffic, then resuming motion while the traffic light was red. This is the first time I thought to save dash cam video.

NHTSA ID

11726564

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

An incident that occurred while Full Self-Driving (FSD) was engaged. During the drive, the vehicle unexpectedly steered toward the curb while making a right turn. I was actively monitoring the vehicle and immediately took control of the steering, but the vehicle still made contact with the curb. After the incident, the vehicle developed steering misalignment, vibration while driving, and abnormal noise, which suggests possible suspension or wheel damage. Since FSD was engaged at the time, I would appreciate it if Tesla could review the vehicle logs and investigate whether there was any system malfunction or unexpected behavior from the FSD system.

NHTSA ID

11721846

Incident

Mar 3, 2026

In autopilot mode on 1/28/26 the vehicle without any warnings went through a red light causing an accident. A week prior it failed to adjust speed in a 35 mile per hour zone maintaining 71.

NHTSA ID

11720413

Incident

Jan 28, 2026

The vehicle’s brakes did not work, automatic emergency brakes and collision warning both did not work. I pressed on the brake for about 5 seconds but the brakes did not work, resulting in a collision with the car in front. Everything is available for inspection if needed. Both my safety and the driver of the vehicle in front of me was at risk. The problem has not been confirmed yet. The vehicle is currently at a shop, waiting inspection. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11697065

Incident

Oct 24, 2025

On August 7th, 2025 at around 8 AM in the morning, my vehicles mobile phone car key was in-operable and I was unable to get in the car which led me to trouble shoot how to fix this issue with the car. Upon researching I was directed by Tesla to directly complete a soft reset of the vehicle holding down both buttons on the vehicle once I was inside, and pushing on the brake pedal. Upon completion, my vehicle booted up and I realized that all camera systems were down, my navigation systems were down, my safety features were down, my auto pilot, lane keeping assist and auto brake were down, sensors were down and I was no longer able to pre heat my battery to charge my vehicle due to issues with the navigation. I then took the vehicle to Tesla Service Center Irvine where a service advisor quoted me 2900 for a new ECU and Bolts and told me that I needed to replace my whole unit and that I was to cover the cost of the repair even though my vehicle is only 2 years of age and this failure is due to the quality control and software of the vehicle. I have been driving around a vehicle with absolutely no safety features whatsoever such as no cameras, sensors, auto braking, or full self driving due to this ECU failure and I fear for my safety and well being while driving this car.

NHTSA ID

11694965

Incident

Aug 7, 2025

The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the third floor of a parking garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to full speed unintendedly, and the steering wheel and the brake pedal were inoperable, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a wall and crashed into the vehicle in front, and the vehicle stopped. No further information was available. No warning lights were illuminated. The front driver's side air bag deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

NHTSA ID

11692370

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

Mileage

66,000 mi

The Tesla ran a red light on two separate occasions while in full self driving mode. The first time it went through without me being able to intervene. Given it had done it before, the second time I was able to stop it. Both times occurred at the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] . It has not done it at other intersections. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11692335

Incident

Sep 3, 2025

During driving, Tesla car spontaneously stated multiple active safety features and regenerative braking were no longer available and stopped working during driving with multiple warnings appearing. Driver safety at risk during this as well as others safety due to the lack of functioning. The car was taken to Tesla service center and was explained that front lower lateral suspension links were damaged by "impact" although the car was never in an impact or accident preventing proper alignment and functioning of the car. The part has been since repaired and currently undergoing further investigation for warranty dispute.

NHTSA ID

11691087

Incident

Aug 14, 2025

While driving my Tesla equipped with Autopilot/Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, I experienced an unexpected and abrupt braking event. A vehicle had entered the center turn lane and had already cleared my lane, posing no obstruction to my path. Despite this, my Tesla suddenly applied the brakes without warning, causing a rapid deceleration that could have led to a rear-end collision had another vehicle been following closely. There were no visible hazards, warning messages, or alerts prior to the braking. The incident occurred in clear daylight conditions on a dry road, and the vehicle in the center turn lane was stationary or turning away from my lane. This appears to be a case of phantom braking, possibly due to misclassification of the adjacent vehicle or overcautious object detection by the vehicle’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This issue has occurred more than once in similar scenarios, and I believe it poses a serious safety risk. I have not yet had the issue inspected by Tesla or a service center, but I am submitting this report to raise awareness and request investigation into the reliability of Tesla’s braking logic in these situations.

NHTSA ID

11689066

Incident

Sep 22, 2025

On [XXX], my 2023 Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [XXX] ) suddenly accelerated on its own and the brakes failed to respond despite repeated pressing. To avoid hitting other vehicles, I turned into a property driveway and struck a tree. The airbags deployed. This was a case of sudden unintended acceleration combined with complete brake failure, creating a serious safety hazard. Forward Collision Warning also did not prevent the impact. A police report was filed by the Dekalb County Police Department, GA, USA (Report #[XXX], Case #[XXX]), which specifically documented brake failure as the cause of the accident. The report also notes that the driver was injured by the airbag and that the vehicle had to be towed from the scene. A copy of the police report can be provided upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11688608

Incident

Sep 18, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the front trunk opened inadvertently, blocking the visibility of the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had recurred several times upon shifting to drive(D), which required the contact to exit the vehicle and manually close the trunk. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla service center and to Tesla Service Sunnyvale(680 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087), where unknown repairs were performed several times; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of the garage, the contact was unaware that the garage door was closed, and the vehicle hit the garage door. The contact did not recall whether the rearview camera activated; however, the contact stated that the rearview camera pedestrian warning alert failed to engage prior to the incident. The contact stated that the garage door and the rear end of the vehicle were damaged. The manufacturer was contacted through the Tesla mobile app and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a Tesla service center for service. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10.

NHTSA ID

11686613

Incident

Dec 22, 2023

Mileage

10 mi

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle jerked hard with several alerts for the "Traction Control, ABS, Lane Departure feature displayed. Additionally, the Stability Control System was disabled, and the message “Brake Hold Unavailable” was displayed. The contact stated that the “Automatic Emergency Braking Unavailable" and an orange triangle with an exclamation light were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,380.

NHTSA ID

11685682

Incident

Sep 7, 2025

Mileage

48,380 mi

Vehicle Information: 2023 Tesla Model 3 VIN: [XXX] Incident Date: [XXX] Location: [XXX] Summary of the Problem: On [XXX], while Autopilot was active, my 2023 Tesla Model 3 suddenly accelerated without driver input. I was pressing the brake pedal, but the vehicle surged forward uncontrollably, struck a fence and a tree, and caused major property damage. Both I and my wife (passenger) required urgent care treatment after the crash. Details / Safety Defect Evidence: •Tesla’s own raw logs show the accelerator spiked to 100% immediately before impact. •Brake pressure was recorded prior to impact, proving the brake pedal was applied. •Despite this, Tesla’s official Vehicle Data Report falsely states “manual brake not applied.” •Autopilot did not disengage when the brake was pressed, contrary to Tesla’s design claims. •The vehicle logged a “Near-Deploy Collision” at ~27 mph, yet the airbags did not deploy. Why This Is a Safety Defect: This incident reflects multiple critical failures: 1.Sudden unintended acceleration. 2.Failure of brake-override safety design. 3.Airbag non-deployment in a crash severe enough to trigger “Near-Deploy.” 4.Inaccurate Tesla reporting that conceals braking input. This defect created an extremely dangerous situation that could easily have resulted in fatalities. I am requesting NHTSA investigate Tesla vehicles for unintended acceleration, brake override failure, and airbag non-deployment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11683817

Incident

Aug 19, 2025

While driving to work on a local road, I approached a red light where there were no vehicles immediately ahead. However, my vehicle unexpectedly steered off the road in front of a construction sign, entering a ditch. Despite my attempts to regain control of the steering and braking systems, I was unsuccessful. The vehicle subsequently stopped automatically on an incline. Fortunately, I avoided a collision with a gas station and intersecting roadway, but sustained damage to my car’s front bumper. Law enforcement and a towing service were contacted to remove the vehicle. I tried calling the dealership almost half day without an answer, then I went to the dealership where they told me that the hardware is fine but they can’t do anything about the possible software issues which leaves me in a situation where I’m nervous to drive the car. I reached out to the company about the accident and didn’t hear back yet from them. I request a thorough investigation into this incident to determine the cause of the unexpected, highly dangerous, autopilot behavior. I am disturbed mentally and emotionally due to the accident. I also require confirmation of the vehicle's roadworthiness and assurance that it is safe to operate before resuming driving.

NHTSA ID

11677921

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

Autopilot (adaptive cruise control) will freak out and slam on the brakes when a motorcycle passes by splitting lanes. This is a serious safety issue as cars and motorcycles behind me may not be able to react in time and cause a rear end collision or into the wall or vehicles next to them. It is impossible to override the braking with the accelerator as it will be too late by the time the car accelerates. Flooring the accelerator is also not a safe option.

NHTSA ID

11676617

Incident

Jul 28, 2025