2018 Tesla Model 3 acceleration & cruise control problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 6, 2026ALElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   While my wife was driving, the high-voltage battery failed and the car went into reduced power/limp mode. Tesla later determined that coolant had gotten into the high-voltage battery and caused it to fail. My main concern is that we had no warning that there was a coolant leak or that coolant was getting into the battery. There was no low-coolant warning or anything telling my wife that there was a serious problem developing. By the time the car started giving high-voltage…

   NHTSA complaint #11762441 · source
2. Filed Nov 20, 2025NJAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   I am reporting a major safety defect that began immediately after Tesla installed the Full Self-Driving (FSD) hardware upgrade on my vehicle. After paying $2,000 for FSD and receiving the hardware retrofit, the car now instantly veers left toward oncoming traffic whenever FSD is engaged. This began immediately after Tesla’s installation. Before this service, my vehicle operated safely. I have contacted Tesla Cherry Hill Service Center in New Jersey multiple times. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11700524 · source
3. Filed Oct 24, 2025IABrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Repeatedly and randomly, with cruise control (not FSD) engaged, the car would brake, sometimes aggressively. The last time, it braked so hard the tires or brakes squealed and the car swerved slightly before I was able to regain control. This was on the freeway (in Colorado, if I remember correctly) while I was cruising at 70 or 75 MPH. I decided that that was the last time I would use cruise control; it was just not safe. I had an appointment on October 22 to take the car in…

   NHTSA complaint #11695523 · source
4. Filed Oct 17, 2025FLElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlVisibility & Wipers

   The center display (Vehicle Pad) on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 went completely blank while driving. This eliminated access to all vital driving information including the speedometer, gear selection, and safety indicators. Safety Concern: Without visible speed data and wipers the vehicle cannot be operated safely or legally. I attempted to reboot the system and power cycle the vehicle but the screen still failed.

   NHTSA complaint #11694004 · source
5. Filed Dec 28, 2024CACrashBrakesFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I was at a stoplight behind a Toyota Tacoma. I must have stopped around 8 feet behind it. I was not using FSD and I was not one-pedal driving. My foot was on the brake. I must have been at a complete stop for approximately 10 seconds when my Model 3 suddenly accelerated full throttle on its own and rear ended the Tacoma, directly hitting its trailer hitch, causing my car's driver-side airbags to deploy. When it happened, the light was still red and my foot was still on the…

   NHTSA complaint #11632896 · source
6. Filed Dec 17, 2024WAElectrical SystemOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I’m not exactly sure what’s wrong, the screen keeps failing on my car. It’s been taken to Tesla to service this issue 4 times. With the most expensive repair costing $2,200. Its poses a safety hazard because when the screen fails. You can’t see anything, speed, gear. You can’t adjust windshield wipers, seat or mirror positions.

   NHTSA complaint #11631183 · source
7. Filed Sep 16, 2024FLDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The MCU in my 2018 Tesla Model 3 failed after a software update, rendering several key safety features inoperable, including the car’s cameras and Autopilot functions. The vehicle currently has 16,600 miles and had previously received an MCU replacement in 2022. This most recent failure occurred during a firmware update, which got stuck at 50%. The Tesla Service Center confirmed that the MCU needs replacement again, but I was not given clear diagnostic logs or evidence of a…

   NHTSA complaint #11614871 · source
8. Filed Sep 8, 2024TXDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

   On 9/6/2024 I was driving on I-10 E going about 70 mph in the left lane. I had engaged the cruise control but not the Autopilot because I’ve had dangerous experiences with the Autopilot phantom breaking and misinterpreting cracks in the road as lane markers and dangerously changing lanes. So even though Inoaid thousands of dollars for Autopilot I never use it. So I was driving approaching a big rig in the lane to the left of mine and the sun was low in the sky casting a…

   NHTSA complaint #11613360 · source
9. Filed Aug 20, 2024CADriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   I recently took my car in for a recall for the trunk wiring harness and have never had any major issues since I purchased it in 2018. Since replacing the recalled harness, I’m starting to receive several alerts from my driver assistance system (emergency brakes, camera failure). I called a service tech who mentioned there’s either a failed camera or a failed wiring harness. Looking online, I was shocked to see hundreds of other owners with a 2018 model 3 also experiencing…

   NHTSA complaint #11609736 · source
10. Filed Jul 2, 2024KSBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

    While driving on the highway with FSD on, the car severely amalfunctioned with sudden deceleration at 4 separate ocassions. At 68 mph when changing lanes, the car suddenly decelerated. There were several cars behind us and it could have been a major multi car collision. At all 4 ocassions, I immediately took over control on steering and acceleration, thus avoiding any accident. This problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center yet.…

    NHTSA complaint #11598431 · source
11. Filed Jun 16, 2024OHDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

    Autopilot FSD 12.3.6 in Ohio is interpreting state route signs as speed limit signs. In Milford Ohio, the speed limit is 25mph. While traveling on [XXX] each state route sign had the max speed jump to 50mph. Then back to 25 at the next actual speed limit sign. An [XXX] sign was interpreted as 20mph. Errors is speed are dangerous in either the car going too fast or risking a rear end collision by incorrectly slowing down. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF…

    NHTSA complaint #11594658 · source
12. Filed Apr 16, 2024MDCrash1 injuredOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

    Tesla Model 3 autopilot engaged. The car steered itself off the road and into a tree as it was accelerating on a residential street from 8 mph to approx. 30 mph.

    NHTSA complaint #11583340 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology