2022 Tesla Model 3 brakes problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 6, 2026COAirbagsBrakesSteering

   "Subject vehicle (2022 Tesla Model 3, VIN: [XXX]) was deployed for commercial rideshare passenger transportation by fleet operator Hertz/Uber with active catastrophic life-safety system failures. Onboard Tesla Service Mode telemetry confirmed: (1) Restraints Control Module (RCM) is powered OFF with status 00, leaving primary front and knee airbags and seatbelt pretensioners completely inoperative during public commercial transit; (2) Master Cylinder Hydraulic Brake Pressure…

   NHTSA complaint #11769364 · source
2. Filed Sep 3, 2025CABrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   Tesla Model 3 while using the “FSD” or auto pilot mode will do what’s called “phantom breaking” with its emergency breaking system. This is very scary and has almost caused more accidents than preventing them in my experience. Tesla had not addressed or fixed this issue even with their constant software updates. How is this FSD considered legal I wonder.

   NHTSA complaint #11684673 · source
3. Filed Aug 9, 2025CACrashTowedBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   I pulled up to a red light in a protected left turn lane. My car is set to use regenerative braking and hold/not roll once stopped. I felt my car roll forward a bit, which shouldn't happen when these settings are on. I quickly checked my rearview mirror, assuming someone had hit me from behind to cause me to roll forward. No one was behind me. I hit my brake and the car suddenly accelerated at full throttle speed, I would guess, into the intersection, despite the light being…

   NHTSA complaint #11679584 · source
4. Filed Jun 17, 2025ILBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   I was traveling northbound on [XXX} in Sugar Grove, IL with the traffic aware cruise control on. As I passed under [XXX] the car braked heavily for no reason. No cars in the area...thankfully. I could have easily been rear-ended. It has done this on more than one occasion at this location. I filed a "bug-report" via the right hand button on the steering wheel. I was also traveling [XXX] near Lasalle-Peru with the cruise control on at about 80 mph when the vehicle suddenly…

   NHTSA complaint #11667444 · source
5. Filed May 11, 2025CABrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   When the vehicle is set to regenerative braking mode, lifting off the accelerator pedal causes the car to decelerate significantly. However, in many cases, the brake lights do not illuminate during this process. This could potentially create a safety risk, as drivers behind may not realize the car is slowing down and may not respond in time. tesla

   NHTSA complaint #11660263 · source
6. Filed May 4, 2025CACrashBrakesAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   Wy wife and I drove our Tesla Model 3 from Palo Alto, CA to San Francisco downtown, to meet friends. I was the driver, and my wife sat on the passenger seat. The weather was clear, and the pavement was dry. I did not engage auto-pilot features during the entire trip. The car condition was normal with no signs of error or warning. I made a right turn onto [XXX] from [XXX] Shortly after I completed the turn, the car unexpectedly lost control. Without any prior warnings, it…

   NHTSA complaint #11658826 · source
7. Filed May 3, 2025NVBrakesAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   If you are on a hill and you accidently press both the brake an accelerator, the car will fall to neutral and free roll. In whatever direction is downhill. I have big feet. Happened again to me, I bumped the brake pedal (but not enough to apply the brakes to stop) when attempting to pull forwards slowly and my car beeped with the "both pedals detected pressed" alert. and then it free rolled backwards (because I was on an uphill). THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR…

   NHTSA complaint #11658650 · source
8. Filed Jan 8, 2025ORBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I'm not quite sure what component was affected, some module of some sort got water in or near it that wasn't supposed to. It is available for inspection. Yes my safety and others was out at risk. Yes the problem was fixed by service center supposedly. Yes the car has been inspected by the manufacturer. There were no warnings. What happened was on 12/29 I was driving the car and out of absolutely nowhere a bunch of warnings came up including loss of ABS, any and all safety…

   NHTSA complaint #11634987 · source
9. Filed Jan 5, 2025CACrash1 injuredTowedBrakesOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint •Vehicle Information: •Make: Tesla •Model: Model 3 •Year: 2022 •Summary of Incident: On November 28,2024, I experienced an incident involving my 2022 Tesla Model 3 while it was stationary just outside my garage. I accidentally pressed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake. The car surged forward and crashed into the back wall of my garage. Despite Tesla’s advertised safety features, such as Collision Avoidance Assist and Automatic…

   NHTSA complaint #11634158 · source
10. Filed Dec 16, 2024ILBrakesElectrical SystemSteering

    I was driving on the highway when the touchscreen lit up with multiple error messages including: - Steering assist reduced (Steering may require increased effort) - Traction control disabled (Drive with caution) - Stability control disabled (Drive with caution) - Parking brake functions degraded (Parking brake may not apply or release) - Lane Departure Avoidance features unavailable (Features may be restored on next drive) Also, the speedometer changed to 0 (while we were…

    NHTSA complaint #11630921 · source
11. Filed Sep 16, 2024WABrakesOther / UnknownSteering

    All has been reported in writing to Tesla Corporate and Tesla Service Center SoDo Seattle, WA. Has not been repaired to date, with multiple attempts to bring car in for service: Emergency brake failed to engage on two occasions, [XXX] it was first reported that the car lost control of steering and emergency brake did not engage. Second time on [XXX]; car would not shift into any gear. Tesla Roadside said to have it towed (we did), Tesla had car for two weeks and did not…

    NHTSA complaint #11614883 · source
12. Filed Jul 28, 2024CABrakesElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

    Tesla has confirmed that the firmware of the high-voltage controller of the Model 3 is known to occasionally go "missing in action", causing regenerative braking to entirely cease to function and the driving performance of the car to drop considerably. This was expected to be resolved in a firmware update, but the problem continues. The service representative advised that they (Tesla employees) are not allowed to refer to the problem as a defect and instead must use the…

    NHTSA complaint #11604984 · 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