2017 Tesla Model 3 Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 11%of 27 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the brakes of the 2017 Tesla Model 3, 11% of the 27 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My tesla model 3 , parking break do not release. so i can not go front or back!!! i thing they had recall about that long time ago. it happend every month once. you get stuck for 2 hrs or so and then it get atomatically release!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11488259, filed 2022-10“Essentially all of the safety and convenience features repeatedly shut off. Lane departure, autopilot, regenerative braking, VSC, emergency braking, airbags, traction control, automatic vehicle hold, stability control, and a few others stopped working on multiple occasions. This definitely put my life and my family's life at risk. The problems were reproduced and confirmed by the dealer and the vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer. All of the warning lamps and messages only popped up when the failure occurred. Tesla initially fixed all of these issues by doing a wheel alignment. …”
NHTSA complaint #11446684, filed 2022-01“Experiencing unexpected braking on freeway while on cruise control. Car brakes for apparently no reason. There is no warning, vehicles in sight, on clear sunny day. Has braked up to 3 times/hr on two different days on road trip. No indicators say that anything is wrong with the car or its cameras. It is jarring and scary for both driver and passenger. Collecting info for Tesla service appt in August. Read info of phantom braking for newer Teslas. We drove this same route in this car in summer of 2019 and didn’t experience phantom braking.”
NHTSA complaint #11473378, filed 2022-07Related service bulletins
- 11033173May 8, 2026On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which may result in loss of brake fluid. Loss of brake fluid will result in a customer facing…
- 11029583Feb 11, 2026On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which may result in loss of brake fluid. Loss of brake fluid will result in a customer facing…
- 10186277Dec 22, 2020Certain Model 3 vehicles may have sustained damage to the Electric Park Brake (EPB) housing during the vehicle assembly process.
- 10169041Nov 25, 2019Some Model 3 vehicles are equipped with rear brake dust shields that can trap road debris between the dust shield and brake rotor, causing loud grinding noises.
- 10151607Nov 19, 2018Some Model 3 vehicles are equipped with rear brake dust shields that can trap road debris between the dust shield and brake rotor, causing loud grinding noises.
- 10142982Jan 31, 2018On some Model 3 vehicles, the brake booster clevis pin might make a knock or rattle sound when the brakes are used. Vehicle braking is not affected.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 13 | 11% |
| 2024 | 5 | 2% |
| 2023 | 56 | 13% |
| 2022 | 169 | 22% |
| 2021 | 126 | 19% |
| 2020 | 48 | 11% |
| 2019 | 63 | 10% |
| 2018 | 89 | 9% |
| 2017 | 3 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2017 Tesla Model 3
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsLane departure
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 Tesla Model 3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology