2019 Tesla Model 3 Forward collision avoidance Problems
- Complaints
- 170about this part
- Share
- 27%of 620 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 26,155miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 170 complaints about the forward collision avoidance of the 2019 Tesla Model 3, 27% of the 620 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 26,155 miles. 11 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My son was driving on the golden gate bridge when the auto pilot applied the brakes. He said a traffic cone appeared on the screen. There was no traffic cone or any other object in the road. This issue caused an accident behind him because of the sudden brake application. This also happened to me while driving on the freeway. I had the car on cruise control. All of a sudden the brakes were automatically applied without anything in the road.”
NHTSA complaint #11388392, filed 2021-01, 19,000 miles“White block appeared on screen, would not clear. Blocked visibility of any displays under the block, including gear selector, speed, energy status, turn signals, most of any other display, such as maps, camera display. Block remained when we left the car, and returned. Only could clear w/ display reset, which I uncovered once I returned home and looked online. White block did not appear to impact driving, but obscured basically every driving feedback you'd expect from a dashboard.”
NHTSA complaint #11384253, filed 2020-12, 15,329 miles“Since nhtsa recommended changes, the assist driver require more input to confirm I am paying attention and is distracting me from paying attention to surroundings. For example proir to the vehicle being safer I was able to focus my attention on immediate risk but possible risk that were greater than 12 seconds ahead of me. The vehicle was safer prior to the recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11568761, filed 2024-01“I was utilizing Tesla's self-driving feature and while traveling at about 75mph, the vehicle slammed on the braked on three different occasions for no reason. Fortunately, on all occasions, no vehicles were anywhere near me. There were no warning signs and this is the first occurrence. I have not utilized cruise control or the self-driving function, since.”
NHTSA complaint #11504364, filed 2023-01“When I drive under bridges during the daytime, the vehicle will alert and in many cases brake the car. Can be very repeatable in my experience on my commute. Has happened on nearly every single different software version I had on the car over the last several years. Used to always report the 'bug' to tesla but they never did anything about it”
NHTSA complaint #11467443, filed 2022-06Related recalls
- 22V063000Feb 4, 2022Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played…Covers: Tesla Model 3 2017–2022, Model X 2020–2022, Model S 2020–2022 +1 more
- 21V846000Oct 29, 2021Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A…Covers: Tesla Model 3 2017–2021, Model S 2017–2021, Model X 2017–2021 +1 more
Forward collision avoidance: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 24% |
| 2025 | 30 | 25% |
| 2024 | 49 | 22% |
| 2023 | 179 | 42% |
| 2022 | 535 | 69% |
| 2021 | 411 | 61% |
| 2020 | 157 | 35% |
| 2019 | 170 | 27% |
| 2018 | 203 | 20% |
| 2017 | 8 | 30% |
Other parts of the 2019 Tesla Model 3
92 complaintsAir bags
88 complaintsSuspension
82 complaintsOther or unknown
81 complaintsVehicle speed control
71 complaintsLane departure
70 complaintsBrakes
63 complaintsSeat belts
57 complaintsSteering
54 complaintsSeats
47 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
34 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2019 Tesla Model 3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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