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Electrical systemPart report

2020 Tesla Model 3 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
42about this part
Share
9%of 452 total for the year
Median mileage
14,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 42 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 Tesla Model 3, 9% of the 452 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 5 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.

“From the moment I drove my brand new Tesla off the lot - the screen - the only way to control anything about the vehicle - would freeze; black out; and take several minutes to reset itself. While in this completely inoperative state: the audio system would emit a high pitch noise; any ability to tell speed; turning signal status; anything was completely impaired; the climate control blasts on high fan a torrent of cold air. …”

NHTSA complaint #11376292, filed 2020-11, 15 miles

“Charging port, plastic tip of one of the charging pins broke off and was still inside the port. It was obstructing the charging handle, not allowing it to fully seat. The car was showing an error message saying there is a problem with the charging cable. I found the obstruction and removed it with a toothpick. The error message went away however one charging pin is now missing its plastic tip. The one I removed from the port was broken and unusable. Car has only 5000 miles on it. This is the same issue noted in another service bulletin that says it only affects 2018 vehicles. …”

NHTSA complaint #11354604, filed 2020-09, 5,286 miles

“While navigating on autopilot on the freeway the car took the intended exit ramp, however never slowed down until I had to intervene. Reminiscent of the characteristics which LED to the recent fatal crash reported over the last week.”

NHTSA complaint #11297817, filed 2020-01, 300 miles

“My Motor Control Unit failed. No reason given by Tesla Service Center. It simply just died. They cannot find a reason, and they also said I didn't do anything to cause the MCU to fail. Service Center agrees this is a rare event. Likely got a really faulty MCU to start with. I bought my car in 2020, so just over 4 years later my MCU died.”

NHTSA complaint #11621654, filed 2024-10

“Car will brake without any warning and with not reason to brake. Many complaints I’ve read online call this phantom braking. It has happened over ten times now and can be extremely dangerous as it will brake the car almost instantly and I have almost been rear ended because of it. Only matter of time before this happens and it results in a wreck.”

NHTSA complaint #11451351, filed 2022-02

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202627%
20252218%
20244621%
20235112%
2022608%
20218012%
2020429%
20199215%
201816816%
201727%

Other parts of the 2020 Tesla Model 3

Forward collision avoidance
157 complaintsOther or unknown
81 complaintsVehicle speed control
69 complaintsBrakes
48 complaintsSteering
47 complaintsSuspension
46 complaintsLane departure
35 complaintsAir bags
30 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsSeats
23 complaintsSeat belts
19 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 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