2020 Tesla Model 3 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 3%of 452 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 2,002miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2020 Tesla Model 3, 3% of the 452 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 2,002 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“So regarding the car brakes they are very hard to fully depress and I believe its because of the regenerative braking. For example when going eat highway speed and you need to press the break pedal hard it literally feels like the car is refusing to let you use the full capacity of the breaks. Its very scary it happened to me and I could not press the break pedal completely down. …”
NHTSA complaint #11300192, filed 2020-01, 5 miles“This cocksucker blasts oncoming traffic with DISCO HIGHBEAMS every single fucking time there's a lonely oncoming car on the highway. Someone's gonna shoot my ass for blasting them repeatedly with highbeams. Because autosteer is connected to auto highbeams, I can't turn it off unless I turn autosteer off and drive like a 1995 peasant.”
NHTSA complaint #11491852, filed 2022-11“Suspension is grinding. I had it replaced once at Tesla and it began grinding again in less than 18 months. I took it to Tesla and was informed the lower control arm failed and the price had more than doubled from the prior replacement. No warning lights have come on regarding this issue. The original replacement was 3/7/2024. I noticed the grinding between 12-18 months later. Also, the rear brake light gets condensation in it somehow. I had noticed this about 1 year ago.”
NHTSA complaint #11754235, filed 2026-08“The wiring in my trunk harness was severed due to the repeated opening and closing of my trunk. This caused my reverse lights to fail and my trunk latch to stop working. This issue is part of a known recall: Campaign 21V-00D. Tesla attempted to fix the issue in 2023 but the poor repair did not work. I took my Tesla to the dealer and they refused to remedy the issue unless I would pay $1300. I persuaded them to lower the feet to $300 but still feel that I should not pay anything because this issue was due to the recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11746953, filed 2026-06“Activating FSD Beta Version 2023.27.7 switches the Display brightness to AUTO and to a brightness that is higher then the level set by the driver. In a darkened vehicle at night the Auto setting was too bright and a distraction to safe driving at night. I then spent 2-3 seconds with my attention away from the road ahead as I reset the brightness on the display screen to the comfortable level. After disengaging FSD Beta the display remains at the brightness level set buy the driver. …”
NHTSA complaint #11555478, filed 2023-11Related recalls
- 26V507000Aug 4, 2026Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The headlight low beams may be too bright and exceed the maximum…Covers: Tesla Model 3 2017–2023, Model Y 2020–2023
Related service bulletins
- 10247400Oct 26, 2023On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat electrical harness, causing the…
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2020 Tesla Model 3
157 complaintsOther or unknown
81 complaintsVehicle speed control
69 complaintsBrakes
48 complaintsSteering
47 complaintsSuspension
46 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsLane departure
35 complaintsAir bags
30 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsSeats
23 complaintsSeat belts
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 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