2022 Tesla Model 3 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the car braking on its own while cruise control, Autopilot or Full Self-Driving is engaged, usually at highway speeds and with nothing visibly in the way. Many of these reports come in the first few thousand miles, and several note that the dealer found nothing wrong or said the behavior was normal. Other recurring reports involve windows moving on their own, the rear camera not showing when reversing, and occasional unintended acceleration or loss of steering or brake assist.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   Phantom braking under cruise control or Autopilot

   • 466 complaints (60%)
   • median 2,900 mi at 0.7 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   While driving with cruise control, Autopilot or Full Self-Driving engaged, owners describe the car slowing or braking sharply even though no vehicle or object is in its path. Some say a warning chime sounds first, others that it happens with no alert at all, and a few report the car braking repeatedly on the same trip or nearly stopping from highway speed. Complaints describe dealers or service centers finding no fault, suggesting a reboot, or telling owners the vehicle is behaving as designed. Mostly reported within the first few thousand miles, typically at highway speeds of 60-80 mph, and some owners describe it as a daily occurrence.

   Recall 23V838000Recall 23V085000

   What to check: Ask the seller which software version the car is running and whether any Autopilot-related updates have been applied. If you can, test cruise control and Autopilot on a highway stretch and note whether the car slows unexpectedly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on a two lane road, I was utilizing Tesla Autopilot to maintain speed and keep the vehicle centered in the lane at 60mph when the vehicle slammed on the brakes for no apparent reason. No error messages, beeps or chimes went off to indicate to me why it was slowing down very quickly. I have had this happen several times in my first 3 months of owning this vehicle and there have been times that the car has slammed on the brakes when another vehicle was following closely which could have resulted in me getting rear-ended. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11472038, filed 2022-07

   “The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced phantom braking while driving at various speeds with the cruise control activated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,235.”

   NHTSA complaint #11468221, filed 2022-06, 4,235 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration and brake response concerns

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the car accelerating on its own, sometimes while the brake pedal was pressed at a stop or while a turn was being made under self-driving, and in some accounts the brakes did not respond as expected. A few reports describe loss of speed control after the car was placed in gear or during parking maneuvers at very low speed. Complaints note that the dealer or manufacturer attributed the events to driver input in some cases. Spread across low and moderate mileage, from under a few hundred miles to around 30,000 miles, often in low-speed parking or turning situations.

   Recall 23V085000Recall 22V037000

   What to check: Check that the car has current software, and confirm the pedal and brake feel during a test drive, including at very low speed. Ask whether any related service visits or software updates are documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owned a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH with the auto-pilot engaged, the vehicle approached another vehicle in traffic from behind and had gotten too close. The contact stated that she depressed the brake pedal to slow down when the vehicle inadvertently accelerated at high speed. The contact steered to the left to avoid rear-end crash with the vehicle directly in front. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11500296, filed 2023-01, 4,400 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH to park at her residence, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and inadvertently veered to the right. The vehicle then crashed into a transformer box in a residential yard and came to a complete stop. The contact had a broken backbone and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it remained unrepaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11482271, filed 2022-08, 1,062 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windows moving on their own

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report door windows lowering or raising without command, sometimes while the car is parked and switched off, and sometimes while driving with a hand near the opening. Some describe windows that fail to close completely, and a few mention being told about a related recall when they brought the car in. Complaints also mention that parts were not available to complete the repair. Usually reported in the first few months of ownership, from a few hundred to about 25,000 miles.

   Recall 22V702000

   What to check: Ask whether the window reversal recall work was completed. On the test drive, open and close each window and check that they stop and reverse when an obstruction is felt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that after having a software update completed on the vehicle, while the defroster was activated, the windshield failed to clear up as needed. The contact stated that the heater also failed to operate as needed. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact learned of a recall for the failure however, the contact was unable to confirm if the VIN was previously included in the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11643931, filed 2025-02, 83,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that within the first week of purchasing the vehicle, he noticed that the front driver's side window would independently lower upon opening the front driver's side door. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred with the rear driver's side window and the front and rear passenger's side windows. The contact stated that the windows would lower when opening the doors and would roll up when closing the doors. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11495692, filed 2022-12, 200 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Rear camera or screen not working when reversing

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the backup camera failing to display or showing a blank or pink screen when the car is put in reverse, and in some cases the parking sensors also failed to alert. One report describes a low-speed reverse impact after the camera and sensors did not respond. Complaints mention repeated dealer visits and wiring or computer diagnoses, with the problem sometimes returning after repair. Reported from very low mileage up to around 35,000 miles, often during parking or reversing maneuvers.

   Recall 26V283000Recall 22V296000

   What to check: Ask whether the rear-camera software recall applies to the car and was performed. Test reverse in a quiet lot and confirm the camera image appears promptly and the screen does not flicker.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated there was wiring that was loosened from the ground unit. The camera was making an abnormal crackling sound when it was hot. The contact stated that the screen was pink or blank at times. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer six times, where it was diagnosed that the wiring was loosened. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 500.”

   NHTSA complaint #11552293, filed 2023-10, 500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH in reverse, the Back Over Prevention camera lost connectivity and became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V296000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment) for which the VIN was included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,724.”

   NHTSA complaint #11464342, filed 2022-05, 3,724 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering assist loss and pulling

   • 34 complaints (4%)
   • median 16,150 mi at 1.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the car pulling or turning on its own, and in some accounts the steering became hard to turn or power steering assist dropped out along with a message asking the driver to pull over. Complaints mention alignment or control arm adjustments at the dealer, with the problem returning in at least one case. Some reports involve a collision after the loss of control. Mostly reported between a few thousand and about 50,000 miles, at highway and moderate speeds.

   Recall 23V085000

   What to check: Ask for the service history on steering and alignment work, and on a test drive check that the car tracks straight and the steering assist feels consistent.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently turned to the right and then to the left. As a result, the contact stated that he momentarily lost control of the vehicle and collided with a barrier wall before careening to the right again into traffic. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel. A police report was not filed. No injuries were reported. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11527186, filed 2023-06, 27,000 miles

   “The contact stated that while renting a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the steering wheel suddenly turned left while accelerating. The contact attempted to gain control however the steering wheel seized. The vehicle ended up crashing in the middle of the highway on the left side of the vehicle and front-end mostly. The air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed however it had not been determined if the vehicle was totaled as of yet. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11542573, filed 2023-09, 50,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for the full software and service history, since many of the reported behaviors are addressed through over-the-air updates rather than parts. Confirm which open recalls have been completed and test cruise control, Autopilot, reverse camera and windows before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.