2023 Tesla Model 3 Forward collision avoidance Problems
- Complaints
- 179about this part
- Share
- 42%of 428 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 4,000miles
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 179 complaints about the forward collision avoidance of the 2023 Tesla Model 3, 42% of the 428 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 4,000 miles. 31 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Curvature Assist feature agressively brakes while driving at highway speeds. This is supposed to slow down for curves, but frequently intervenes for straight, clearly marked lanes. Feature cannot be turned off. Drivers behind me have gotten agitated several times for the sudden, harsh braking, and I do not feel comfortable driving this car.”
NHTSA complaint #11667324, filed 2025-06“1. My 90 year-old mother-in law got trapped inside the car in very bad weather because my phone key wouldn't open the door after I got out and walked her elderly friend to the door of her house about 20 feet away, and then walked back to the Tesla. I've been able to reproduce the problem repeatedly, of course without my mother-in-law in the car. 2. …”
NHTSA complaint #11588864, filed 2024-05“Im using full self driving (fsd) and it scans the lot and chose to pull into an empty spot half way in and reverse almost smacking a car in the rear. It didnt appear it was gonna stop even though the car was showing on the screen. I do have the dash cam from where i had to step on the break for it to disengage.”
NHTSA complaint #11764243, filed 2026-09“I was driving with plenty of distance between me and the car in front of me. The car in front of me had stopped and the Automatic Emergency Braking System on my car went on. Thankfully, there was no car behind me, otherwise, I would have been hit. The sudden stopping has caused me significant lower back pain.”
NHTSA complaint #11762969, filed 2026-09“While driving with cruse controll, auto pilot, or adaptive cruise control my vehicle brakes suddenly without warning and without any reason or danger. This has happened many times. Today on the I8 traveling from Yuma az to Surpirse AZ the car braked around 15-20 times with out reason. I held the tesla car symbol on the screen to report the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11547242, filed 2023-09Forward 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 2023 Tesla Model 3
88 complaintsVehicle speed control
69 complaintsOther or unknown
59 complaintsBrakes
56 complaintsElectrical system
51 complaintsLane departure
28 complaintsBody and structure
22 complaintsSuspension
19 complaintsAir bags
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsSeat belts
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2023 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