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2023 Tesla Model 3 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2023 Tesla Model 3 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 12safety recalls
- 428owner complaints
- 73crash reports
- 1fire report
- 50injuries reported
428 complaints, against an average of 438 for the other 9 Tesla Model 3 model years.
Every Tesla Model 3 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
The components named most often in the 428 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2023 Tesla Model 3 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 428 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2023 Tesla Model 3 brake suddenly for no reason?49 owners · 11.4%
- Why does adaptive cruise control not work properly on my 2023 Tesla Model 3?40 owners · 9.3%
- Why does the power steering fail or feel heavy on my 2023 Tesla Model 3?16 owners · 3.7% · Recall 25V092000
- Why does my 2023 Tesla Model 3 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?15 owners · 3.5% · Recall 25V092000
Has the 2023 Tesla Model 3 been recalled?
12 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Exterior Lighting: Headlights Tesla, 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 light output. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service will replace the headlights, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were be mailed October 3, 2026. Another notice will be sent once the repair becomes available. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-003.
Back Over Prevention: Software Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
Steering: Electric Power Assist SystemOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4. The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may experience an overstress condition, causing a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle reaches a stop and then accelerates again.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-004.
Tires: Pressure Monitoring And Regulating SystemsOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
Latches/Locks/Linkages: Hood: LatchOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
Risk: An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
Seat Belts: Front: Warning Light/DevicesOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/PanelOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Electrical System: Adas: Autonomous/Self Driving: SoftwareOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Risk: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The pyrotechnic battery disconnect may be defective.
Risk: A defective battery disconnect may not isolate the vehicle's high voltage battery after a crash or fault detection, increasing the risk of electrical shock and injury.
Fix: Tesla Service will replace the pyrotechnic battery disconnect, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-16-005.
Steering: Automated/Adaptive SteeringOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Risk: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Exterior Lighting: Tail LightsOver-the-air fix Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. One or both taillights may intermittently fail to illuminate.
Risk: A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-016.
Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021, 2023 Model 3 vehicles. The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Risk: A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-006.
Is the 2023 Tesla Model 3 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAUpdate Vehicle Software To Rectify EPAS Functionality
Risk: On affected vehicles operating with a software release prior to 2023.38.4 an overvoltage breakdown in the steering rack may overstress motor drive components on the printed circuit board. If the overstress condition occurs while the vehicle is driving steering assistance will not be affected and a visual alert will illuminate. Once the vehicle speed comes to a standstill a loss of steering assistance may occur and loss of steering assistance will persist when the vehicle is driven again. Manual steering without steering assistance remains available to the driver.
Fix: Install modified software via an Over the Air (OTA) wireless update.
UK DVSAUpdate vehicle software to correct TPMS behaviour
Risk: On affected vehicles upon detection of a malfunction with the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) the TPMS tell tale does not persist between drive cycles where the vehicle is off or asleep between the drive cycles. Therefore the driver may not be adequately warned of potential under-inflation of the tyres increasing the risk of a collision.
Fix: Install modified software via an Over the Air (OTA) wireless update.
What do 2023 Tesla Model 3 owners report?
12 of the 428 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Vehicle: 2023 Tesla Model 3 RWD, VIN 5YJ3E1EA3PF556059. Since the FSD software update from V12 to V14.1 (Supervised v14.1 Lite) in early August 2026, the vehicle repeatedly issues false 'apply steering wheel force' warnings while my hands are on the wheel, followed by sudden disengagement of Full Self-Driving without apparent cause. This has happened multiple times, including at highway speeds, which I consider a safety hazard. The Tesla service center in Miami Gardens has been unable to fix the problem after multiple visits. I emailed Tesla's North America service team on September 23, 2026…
Tesla has done away with a set maximum speed control when on FSD and uses speed profiles. These profiles can have the car speed at huge differences from the actual speed limit. Tesla previously gave the driver the option to control the maximum speed but eliminated it with version 14 FSD software.
On September 23 2026 at night I was driving my car under FSD and am in full control of vehicle my car is on speed of 54-55mph and in the middle of the road without any obstacle present on the road the car did the super ghost breaking and my car stopped 100% with the screen turning red with a warning of collision w am thankful to god that no one is coming from behind otherwise it might be loss of lid or serious medical emergency . We are aware and keeping on checking the surroundings but it’s very hard or nearly impossible to go to 50 mph from 0 mph in 0 seconds.
On September 20, 2026, at approximately 10:26 AM EDT, I was driving my Tesla on ON I-76 E MM 332.4 with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. It was raining, the pavement was wet, and there was heavy road spray. The vehicle's front dashcam recording, time-stamped "Sep 20, 2026, 10:26:02 AM," shows the car traveling in the right lane at about 55-56 mph with the on-screen indicator reading "Self Driving." The vehicle then steered to the right, out of its lane, toward the concrete barrier and roadside embankment. The "Self Driving" indicator disappears about half a second before the vehicle…
Steering becomes very stiff or notchy where you have to pull it out of position or correct it constantly. Doesn't want to return to center! When you stop it returns to normal feeling then as soon as you get up to speed it becomes stiff again.
I have a group of individuals that are hacking all of my accounts and trying to steal my car. They first hacked my emails then my Tesla account and now they are actually on the Teslas computer system and have been in the vehicle accessing the screen. After they hacked the system and stopped updates the car started having a bunch of safety concerns and alerts.The breaks were not working and the vehicle would freely roll when full pressure was applied. The collision system in the car was not working properly. Thinking it was possibly going to be hit by another car it would avoid nothing and jerk…
I am filing an official safety complaint regarding a severe, premature failure of the front lower suspension system on my 2023 Tesla Model 3. While operating the vehicle, the front lower compliance links (Part numbers: 2188359-10-B, 2188354-10-B) and the lower lateral links (Part number: 1044341-00-G) suffered critical mechanical bushing degradation and structural wear, rendering the front suspension unsafe and compromised.This mechanical breakdown occurred at only 63,584 miles on a three-year-old vehicle under completely normal, standard highway and suburban driving conditions. There has been…
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.
On XXX at around 3:30 PM EST, I was driving my 2023 Tesla Model 3 on [XXX] about 10 miles outside of [XXX]. I had the adaptive cruise control set at 75 mph. I was driving in the right lane of the two available lanes of travel in that direction. I noticed an unattended car on the right shoulder about a 1/4 mile up the road and continued my drive as normal. The car was at least 5' to 6' off the highway. As i got about 30 yards from the car, my car suddenly slammed on the brakes automatically, which forced me to react in a corrective manner. Thankfully there was nobody behind me or the severity…
Vehicle: Tesla Model 3 Issue: Power trunk failed to detect obstruction Date of incident: July 5, 2026 Location: Surprise, AZ During normal use of the vehicle, my child pressed the “close trunk” button while I was leaning into the trunk area. The powered trunk began closing and did not stop when it made contact with my head. Instead of reversing direction, the trunk continued applying downward force until I moved out of the way. This indicates a failure of the trunk’s obstruction detection system, which is supposed to prevent injury by stopping or reversing when an object or person is detected…
The vehicle was purchased pre-owned directly from Tesla. On the day of pickup and five days later, while operating on Full Self-Driving (FSD), the vehicle phantom-braked abruptly and then dangerously accelerated through a solid red light into cross-traffic intersections. The driver had to forcefully override the vehicle to prevent a crash. Tesla Service Center was notified but dismissed the issue, performing only a camera recalibration and charging a fee. Following the service appointment, the red-light running behavior stopped, but the vehicle continues to suffer from aggressive, sudden…
I was traveling east on I-215 in [XXX] , exiting on [XXX] . I was in the RH lane, signaling to turn Rt. A small commercial van was in the two lanes Left of me with no turn signal on. Suddenly the van began coming into my lane. I turned my steering wheel slightly to the Rt to avoid a collision. Suddenly the autocorrect turned my wheel sharply Rt, then sharply Left. The car was rocking so sharply I feared a rollover or collision. The blind spot camera on the driver’s side did not pick up the van on my Left. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C…
2023 Tesla Model 3: questions owners ask
Is the 2023 Tesla Model 3 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 428 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Tesla Model 3; the most common categories were forward collision avoidance (179, 41.8%), steering (88, 20.6%), vehicle speed control (69, 16.1%). There are 12 safety recalls. 73 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 50 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
Across 428 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are forward collision avoidance (41.8% of complaints), steering (20.6% of complaints), vehicle speed control (16.1% of complaints), service brakes (13.1% of complaints), electrical system (11.9% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2023 Tesla Model 3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2023 Tesla Model 3; the most recent (campaign 26V507000, 2026-08-05) concerns Exterior Lighting: Headlights. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2023 Tesla Model 3 brake suddenly for no reason?
49 of the 428 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 (11.4%) describe sudden, unexpected automatic braking ("phantom braking"). One owner wrote: "Two separate incidents occurred on July 10th and July 12th 2026 involving adaptive cruise control. While adaptive cruise control was engaged my car slammed on the brakes for no reason. There was nothing in the roadway to cause abrupt braking." (NHTSA complaint 11755758, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does adaptive cruise control not work properly on my 2023 Tesla Model 3?
40 of the 428 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 (9.3%) describe adaptive cruise control disengaging, braking or not working. One owner wrote: "Two separate incidents occurred on July 10th and July 12th 2026 involving adaptive cruise control. While adaptive cruise control was engaged my car slammed on the brakes for no reason. There was nothing in the roadway to cause abrupt braking." (NHTSA complaint 11755758, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the power steering fail or feel heavy on my 2023 Tesla Model 3?
16 of the 428 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 (3.7%) describe power steering failing, locking up or turning heavy. 2 related recalls exist: campaign 25V092000 (steering: electric power assist system). The fix: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. One owner wrote: "Lost power steering while driving. Luckily this occurred while I was going less than 5mph and near a parking lot, so was able to muscle the steering to a safe place. Received a warning from the car that “steering assist is reduced” randomly." (NHTSA complaint 11550381, October 2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2023 Tesla Model 3 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
15 of the 428 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 (3.5%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. A related recall exists: campaign 25V092000 (steering: electric power assist system). The fix: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. One owner wrote: "The blinkers do not respond to the change in blinkers when I initiate the blinker (right or left) by using the stalk. There has been numerous times that I fully pull down or push up the blinker stall and it would not engage the blinker but today I am…" (NHTSA complaint 11707201, December 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own Model 3
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2023 only.