2021 Tesla Model 3 Reliability Report

Cabin heat and the heat pump fail in subzero weather, and the windows ice over and will not clear. One heat pump failed at 18,317 miles and was replaced under warranty. Driver-assist problems also land here: autosteer steering into medians, FSD running red lights, and phantom braking. Four crash reports list four injuries, including a spinout in the rain blamed on abrupt regenerative braking. Other complaints include dead cameras and GPS from a suspected failed screen computer, a lost pedestrian warning sound, and a recall software update that never downloaded.

The heat pump's supermanifold fails and the defroster stops working in freezing weather. Owners just past the 50,000-mile warranty face repair bills of up to $3,900. The touchscreen and car computer freeze or reboot while driving, and some drivers lose the turn signals until the screen comes back. One car caught fire in the dash while charging overnight and was a total loss. Five crash reports describe sudden acceleration while parking or pulling into a garage, plus one stiff brake pedal. Other reports cover a horn that dies after rain and water getting into the trunk button.

The car loses steering control suddenly, usually with no warning, and most of these reports involve crashes. Drivers say the wheel locks during low-speed turns, the car jerks hard into a ditch or the oncoming lane, or it spins out on lightly wet highways. Autosteer failures also lead to crashes and injuries. A failed steering rack disables steering assist and Autopilot, and one owner paid over $3,000 for the replacement. A third-party report blames a fatal crash and fire on a wheel coming off before impact.

The rear doors have no mechanical release, so rear passengers can be trapped if the 12V battery or electrical system fails. One owner could not open a door after the battery died. Several owners want a retrofit and note that newer cars have the release, but they say Tesla has no plans to add one. Other complaints include a door handle stuck open, a trunk gap that lets in water, a front trunk latch that opens by itself after replacement, and a rear bumper that falls off after driving through standing water.

The car loses all power while driving, sometimes only seconds after a pull-over warning and sometimes with charge still showing, which leaves drivers stopped in traffic. Repairs cited include a replaced rear motor inverter and a rear motor disabled fault. The high-voltage battery throws a BMS_a079 error and stops charging, as early as 15,100 miles, and one car has failed twice. Two crash reports describe sudden acceleration. Phantom braking on adaptive cruise control also appears, including braking for one particular highway sign.

FSD jerks toward traffic and won't disengage, and three of these reports involve crashes. Another describes Autopilot giving no warning as a vehicle drifted into its lane. Condensation inside the column camera covers blocks blind-spot detection, auto lane change, and lane departure warning at highway speed. Lane departure alerts also go off falsely during slow turns out of driveways and parking spots. Other complaints cite side camera glare at night and the speakers resetting so warning chimes go quiet.

The front passenger restraint system throws faults. A failing seat occupancy sensor triggers the RCM2_a636 warning, repeated beeps, and in some cases turns off the passenger airbag with someone in the seat. Out-of-warranty repair quotes run from $500 to $2,000, and owners say service staff see the problem often. Two crash reports describe airbags not deploying in front-end collisions.