2022 Tesla Model 3 Reliability Report

Sudden acceleration at very low speed shows up repeatedly here, during U-turns, parking, or after pulling away from a light, with cars jumping curbs or striking trees and parked vehicles. Other crash reports cite Autopilot missing a red light, an intermittent blind-spot indicator, and Smart Summon hitting a pole. One new car lost power and would not restart on a highway. Climate complaints include a failed cabin heater in extreme cold and air conditioning that cannot cool the cabin in desert heat, made worse by long service waits.

Center screen blackouts and vehicle computer failures stand out. When the display goes dark, drivers lose the speedometer and battery readout. A failed computer can disable every camera and driver-assist feature, with repair quotes near $2,900 to $3,052.30. Two fire reports appear: a parked, unplugged car blamed for a garage fire, and a post-crash flame from the dash vent. Other reports describe a rear drive unit failure at 3k miles, a rear door unlatching while driving, silent turn signals, and sweet-smelling vapor entering the cabin when heat is on.

Sudden, uncommanded steering is the core complaint. Owners describe the wheel jerking left or right at highway or city speeds, then seizing or turning heavy, sending the car into barriers, trees, or across lanes. Several of these crashes involve injuries, and some drivers say no driver-assist feature was on. Separately, power steering failure messages appear, one at 22500 miles, sometimes clearing after a restart. Lane-keeping also pulled one car into a curb after tire work done without an alignment. One post-crash fire report cites difficulty finding the manual door release.

A recurring front passenger safety restraint system fault is the most common problem. The warning comes and goes, can disable the passenger airbag, and has been blamed on a seat sensor or occupant classification module. Owners report it appearing from about 15k miles and by 49,000 miles, with repair quotes of $455 and $1100 and slow scheduling. A separate group reports airbags not deploying in serious crashes, including a side strike by a school bus and a high-speed rear impact, with head and neck injuries.

Few complaints, and they are mixed. Laggy camera feeds when reversing or changing lanes lead one owner to hit a pole, and Summon drove another car into a parked vehicle with a passenger inside. Other reports repeat the phantom braking pattern, with oncoming semis triggering slowdowns from about 60 to 30 mph. One owner found self-driving had turned on without their knowledge and was changing lanes. A failed central computer also appears here, cutting safety alerts and Autopilot.

Curb strikes under Full Self-Driving lead this small group. Owners say certain software versions steer too close to the curb, damaging rims and cutting tires. Wheels also crack or puncture from road debris, and one crack found at 20,000 miles was not covered under warranty. One report links a fatal single-car crash to a suspected left front wheel failure. Another describes a broken lug nut after the car climbed a curb while backing out.

Front seatbacks collapsing backward in a rear-end collision is the most serious report, leaving the driver with a fractured back. A faulty driver's seat weight sensor can stick, making the car brake hard when the seatbelt is unbuckled, such as in a car wash, or leaving it running and draining the battery. Another owner reports the front passenger safety restraint system fault. Complaint volume here is very low.