Brakes complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2020 Tesla Model 3 has 23 NHTSA brakes complaints and 1 brakes-related recall.
23
Complaints
1
Recalls
3
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 8, 2026
21V387000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model 3 and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake c...
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving my Tesla Model 3 with self-driving engaged in excellent conditions, the car suddenly b... |
| Oct 14, 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | The complaint was filed on behalf of the contact's daughter. The contact's daughter owned a 2020 Tes... |
| May 29, 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | Automatic breaking was initiated as I was pulling in a driveway as I got closer to a large trashcan.... |
| Nov 9, 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | My car did a Phantom break while I was driving on President George bush Turnpike E at the Dallas Nor... |
| Nov 26, 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving on the highway from philadelphia to allentown using I-476 north i was driving using cr... |
| Nov 19, 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Driving on the freeway with the adaptive cruise control set to 78 mph. Traveling in the #1 lane, med... |
| Jul 3, 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving on the freeway I5 in central California in the middle of the day there were no cars in... |
| May 22, 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Hard Phantom braking incident when using cruise control with no vehicles ahead or next to me. |
| Jan 1, 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This is the first and only time this has occurred as of today, 1/1/23. Around 11:45am EST, I was dri... |
| Nov 19, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When using autopilot cruise control, the car will brake hard for no apparent reason. I only use crui... |
| Nov 3, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Phantom braking when using cruise control. Happens practically daily, but most recently this mornin... |
| Sep 16, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This vehicle has the phantom braking issue whether you are using adaptive cruise or autopilot, and h... |
| Sep 16, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving on a deserted highway on Interstate 395 heading from LA to Mammoth Lakes. There were n... |
| Sep 8, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES | The car has regenerative breaking where the car is supposed to slow down when you lift your feet off... |
| Jul 19, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | The contact owned a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while pulling into the driveway and depre... |
| Jul 10, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Phantom braking: While driving down the highway for no apparent reason the car brakes and one time w... |
| Apr 2, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My car when passing under signs or on two lane undivided roads will hit the brakes very aggressively... |
| Mar 13, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving at highway speed, the vehicle's automatic emergency braking unexpectedly activated, wi... |
| Feb 16, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My car has experienced phantom braking for no apparent reason when on cruise control or auto pilot. ... |
| Feb 8, 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Countless times, while driving on a two lane highway at speeds from 45-70 mph while on adaptive crui... |