2019 Tesla Model 3 Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the 2019 Tesla Model 3, 10% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 5,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (27% of reports).
- 60service brakes complaints
- 5,000median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 60%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cruise control: mentioned in 16 of 60 complaints (27%)
- Phantom braking: mentioned in 12 of 60 complaints (20%)
- Rear ended: mentioned in 8 of 60 complaints (13%)
- Service center: mentioned in 6 of 60 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 7 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 60 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Tesla Model 3 service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model 3 | 1 | 3% | 450 |
| 2025 Model 3 | 12 | 10% | — |
| 2024 Model 3 | 4 | 2% | 13,816 |
| 2023 Model 3 | 54 | 13% | 9,683 |
| 2022 Model 3 | 167 | 22% | 3,500 |
| 2021 Model 3 | 126 | 19% | 18,000 |
| 2020 Model 3 | 46 | 10% | 850 |
| 2019 Model 3 | 60 | 10% | 5,000 |
| 2018 Model 3 | 88 | 9% | 4,750 |
| 2017 Model 3 | 3 | 12% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic:critical fasteners; service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Problem: 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 caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
Risk: Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-33-002.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My brake lines have corroded to the point where half a liter of brake fluid has leaked out rendering the vehicle unsafe. Tesla admits that this is a design flaw but says that it does not affect this particular VIN number but the damage is exactly as described: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO…
The Tesla was hit on the passenger side by a Honda civic that ran a red light traveling more than 25 mph The Tesla spun 180 degrees after impact. No airbags deployed. Immediately after impact the Tesla turned on hazard lights. However the vehicle would not come to a stop after pressing on the…
Brakes failed to stop the car. The car sat at Tesla service center for one month with no action from Tesla.My wife rear ended another car. The air bags deployed. No one was injuryed and the other was not damaged. Both people could have been seriously hurt or killed. Car was finally towed to Classic…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2019 Tesla Model 3s have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 60 owner complaints about service brakes for the 2019 Tesla Model 3 (10% of the 617 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Tesla Model 3 service brakes?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes problems start?
The median reported mileage is 5,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 16 of 60 complaints, followed by “phantom braking” (12).
Other 2019 Tesla Model 3 problems
See all 2019 Tesla Model 3 problems or service brakes problems across all Model 3 years.