Tesla Model 3 Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 561 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Tesla Model 3 across 10 model years. The 2022 model year has the most (167). The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (42% of reports).
- 561service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 86mention a crash
- 29mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 76%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 233 of 561 complaints (42%)
- Phantom braking: mentioned in 124 of 561 complaints (22%)
- Auto pilot: mentioned in 37 of 561 complaints (7%)
- Full self: mentioned in 29 of 561 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 41 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 561 complaints, 86 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 29 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
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021
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.
On XXX at approx. 10:30 AM EST, my 2024 Tesla Model 3 was operating on Full Self-Driving (Supervised) on [XXX]. Without warning, the vehicle steered off the paved roadway. The driver attempted to take control by [turning the steering wheel / pressing the brake], but the vehicle did not respond to…
"Subject vehicle (2022 Tesla Model 3, VIN: [XXX]) was deployed for commercial rideshare passenger transportation by fleet operator Hertz/Uber with active catastrophic life-safety system failures. Onboard Tesla Service Mode telemetry confirmed: (1) Restraints Control Module (RCM) is powered OFF with…
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel independently turned to the left and the right. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking and uncontrollable…
Urgent Safety Concern â Uncommanded Braking During Manual Driving. On October 2, 2026, while driving my 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range manually at approximately 45 mph and slowing to make a turn at an intersection, my vehicle unexpectedly applied very strong braking for approximately 1â2…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model 3s have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 561 owner complaints about service brakes for the Tesla Model 3. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 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.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Tesla Model 3?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 233 of 561 complaints, followed by “phantom braking” (124).
Other Tesla Model 3 problems
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (1,741)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (633)
- Electrical System problems (562)
- Steering problems (402)
- Suspension problems (376)
- Air Bags problems (316)
- Lane Departure problems (303)
- Seat Belts problems (228)
See all Tesla Model 3 problems.