Tesla Model 3 Visibility/wiper Problems
Owners have filed 164 complaints with NHTSA about visibility/wiper problems on the Tesla Model 3 across 10 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (47). The words owners use most often: “windshield wipers” (16% of reports).
- 164visibility/wiper complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 44%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.
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 26 of 164 complaints (16%)
- Software update: mentioned in 18 of 164 complaints (11%)
- Eyes off: mentioned in 16 of 164 complaints (10%)
- Touch screen: mentioned in 9 of 164 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do visibility/wiper problems happen?
Based on 18 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 164 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
Tesla Model 3 visibility/wiper complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility/wiper complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model 3 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2025 Model 3 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2024 Model 3 | 6 | 3% | — |
| 2023 Model 3 | 12 | 3% | 11,800 |
| 2022 Model 3 | 16 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Model 3 | 31 | 5% | 1,900 |
| 2020 Model 3 | 22 | 5% | 4,508 |
| 2019 Model 3 | 24 | 4% | 4,361 |
| 2018 Model 3 | 47 | 5% | 10,000 |
| 2017 Model 3 | 3 | 12% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists visibility/wiper for the Tesla Model 3. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The power liftgate strut failed in normal use and bent the trunk liftgate, which now strikes the rear glass every time the trunk opens or closes. The vehicle has not been in a crash and the trunk was not obstructed or misused. The driver-side power strut stopped operating and the trunk would not…
As of an OTA update to the Telsa early this summer, a prompt stating "Why did you intervene" appears over critical display information on the infotainment console. FSD v14.3.2 and onward. (released as part of software update 2026.2.9.9) The prompt appears at the instant you retake manual control…
The front windshield camera for FSD gets hazed and obstructs the front camera. Tesla say itâs from the gases that come from the interior from the vehicle being hot temperatures. My problem why did they not design the cameras like they did in the side puller protecting it from the interior gases…
After a Tesla-delivered over-the-air software update, my 2021 Tesla Model 3 equipped with Hardware 3 experienced loss of the rear-view camera along with other camera and Autopilot-related functions. The exact date the condition first appeared is unknown, but it occurred after the software update…
At approximately 32,916 miles, the powered trunk lift strut on my 2022 Tesla Model 3 separated from its mounting ball stud during normal use. There was no collision or external impact. When the strut separated, it struck the rear glass and caused the glass to break. Tesla inspected and repaired the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model 3s have visibility/wiper problems?
No. NHTSA has 164 owner complaints about visibility/wiper 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 visibility/wiper?
No recall currently lists visibility/wiper for this vehicle.
What do owners say about visibility/wiper problems on the Tesla Model 3?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield wipers”, in 26 of 164 complaints, followed by “software update” (18).
Other Tesla Model 3 problems
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (1,741)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (633)
- Service Brakes problems (561)
- Electrical System problems (560)
- Steering problems (401)
- Suspension problems (376)
- Air Bags problems (316)
- Lane Departure problems (303)
See all Tesla Model 3 problems.