2019 TESLA MODEL 3 Complaints

After owning my new car for less than 5 years I started intermittently receiving a "Safety restraint system fault" error. It seemed to most frequently occur when the driver's seat was raised. When lowering the seat the error would often go away. Checking the service menu's notifications there was RCM_a021 code. I researched online and found the following thread which exactly described my problem: [XXX] I opened up the connector and one wire was cut. I restripped and soldered it and the error went away. I consider this a safety issue since through normal use of different seat positions (including the easy entry option) the wire bends and gets cut, which causes the seat belt safety features to stop working. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local Tesla Service Center was contacted and informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed on the vehicle due to the hardware of the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the recall repair required hardware 3.0; however, the vehicle hardware was 2.5. The dealer charged a fee to update the hardware. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and made the same assessment. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool shows no open recall.

Since Summer/Fall 2023, 2019 Tesla Model 3 software appears to have been compromised. The vehicle shows entirely incorrect directions, at times having taken me 24 miles out of the way; shows a Subdivision in Baltimore, MD named "[XXX] Heights" and a business in Woodbridge, VA named "David's [XXX] Pole Waxing"; has removed all charging stops at certain times and then showed all charging locations in a Metropolitan area as "busy", has rolled down windows at random in 17° weather to the point of having to hold the window toggle up with one hand while driving, is operating windows in reverse; shows an overlay on the screen where the white speed limit sign sometimes changes the size of the square; shows an overlay on the app, and has at times locked me out of the car entirely (seemingly remotely). The heated seats had overheated at other times and had left burns on my back. Tesla denies that the software and/or app have been compromised and claims that the currently-installed software is the original factory software without having inspected the car. Tesla twice now has declined to inspect it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

With the latest update of V12.3 FSD, the full self driving cannot predict the obstacles clearly, resulting in am incorrect left turn manuever, running over a central divider curb, and damaging tires. Not sure, what could have happened, if a human was standing there instead!

Power steering and regenerative braking was intermittently work. Steering fully locked up while driving 70 m/hr on a freeway when I was on my way to service appointment. Very scary!! Service detected full steering rack replacement. When they took off the cable connectors water came pouring out. Water ingress caused corrosion to the body harness connector where it connects to the steering rack module. This seems to be an issue on online forums. Clearly this is a design flaw. How is water getting in and destroying all the electrical? Very unsafe and how is this issue going to be fixed so water doesn’t continue to get in

The rear view camera has not functioned properly for several months. We did have the rear harness recall work completed, but the camera was working fine at that time and stopped working in Nov sometime after a software update. This is VERY similar to 24V-035, except that is on 2023 year models only. Why is that campaign limited to 2023 only? There are a lot of complaints on the internet about this issue, and in some cases Tesla charging $3500 to replace a computer in the car. We also have the full automatic driving, same as in the 2023 models recalled. This issue seems to be related to this update, or one about that time period: [XXX]. [XXX] [XXX] I have tried all the wizardry and voodoo mentioned across the web and no results. The rear camera DOES work in live vire mode and in the service mode camera preview - so I know it works. It just does not work while driving/in reverse. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Vehicles cabin heater High Current Failure after software update. Software Version: 2023.44.30.14 Vehicles cabin heater was functioning properly the morning of the software update. Over-the-air update was made and an electrical smell filled the cabin after update and heater no longer functioned. Alert codes indicate Resistive Heater Fault. I reported issue to Tesla and the repair cost is $1,055.80 and not covered. I have checked Tesla message boards and this update has caused other similar malfunctions.

The back window cracked with no impact. Even though this is a known issue with Tesla Model 3s, Tesla charged me $1400 for the replacement window because it was four months after warranty expiration. Six weeks after the new window installation, the glass cracked again. Both times the back window cracked at the car body joint which suggests a structural issue. This time Tesla claimed it was impact damage and again refused to pay for repair.

Heard rattling in the front of the car over a period of weeks. Finally checked and saw a bolt that secures the front wheel hinge to the body frame was very loose. Then I tried turning the wheel (while stationary) to test the front steering. After a few times, the bolt came completely loose and hanging, as in one of the pictures included. After the bolt came completely loose and hanging, the affected wheel is completely unaligned. Since the bolt is hanging, I simply removed it, as shown in one of the attached pictures.

The car's main screen displayed an error message, "front passenger safety restraint fault. service required." According to on line user groups this same safety system fault has occurred in many Tesla Model 3 cars. In my case, Tesla replaced the occupancy sensor harness in the seat and replaced the passenger side air bag, for a total price of $1800. Replacing the air bag was by far the most expensive part of the repair, but it wasn't defective, it was merely incompatible with the new sensor. With a repair this expensive, many car owners will be tempted to forego the entire repair, since the warning doesn't prevent the car's operation. Tesla should recall all Model 3s and repair the problem, otherwise many drivers will be tempted to drive with a defective sensor system.