2022 TESLA MODEL 3 Complaints

The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

- Cruise control and Autopilot are causing rapid and unneeded emergency braking. This issue essentially renders the car unable to reliably use basic cruise control capabilities - Unneeded braking can cause an unintended rear collision by someone following behind the vehicle, also raises blood pressure of drivers and passengers in the car when braking happens violently and unnecessarily. - Issue hasn't been reproduced. But others I've spoke with are experiencing this on the Tesla Model 3 - The vehicle hasn't been inspected by anyone. - There is no warning audibly or visibly in the car. However the problem seems to occur when the car can't determine if an oncoming car or other obstacle is in the actual lane of the direction of travel or not. My guess is that this has to do with the vision system that's tied into autosteer and cruise control

Just purchased a new Tesla Model 3 (long range) yesterday. On the drive home, I engaged the cruise control after the car reached its required calibration distance of 50 miles. Occasionally, but without warning, the car would automatically apply the brakes with no car or other visible obstruction ahead of me on a long straight road. The brakes were applied so firmly that the car would have come to a complete stop within 200-300 feet if I had not engaged the gas pedal to stop the braking action. The suddenness of the braking forced the car behind be (my wife, who was following at a safe distance) to aggressively brake in order not to rear-end me. This happened 3-4 more times during the 120-mile drive home, so I finally disengaged the cruise control and "manually" controlled the accelerator by foot for the last 20 miles of driving, without further incident.

When driving my husband's new Tesla on the highway for the first time, with adaptive cruise control on, there were two frightening incidents: 1) I was traveling in the left-most lane of a 3 lane highway (3 lanes in one direction) moderate traffic. I signaled my intention to change lanes, and started to migrate into the middle lane. There was an 18-wheeler in the right-most lane slightly ahead of me. The Tesla suddenly braked hard without warning. Either I or the Tesla also swerved back towards the leftmost lane (it happened very fast and I was panicked, so I'm not sure which of us initiated the swerve). The Tesla then seemed to recover from being "spooked", and accelerated back up to the set speed. 2) Later that day, I was traveling on a highway again, this time just two lanes in one direction. Traffic was light. The Tesla again braked suddenly, though there were no cars nearby, and then resumed speed. Additionally, when driving in moderate traffic in town, the Tesla let out loud alarms twice to alert me about cars it deemed I had not paid sufficient attention to as traffic slowed approaching a light. Cruise control was not on, and it did not brake, but it was startling. I usually drive a 2017 Volvo V60 with adaptive cruise and collision-avoidance technology, and it is MUCH less sensitive than the Tesla is.

Potential computer system/programming issue. TACC autopilot issue. Highly numerous amount of 'phantom braking' events, potentially could cause loss of vehicle control and/or rear end collision. Also, auto-dimming headlights issue, in that oncoming drivers could experience blinding high-beam lights due to the fact that the lights do not dim automatically until the oncoming vehicle is very close. This is potentially a high risk for auto accidents. Again, high amount of phantom braking!!! These issues are ongoing issues, and started upon delivery of my vehicle, new, in December 2021. Tesla service will not address these issues.

While driving with the adaptive cruise control enabled or the autopilot enabled, the car will do a hard braking episode which may reduce the speed from 60mph to 40 mph about a fast as is possible without locking up the tires. This happens on four lane divided interstate driving as well as two lane undivided driving. In either type of driving, there may not be any traffic anywhere in site. The most common condition for the occurrence of the braking is while using the adaptive cruise control on a two lane highway and a large truck or farm vehicle approaches from the other direction while driving in the center of their lane. The car acts like it has detected a possible collision, annunciates the collision warning, and brakes hard. I am reporting this because it is obvious to me that this is a safety defect. If someone were following behind me, even at a range considered safe, the deceleration is fast enough to cause the car behind me to collide with me. These hard braking episodes will happen as many as 4 or 5 times in a full day of highway driving. Many smaller episodes of less dangerous braking occur throughout a full day of driving and I consider them annoyances. I received my new car in January of 2022 and have driven it 4300 miles. The car has exhibited this condition since the fist time I tried to use these features starting February 3, 2022. I will not use the cruise control or autopilot when passengers are in the car because it is very alarming to them when it happens. I now rarely use autopilot when I am alone because of the constant state of fear that an uncontrolled braking will happen which would cause an accident. I would be happy to share further information with you. I am aware of the investigation that you began last week looking into the phantom braking phenomenon for Tesla owners. From reading the Washington Post article on the subject and then various posts on Tesla forums, my experiences match the phantom braking descriptions.

Drive Unit inverter failed. Yes my safety and the safety of my passenger and drivers behind me was at risk Problem was confirmed by Tesla repair center. They diagnosed this as the problem. No accident happened so no police, insurance reps, etc. Warning lamps came up after the car stalled. Or at least that's when I noticed them. while I was driving the car started jerking and came to a complete stop in traffic. No warning, just stopped. It wouldn't start or roll or anything and I was blocking traffic until I could get Tesla Roadside service to tell me on the phone how to put it into Transport Mode to push it to the side. This took 2 hours. My safety was DEFINITELY at risk. If I had been travelling at a high speed, it could have been fatal. The dealer/service center said it's the failure of the rear drive unit inverter and it was a US made part by Tesla. Warnings showed up on the screen but after the call stalled. It is currently at the dealership being replaced but now I am afraid to drive it as I have lost confidence in the company. I really hope you put pressure on Tesla to correct this problem. It is terrifying.

Can’t believe there are a few hundred reports of phantom braking. This is essentially a standard feature of the car. Nearly every other highway drive using autopilot the car will hard brake for nothing. Most recently was Tuesday around 11pm on highway 91 between hartford and new haven, CT. In the right lane of the highway traveling at about 67 mph the car abruptly hit the brakes. I am accustomed to hovering my foot over the accelerator so was able to reengage and regain cruising speed. Luckily no car was behind me or anywher near me. There was no overpass, exit ramp, flashing lights or anything else obvious that might have caused the hard brake. I’ll not while I’m here that the auto brights feature is bizarre and potentially dangerous. Autopilot turns on the brights when there are no cars immeadiately in front and this can only be disabled per incident. When is it ever a good idea to have the brights on on a 3 lane highway during normal traffic hours? Annoying, sure, but could actually cause problems distracting or blinding other drivers

In a 90 minute stretch of 2 lane highway on the way home from vehicle delivery, the car “phantom braked” for every semi-truck and most taller pickups which were approaching in the oncoming lane. At least 100 times on this maiden voyage. This unwarranted hard braking is unacceptable and unsafe.

I had multiple episodes of phantom braking while at highway speeds on cruise control. Most were small taps on the brakes that I could feel. There was one instance of a sudden 20mph drop from 67mph to mid forties and a second similar one they also resulted in the alarm within the vehicle going off. There were no vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects in the road in front of me and no reason for the car to brake.