NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
This page covers 15 recalls and 24 owner complaints for the 2017 Tesla Model 3.
Complaints about the 2017 Tesla Model 3 cluster most heavily around the forward collision avoidance system and the front passenger restraint system. On the driver-assistance side, owners report the automatic emergency braking and collision warning features behaving erratically or failing to respond as expected. The more consistent thread involves the front passenger seat and restraint system: multiple owners describe a recurring fault warning tied to the passenger seat sensor and the supplemental restraint system, with several noting the repair required both an airbag replacement and a new seat sensor. A handful of seat belt complaints run alongside these, generally describing warning faults rather than mechanical failures. One isolated report flags a persistent software update failure that the owner says has blocked over-the-air updates for an extended period, though that appears to be a single account rather than a recurring pattern.
24
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2017 Tesla Model 3 has 15 recalls, the most serious involving Full Self-Driving software that can cause the vehicle to exceed speed limits, roll through stop signs without stopping, or behave unpredictably at intersections, raising the risk of a collision.
Several other recalls involve driver assistance systems: a software error can trigger the automatic emergency brakes to fire unexpectedly, bringing the car to a sudden stop, and a separate recall addresses Autosteer, where the system may not adequately prompt the driver to stay attentive and take over when needed. On rear visibility, the rearview camera image can be delayed when shifting into reverse, and on earlier model years the camera cable can be worn through by repeated trunk operation, causing the image to disappear entirely.
A rear seat belt recall affects certain vehicles that were serviced: the left and center second-row belt anchors may have been reassembled incorrectly and could fail to restrain an occupant in a crash. The power windows on some vehicles may not reverse when they contact an obstruction and can pinch a person before retracting. The tire pressure warning light may switch off between drives, leaving a driver unaware of low tire pressure.
Two seatbelt warning recalls address the audible chime and dashboard light that are supposed to alert an unbelted driver, both of which can fail to activate. The Boombox feature, when playing audio through the external speaker while moving, can drown out the pedestrian alert sound that electric vehicles are required to emit at low speeds. A final recall covers brake and ABS warning lights displayed in a font too
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may be delayed when you shift into reverse, affecting your ability to see behind the vehicle.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update to your vehicle over-the-air to fix the camera display delay.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure warning light may turn off between trips even when tire pressure is low, so you won't get alerted to underinflated tires.
What the fix does
Tesla sends a free software update to your vehicle that keeps the warning light on when tire pressure is low.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt warning light and chime may not activate when the driver is unbelted, failing to alert the driver to fasten their seat belt.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a software update over the air to fix the warning system so it activates properly for unbelted drivers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System warning lights on the instrument panel display in an incorrect font size, which does not meet federal brake system safety standards.
What the fix does
Tesla is releasing a free over-the-air software update to correct the warning light font size display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Autosteer controls may not be prominent or clear enough to prevent drivers from misusing this advanced driver-assistance feature when it's engaged.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to improve how Autosteer controls are displayed and managed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The FSD Beta software may drive unsafely at intersections—going straight in turn-only lanes, not stopping at stop signs, or proceeding through yellow lights without caution. It may also not properly adjust for posted speed limits or account for driver speed changes above limits.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to fix the FSD Beta system's intersection and speed-limit handling.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second-row left seat belt buckle and center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during service, affecting proper fastening.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The automatic window reversal system may fail to stop the window when it detects an obstruction, potentially trapping or injuring occupants.
What the fix does
Tesla will update the automatic window reversal system software over-the-air at no cost to fix the detection and reversal response.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Boombox function can play sounds through an external speaker while driving, which may mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert nearby pedestrians.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon features.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may not display immediately when the vehicle shifts into reverse, leaving the driver without rear visibility.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over-the-air to restore proper rearview camera display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Boombox function plays audio through an external speaker while driving, which can mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert pedestrians to the vehicle's movement.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse, restoring pedestrian warning sounds.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The audible chime that alerts the driver to an unbuckled seat belt may not sound when the vehicle starts.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to restore the chime function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Full Self-Driving (Beta) software's rolling stop feature may allow the vehicle to pass through all-way stop intersections without fully stopping.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free over-the-air software update that disables the rolling stop functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera cable harness can be damaged when the trunk lid opens and closes, which stops the rearview camera image from displaying.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect your vehicle and install a guide protector and new cable harness if needed, at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software communication error may cause the forward-collision warning to activate falsely or trigger the automatic emergency brake system unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to fix the communication error.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
