2018 Tesla Model 3 acceleration problems

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA

2018 Tesla Model 3, VIN [XXX]. Rear-right ABS wheel speed sensor failed 3–4 days after Tesla Burbank replaced it on XXX (invoice XXX). First alerts XXX (ABS disabled, Drive with caution, TPMS). Failure confirmed XXX (AEB unavailable). Returned from vacation XXX; Tesla replaced same part again (invoice XXX $167.76). Tesla notes state only that sensor “was cut”; no animal damage recorded.I photographed the failed sensor XXX. It shows a single clean angled cut through the black jacket with conductor and red insulation on the same flat face. No tooth marks, scalloped bites, shredded insulation, or nesting material — a shear, not rodent damage.Service Manager [XXX] first blamed a rabbit, then wrote it “was an example” and that Tesla does not need droppings, nesting, or chew marks to call a severed harness outside damage. He has no photos from the 8/18 install; the tech is on leave. Two emails to [XXX] went unanswered. Related BAR complaint filed (ref XXX).Rear wheel speed sensor feeds ABS, traction control, and Automatic Emergency Braking. Failure disables these safety systems. A part that fails days after Tesla service with an undocumented “cut,” followed by a warranty denial based on inference rather than evidence, indicates possible workmanship or installation issues that could affect other vehicles. Requesting the federal safety agency review of Tesla’s service practices for this component.Tesla Service Burbank, [XXX], [XXX]. [XXX], [XXX].[XXX], [XXX], [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 21, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · IL · crash

While driving, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own and began operating without my control. Despite my attempts to steer away from surrounding traffic, the vehicle continued to self‑propel, crossed the median, and entered oncoming lanes, resulting in a head‑on collision with another car.

Filed Sep 6, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · AL

While my wife was driving, the high-voltage battery failed and the car went into reduced power/limp mode. Tesla later determined that coolant had gotten into the high-voltage battery and caused it to fail. My main concern is that we had no warning that there was a coolant leak or that coolant was getting into the battery. There was no low-coolant warning or anything telling my wife that there was a serious problem developing. By the time the car started giving high-voltage and reduced-power warnings, the damage had already occurred and Tesla said the battery needed to be replaced. What concerns me even more was what happened after Tesla received the car. Tesla removed the battery and quarantined it in the parking lot. They told us in writing that it was removed because of coolant ingress as a safety precaution and that a specialized technician had to determine whether the battery was safe to discharge. During a phone call, a Tesla employee also told me they quarantined it because there was a possibility the battery could explode and they did not want anyone injured or anything damaged if that happened. That was alarming because my wife had just been driving this car, and afterward it sat in our driveway while we waited for it to be taken to Tesla. At no point were we told that the battery could be dangerous or that the vehicle should be kept away from people or property. We had no idea Tesla would consider the condition serious enough to quarantine the battery once they received it. Tesla later confirmed in writing that coolant ingress was the root cause of the battery failure. I would like the federal safety agency to look into why this condition was able to get this far without warning the driver and whether other vehicles could have the same issue.

Filed Nov 20, 2025 · Acceleration, Steering · NJ

I am reporting a major safety defect that began immediately after Tesla installed the Full Self-Driving (FSD) hardware upgrade on my vehicle. After paying $2,000 for FSD and receiving the hardware retrofit, the car now instantly veers left toward oncoming traffic whenever FSD is engaged. This began immediately after Tesla’s installation. Before this service, my vehicle operated safely. I have contacted Tesla Cherry Hill Service Center in New Jersey multiple times. The advisors there repeatedly told me to “just recalibrate the cameras from the touchscreen.” I’ve done this numerous times, following every instruction carefully, but the issue persists. When I called the Service Center, I was told that “everything looks fine remotely,” even though the problem continues and is clearly dangerous. I was also told they could take it for a test drive, but that if they couldn’t find anything, I would have to “wait for a future update” to make FSD usable. This is unacceptable and unsafe. Tesla delivered this car to me in a dangerous condition that could easily cause a serious crash. A car that steers itself into oncoming traffic under FSD control should never have been returned to a customer — especially one new to using FSD. I should not be responsible for any repairs, recalibrations, or diagnostics related to a defect introduced by Tesla. This issue appears to be the direct result of improper installation, misalignment, or faulty calibration following the FSD hardware upgrade performed by Tesla Cherry Hill. This poses a severe risk of collision and injury, and Tesla’s refusal to take responsibility or correct it under warranty demonstrates clear negligence and disregard for safety. Tesla Cherry Hill is also known for poor customer service and repeated dismissal of safety complaints from other owners, which further concerns me.

Filed Oct 24, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · IA

Repeatedly and randomly, with cruise control (not FSD) engaged, the car would brake, sometimes aggressively. The last time, it braked so hard the tires or brakes squealed and the car swerved slightly before I was able to regain control. This was on the freeway (in Colorado, if I remember correctly) while I was cruising at 70 or 75 MPH. I decided that that was the last time I would use cruise control; it was just not safe. I had an appointment on October 22 to take the car in for service. But then a friend told me this was called "phantom braking" and that there was no fix. A friend suggested that I contact the federal safety agency.

Filed Oct 17, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · FL

The center display (Vehicle Pad) on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 went completely blank while driving. This eliminated access to all vital driving information including the speedometer, gear selection, and safety indicators. Safety Concern: Without visible speed data and wipers the vehicle cannot be operated safely or legally. I attempted to reboot the system and power cycle the vehicle but the screen still failed.

Filed Dec 28, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA · crash

I was at a stoplight behind a Toyota Tacoma. I must have stopped around 8 feet behind it. I was not using FSD and I was not one-pedal driving. My foot was on the brake. I must have been at a complete stop for approximately 10 seconds when my Model 3 suddenly accelerated full throttle on its own and rear ended the Tacoma, directly hitting its trailer hitch, causing my car's driver-side airbags to deploy. When it happened, the light was still red and my foot was still on the brake. I never touched the accelerator. Luckily I was driving alone. After the inital contact, my car sort of bounced off of his hitch then slowly lurched forward before it stopped. After that, it was immobile, leaving me stuck in traffic until it was towed away.

Filed Dec 17, 2024 · Acceleration, Electrical · WA

I’m not exactly sure what’s wrong, the screen keeps failing on my car. It’s been taken to Tesla to service this issue 4 times. With the most expensive repair costing $2,200. Its poses a safety hazard because when the screen fails. You can’t see anything, speed, gear. You can’t adjust windshield wipers, seat or mirror positions.

Filed Sep 16, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

The MCU in my 2018 Tesla Model 3 failed after a software update, rendering several key safety features inoperable, including the car’s cameras and Autopilot functions. The vehicle currently has 16,600 miles and had previously received an MCU replacement in 2022. This most recent failure occurred during a firmware update, which got stuck at 50%. The Tesla Service Center confirmed that the MCU needs replacement again, but I was not given clear diagnostic logs or evidence of a pre-existing hardware issue. Due to this failure, the rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, and Autopilot features are no longer operational, which directly impacts the safety of driving the vehicle. These features are critical for safe operation and are standard in ensuring driver assistance, situational awareness, and accident avoidance. The issue has been inspected by the Tesla Service Center, and they proposed replacing the MCU at a significant cost, though no prior warning signs or messages appeared before the failure during the update.

Filed Sep 8, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · TX

On 9/6/2024 I was driving on I-10 E going about 70 mph in the left lane. I had engaged the cruise control but not the Autopilot because I’ve had dangerous experiences with the Autopilot phantom breaking and misinterpreting cracks in the road as lane markers and dangerously changing lanes. So even though Inoaid thousands of dollars for Autopilot I never use it. So I was driving approaching a big rig in the lane to the left of mine and the sun was low in the sky casting a shadow on the road. The car thought the shadow was a car and slammed on the breaks and almost came to a complete stop until I pressed on the breaks to release the cruise control. We are very lucky the car behind us didn’t hit us. The car behind us almost hit us and my passenger and I both sprained our necks. The same exact thing happened 5 minutes later. After that I am too scared to use cruise control which is very inconvenient when on a road trip. My car is a 2018 Tesla Model 3 that is equipped with LIDAR radar when I bought it, however Tesla turned this feature off awhile back. I never had issues with cruise control when the LIDAR was still enabled. I am very angry that a carmaker can turn off a safety feature that I paid for without my consent. I would have bought a different electric car if I had know I’d have to go back in time to the 1990’s before cruise control was invented. Most cars use some kind of radar for their cruise control systems and this seems to much safer. There are many, many complaints on line of other Tesla drivers having lots os problems with phantom braking. This is an important safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately.