Twice in a span of six weeks my 2019 Tesla Model 3 simply stopped operating - dead stop. First incident was on a road trip over the Christmas holidays ([XXX]). We had stopped in suburban Chicago before continuing our trip home. The vehicle control screen went black and the vehicle ceased almost all operations. The vehicle could not be started nor put into a gear for towing. All functions accessed through the screen (virtually every function) was rendered inoperable. I called Tesla who told me that according to their computer systems the vehicle was active. The mercifully nearby service center said no fault was recorded by the computer log. They were able to get the screen reactivated and we continued our trip with no further incident and they weren't able to explain what happened. On Friday [XXX] the same thing happened in our garage. The vehicle was towed to Tesla. They diagnosed the issue to an electrical fault in the steering column which shuts the vehicle down. The remedy is a replacement of the entire steering column at a cost of $2100 plus labor. I don't know if this is a typical remedy for other manufacturers but this is quite a expensive solution for an issue unrelated to the steering function. From a safety perspective this was an astounding occurrence. If this winter was colder or we were in a more remote place we would have been in pretty big trouble not being able to activate the heat or any other function of the vehicle. I believe the totality of the shutdown makes this fault an extraordinary concern with an extraordinary price tag for Tesla drivers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2019 Tesla Model 3 electrical complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 94, newest first, as owners wrote them.
In July 2023 we started receiving airbag fault messages on the main screen, “Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault". Based on our research this meant that in the event of an accident the airbag would most likely not deploy. We tried to schedule service and due to a "bug with the recent update" we could not get the invoice through their app or schedule the actual service for over a week. After contacting Tesla multiple times we got scheduled and had to drive to a service center instead of mobile service coming to us. This turned out to be a known fault due to the lack of an Occupant Classification System (OCS) Filter Module on the 2017-2019 Model 3. We were charged $165.89 to install what should have been provided for free on a recall to all affected model years. Upon arrival to the center they told me it could end up costing thousands of dollars if they had to replace the airbags, wiring harnesses and other components. That car was about 4 years and 1 month old, and just under 70K miles at the time, so the airbag system should not be failing. Those costs could be prohibitive for some owners, causing them to drive with an unsafe car. Luckily the service center tried the cheapest option first, which was installing the filter that is now standard equipment on all 2020 model years and later. The fact that Tesla now installs that filter as standard shows that it is necessary, and should have been provided to all previous model years as a free recall. Details can be found in the service bulletin that Tesla has already submitted to the federal safety agency at [XXX] . If that link doesn't work it is [XXX] from [XXX], 2019. This is a known issue for the affected year models that is fixed with an OCS filter module on newer models, that can be installed in a short time on older models. The lack of that module puts users at risk of the airbags not deploying as designed. 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 the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the recall to be performed would not disable the "Auto-steer" function, however the Over the Air software update had disabled the auto steer. The contact stated that the manufacturer advised that to restore the auto steer feature the contact had to pay to do so. The contact stated that the manufacturer was not following the recall as stated. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure of the auto steer function on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 71,817. Parts distribution disconnect.
Climate control unavailable. Unable to heat cabin. Ran test and received a PTC heater faulty. Vehicle is over 50K miles and no longer under warranty. Through research online. Many heating issues become available. Software and numerous PTC failures especially older vehicles that had similar issues with 30K, 40K, and 50K miles.
Front right safety restraint system fault. Rear right safety restraint system fault.
Loss of steering power while driving on the highway. Came out of nowhere
After leaving my neighborhood, my car stopped working while I was turning. Everything went black, and I was unable to turn my hazards on and had to exit the vehicle using the emergency lever to open the door. The car was towed to Tesla. It had to be forced onto the tow truck, as you can only shift the gear to neutral if the car is on. We asked Tesla what the problem was in the service chat, and they said "Yes the rear drive inverter went out on it that goes to the rear drive unit." I have never heard of such a malfunction with Tesla. There was no warning to pull over. If this was on a highway or busy street, the car would have just died, which could have caused a major or fatal accident. This matter should be investigated promptly, as it is a major safety issue. There could have been a fatality if this had happened on a busy highway with speeding cars. When I say it stopped working without warning, I truly mean it. I was unable to turn on my emergency lights. The Tesla was totally unresponsive. I am truly scared to drive the car again, even if it gets repaired. The car only has around 20k+ miles. This should never have happened, and Tesla failed to give me a warning before the major malfunction occurred. Truthfully, I do not know if I will ever drive my Tesla again. I no longer trust the vehicle.
I have had multiple compressor issues since the car was made in 2019 and already replaced once. Now it is failing again and as the compressor is used to cool the powertrain it can degrade performance and who knows when my car could fail while on the road due to lack of cooling capacity.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and closing the driver's side door, the doors locked and failed to open because the vehicle was experiencing an electrical failure. The contact stated that he engaged the driver's side door emergency door release lever, but the lever failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle became hot, and he exited the vehicle through the trunk. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center, where it was determined that the 12V battery needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 23,969.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with the Autonomous Self Driving or Adaptive Cruise Control feature activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions without any other vehicles or objects nearby. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.
The rear view camera of my car it’s failing intermittently some days work some days don’t. So I found that there is a recall related to this specific issue. the federal safety agency Recall Number 21V-00D then I scheduled a service with Tesla indicating that I’m sending the car for them to honor the recall. They accepted and scheduled the service appointment through the app at $0 cost because obviously it’s their responsibility. Well for my surprise when I arrive to the Tesla Service Center in Coral Gables Florida, the person in charge refused to honor the recall saying that the car it’s not in warranty and that they don’t perform services on recalls even though I was showing them that the recall it’s on my VIN number at the federal safety agency website. Now I’m worried that I may cause an accident because the car may malfunction due to this safety issue with the rear camera. Find attached screenshots of the conversations I had with them where they are basically refusing to properly perform the service for this recall that includes the full inspection of the coaxial cable to see if it’s too damaged and the replacement of the part.
the PTC heater fails on a lot of the older cars leaving them stranded. The % of cars effected is alarming. This should be recalled to prevent people from being stranded in the cold.
I am writing to report a serious issue that occurred while my wife and two of my children were driving my Tesla Model 3 with VIN number [XXX] on Highway 99 North on February 14, 2023, at approximately 6pm. While driving on the highway, the Model 3 suddenly shut down and died. The vehicle completely lost power and they were unable to restart it. Despite trying all the resets given by Tesla roadside assistance, the car would not move. Even the Tesla team wasn't able to move the car and it was California Highway Patrol who moved it to a safer location. My wife and children were extremely frightened by this incident, which was an incredibly dangerous situation as they were driving on a busy highway, and they were lucky that no accidents occurred as a result. I wanted to update you that the Tesla team in Stockton, CA is now handling this issue and they have informed me that the battery fuse blew. However, this incident has left me with grave concerns regarding the safety of my Tesla Model 3 for myself and my children. I believe that the car has become extremely unsafe to drive, and I am very worried that a similar situation could happen again. I must also note that this incident has created a panic within me, that even if and when the issue is resolved, every time I drive my Model 3, I will have a flashback of the incident and the fear that it might happen again. I believe this is a very serious issue that needs to be addressed. 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 stated that on several occasions while driving the cruise control or auto pilot activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking with a beeping sound coming from the vehicle with a manual control warning message appearing on the infotainment screen. Neither the Service Center nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at high speeds with the auto pilot feature activated, the vehicle experienced intermittent phantom braking. The contact stated that no warning light appeared on the instrument panel prior to the failure. The contact attempted to notify the service center of the failure but was informed that he could only report the failure soon after the failure. The service center offered no further assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced intermittent loss of the back-up camera. 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. The failure mileage was 14,419. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) and 22V702000 (Visibility) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Battery system is malfunction with power conversion system. I notice it is only charging 32/48A. After talking to Tesla, they said it is the power conversion system failure and it wouldn’t be cover under the battery warranty. I know there is a lot of other Tesla owner with this issue as well. Please investigate this incident to see if Tesla should recall the system. Thank you.
A recall was issued on Dec 21, 2021 regarding a potential camera issue due to a cable wearing out. It states that a remedy is unavailable. However, it has been almost a year since this recall and I believe this is not a reasonable time frame at this point. My camera has become glitchy and sometimes shows a green screen rather than the actual camera view
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2019 tesla model 3. Consumer writes in regard to trunk harness safety recall. The consumer requested information regarding when the harness may be available.
I was driving with my 5 yo in a car. We had to swerve to miss a truck pulling out in front of us, and when we swerved slightly, the systems of the car shut down. I could not drive the car to get us out of the middle of the road, but I also could not put the car into park. In order to prevent the car from rolling down the hill with my daughter and I inside, I had to keep my foot on the break. The emergency flashers also did not work, so there was a material risk of being rear ended. The AC also stopped working. It was 100+ degrees outside. The doors and windows did not work, so we were trapped in a hot car, in the middle of the road, without emergency flashers. Tesla Roadside refused to come. They also refused to help me because the car was in my husband's name. My 5 yo daughter and I could have died either of suffocation or by collision.
I'm submitting this because my safety recall the federal safety agency # 21V-00D which was sent to me on Feb 15, 2022 has not been serviced in a timely manner by Tesla. The letter I got stated that they would either replace the harness, or install a guide protector for the rearview camera. However they have done neither. When I call them about it, they tell me "everything is fine, there are no repairs available for your car, just keep using it as normal". When I told them that what they were telling me disagreed with the recall notice, they told me to "ignore the recall notice".
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the Back Over Protection camera failed to display an image on the screen. The contact stated that he received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) several months ago. The dealer was contacted and stated that the parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to call the federal safety agency to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Autopilot break the car for no reason on highways and high speed. Always happen on I-5 at Anaheim, CA to Los Angeles, CA area.
the federal safety agency Recall No: 21V-00D My vehicle has been affected and suffering from the defect noted by the federal safety agency. For approximately five months I have unsuccessfully attempted to have the defective condition repaired to no avail. Most recently the vehicle was taken to a Tesla Service Center to have to recall performed, however upon arrival I was informed that the parts were not available and the service center informed me incorrectly that the the parts were available. Specifically, the service center advised they did not have a grommet to complete the repair and would not repair the vehicle without the grommet. I was informed that although the service center had the rear camera coaxial cable in stock, which would have repaired the defect the service center would not perform the repair without the rubber grommet as well. Upon being informed the repair would not be completed as previously promised, I requested the alternative repair be performed for safety reasons to prevent the intermittent problem becoming permeant. I requested the "guide protector" be installed as a temporary solution to the rear camera ceasing to function for days at a time after I open and close the trunk. The alternative repair is described at: https://www.tesla.com/support/model-3-trunk-lid-harness-retrofit "How will Tesla repair my car and how long will it take? At no cost to you, Tesla Service will inspect the trunk harness on affected vehicles for wear. If the amount of wear is within the specification for the coaxial cable, Tesla Service will install a guide protector to prevent further wear. If the amount of wear is beyond the specification, Tesla Service will replace the harness and install a guide protector." I have submitted numerous photographs to the Tesla documenting the recalled defective condition that creates an enormous safety hazard. To date the only solution I have is to not use the trunk whenever the camera is actually working.
No timely remedy provided for recall 21V-00D. The recall was initiated in December, six months later the manufacturer has no resolution.
Received an alert through the Tesla App that my car alarm was going off. When I stepped outside my house I saw smoke coming out of the windows. I opened the rear passenger door and saw the floor on fire. I went inside and called the fire department. By the time they arrived the entire car had been destroyed.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received a notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer had been notified about the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
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