2020 Tesla Model 3: false forward collision warnings

Filed Jan 7, 2026 · Driver assistance · NJ · crash

Vehicle Information: 2020 Tesla Model 3 AWD (Leased) Full Self-Driving (FSD) enabled Summary of Safety Issue: While Full Self-Driving (FSD) was engaged, the vehicle failed to detect roadside infrastructure and collided with multiple fixed objects, including a route sign board, a walkway sign board, and an underground electrical cable. The system did not provide adequate warnings or corrective action before impact. System jerk the steering confirmed system is engaged but did not break and drive to non-drivable area and not given any disengagement warning and totaled the car. Incident Details: • Date of incident: [XXX] • Location: On [XXX] {XXX] Piscataway, NJ 08854 • Road type: [XXX] • Weather/visibility: Clear • Speed at time of incident: <40 MPH (under the speed limit) Description: As soon as i trigger the FSD it immediately tried to navigated left or right and failed and unexpectedly veered into roadside infrastructure. The system did not slow down, steer away, or alert the driver in time to prevent the collision. The impact caused significant damage to public property and the vehicle is totaled. No injuries occurred. Evidence Available: • Photos of the scene and damage • Police report (number: [XXX] • Tow documentation • Tesla collision center estimate Reason for Reporting: This incident suggests a potential safety defect in Tesla’s FSD system related to object detection, path planning, and collision avoidance. The failure occurred without driver input and raises concerns about the system’s reliability in detecting fixed roadside objects. I request that the federal safety agency review this incident as part of ongoing evaluations of Tesla’s driver-assistance systems. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 15, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · FL

Software update was pushed onto my car, after the update the car autopilot ECU no longer works. When the ECU finally failed these features were stuck or are completely broken/not working: - Auto dim rear view mirrors (these were stuck in dim mode, preventing me from seeing in rain or darkened environments such as at night or under shade, 0% visibility under these conditions when changing lanes or reversing) - Rear view camera completely stopped functioning, as did all cameras on the car - Forward collision warning no longer works - Autopilot (ADAS features in general) no longer functioning including lane keep assist - On screen navigation is locked in place where the car failed (screen shows location where the car ECU presumably failed). I am further unsure if the following features function as required: - Airbag deployment - AEB (Automatic emergency braking)

Filed Mar 14, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · CA · crash · 1 injury

Braking and Stopping - Braking system - Improperly functioning braking systems. I experienced a problem with the brake pedal, brake calipers, and/or any component of a Model 3 braking system. “Model 3 has an anti-lock braking system (ABS) that prevents the wheels from locking when you apply maximum brake pressure. This improves steering control during heavy braking in most road conditions…Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking do not operate when driving at very low speeds (see Collision Avoidance Assist on page 128). Do not rely on these features to warn you, or to prevent or reduce-the impact of a collision. (Tesla owners Manuel71-73) I stop on a downward slope with my foot on the brake to wait for a gate to open in my apartments. I let go of the brake and the vehicle remained steady until it started rolling. When it started rolling, I jam my foot on the brake but the brake is engaged (locked). The vehicle accelerates, the brakes and steering wheel is locked giving no control over the vehicle. The vehicle drives through the gate and into a wall. The airbags deploy and I get out immediately for caution of explosion and shock. I call a tow truck and made a claim with USAA. I got a concussion and multiple injuries on my body. I’ve been getting medical treatment for 6-8 months. USAA didn’t help as they deemed the accident was my fault and totaled the vehicle. I bought the vehicle for more than what’s it’s worth. I have loan payment that I can NOT pay. This was my only asset and this accident changed my work life. Tesla gave me the run around on how to make a claim and no compensation. Directed me to insurance company. This demonstrates failure of an Braking System, operating electric vehicles, company responsibility, safety and transportation regulations and policies. These vehicles are highly dangerous for my safety and others as there’ve been multiple accidents and deaths.

Filed Nov 27, 2023 · Driver assistance · CA

At lease several times in the past 3 months, when using AUTOPILOT and when passing semi-trucks on my right my Model 3 has automatically given a very loud, what I believe to be either a Forward Collision Warning or a Lane Departure Warning, then braked and seemingly veered to the left! This is scary beyond belief and has only happened when AUTOPILOT is engaged and large semi-trucks are to my right. I thought you should know about this issue. Thank you,

Filed Oct 13, 2022 · Driver assistance · NY

Car randomly apply brakes when no obstacle present while Auto Pilot is engaged. Also gives a lot of false collision warnings.

Filed Sep 20, 2022 · Driver assistance · TX

The forward collision warning censor gives an absurd number of false positives. I have Tesla insurance, and the insurance rate is HEAVILY affected by forward collision warnings. Nearly every day, one is triggered with -nothing- in front of me. I mean empty road ahead. Or, a car is about 7 car lengths ahead of me, they begin to slow down to make a turn, begin their turn, and nearly exit the lane. Without slowing down, and still 3 car lengths ahead, I get an angry forward collision warning and a major increase in insurance with -zero- risk of accident. It seems to happen most frequently at low speeds

Filed May 24, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 9,800 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, there was a loud sound coming from the vehicle. There was a warning message to take control of the vehicle displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V063000 (Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance). The approximate failure mileage was 9,800.

Filed Feb 24, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · OH

My Tesla Model 3 is equipped with standard auto pilot (no full-self driving) and traffic aware cruise control (TACC or otherwise known as adaptive cruise control). While engaged, I experience, on average, per 60-mile trip a minimum of 1 phantom braking event. Note this is not on residential, county or state roads, this is on divided highways. The vehicle will slam on the brakes for no reason and will at times activate the forward collision warning system. It's so bad I've disabled many of the safety systems for fear I will cause an accident. Traffic aware cruise control on a two lane road (this does not steer or lane center the vehicle), is unusable because it constantly brakes for oncoming traffic in other lanes, or aggressively brakes for vehicles turning in front of you, even with plenty of distance to clear. The system will even continue to brake, after the turning vehicle has fully cleared the road. This requires the driver to slam the accelerator to cancel the braking action. When I first purchased the vehicle in February of 2020, there were no issues with Phantom braking. This issue has become worse with over-the-air updates. I canceled my full-self driving subscription because the phantom braking was even worse with that software. Additionally, Tesla uses a driver safety score to determine insurance rates if you are using their branded insurance program. When these phantom braking events occur it sometimes registers as an emergency braking event which deducts from your overall score and can ultimately cause your rates to increase. When I enrolled in FSD, before Tesla would release the software, they required a certain safety score over a week's time. During that time the system falsely reported running red lights, emergency braking events, and aggressive stopping, while only using the regenerative braking system. They system will also flag you for tailgating with auto pilot engaged.

Filed Feb 3, 2022 · Driver assistance · CA

I read this morning that there have been complaints about the automatic emergency braking engaging when it shouldn't and I would like to add my car to the list. I've had my Tesla a little over two years and turned off the feature about a year ago because it would hit engage the emergency braking when there was no reason to. After a software update a month ago Tesla reactivated the feature without my permission and the only reason I knew it was activated is because the brakes slammed while I was on the freeway. The forward collision warning also activates often when there is no threat of collision of near by. The details below are an approximation of the last time the emergency braking engaged but this happened probably 4-5 other times during the year I had it activated.

Filed Feb 2, 2022 · Driver assistance · OH

Vehicle approached an upward slope which triggered a forward collision warning and (unsafe) emergency braking.

Filed Feb 2, 2022 · Driver assistance · AL

My car has experience phantom breaking issues since 1 month after purchasing in December 2019 when using autopilot. Each time phantom braking so far only happens during interstate driving. During the two year period, it has happened over 10 times. Fortunately, no vehicle was very close behind me when phantom braking occurs. Oddly, no forward collision warning occurred during the phantom braking.

Filed Nov 1, 2021 · Airbags, Body · CA · crash · 1 injury

While turning into a parking spot in a covered parking garage the car seemed to speed up and lurch. It hit the cement wall and pushed the car back with such force the air bags deployed. Thank God it was just a wall. The car is now at the repair garage and have not heard back regarding how much damage and if the car is going to be "totaled". When I mentioned this at a party we were at, a friend of mine said she had the same problem. There were no collision warnings. It happened in a split second. The parking garage was at my Doctors office so I was able to have my wrist x-ryed right then. No serious injury. Just a little leary of driving this model car if not any electric vehicle.