2020 Tesla Model 3 visibility problems

Filed Mar 5, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NJ

My Tesla Model 3 was brought to Tesla Princeton Service Center on February 27, 2025 for a 12V battery replacement. During the service visit, Tesla also replaced the rear glass, citing the rear defroster as the root cause of the battery drain — a repair that was added without prior discussion and increased the total invoice from an original estimate of $180 to a final charge of $1,730. Upon picking up the vehicle, the rear backup camera, blind spot cameras, navigation system, Sentry Mode, and windshield wiper sensor were all non-functional. None of these systems showed any malfunction prior to the service visit. Tesla Princeton’s service advisor denied responsibility without performing diagnostics, and in a subsequent message admitted he could not determine the cause with certainty without diagnostics — which have still not been performed. The vehicle was discharged from a licensed Tesla Service Center in a condition non-compliant with FMVSS 111. I have escalated this matter to Tesla executive leadership in writing and am filing this the federal safety agency complaint to create a federal record of this safety violation.

Filed Dec 15, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 69,215 miles · OR

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk became inoperable. The contact stated that the trunk latch failed to open when the trunk release was engaged using the mobile application, the instrument panel, or the trunk release button. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The contact was informed by the dealer that the cable harness was not repaired and that a zip tie was placed on the cable harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that after the dealer visit, the trunk failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,125.

Filed Jun 23, 2025 · Visibility · NV

I am reporting a spontaneous windshield crack that developed on my 2020 Tesla Model 3 Performance under normal operating conditions. After exiting a routine drive-through car wash in Las Vegas on a hot day, I noticed a hairline crack in the windshield. It originates from the very bottom edge within the black ceramic frit area, curves upward, and spans across the glass. There are no impact points, chips, or pits of any kind. I brought the vehicle to Tesla Service, where the Service Manager visually confirmed it is a stress crack not caused by external damage. Despite this, they stated that Tesla does not offer goodwill or warranty repairs for windshields, regardless of the nature of the failure. This raises a serious safety concern. A windshield is a structural component of the vehicle and critical for driver visibility. A spontaneous failure like this without external cause compromises safety, especially at highway speeds. There are numerous reports of similar spontaneous cracks in Tesla Model 3 vehicles, often originating from the same area. This suggests a potential systemic defect in the design, installation, or bonding of the windshield. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this issue for safety implications and possible structural design flaws.

Filed Apr 1, 2024 · Visibility · MD

A crack appeared on the interior of the windshield, with no marks of any exterior impact and no external crack or other mark on either surface of the windshield. The crack originated directly from the windshield positioned camera/rear view mirror.

Filed Jan 21, 2024 · Visibility · NY

The windshield wipers do not have proper functional control. There is no adequate manual control over the windshield wipers without being distracting, further more the windshield wipers constantly put themselves in "auto" mode when you turn them off. This causes unnecessary distraction while driving and because the only feedback you have is either on the main touch screen or the bottom left touch screen this is a severe safety issue.

Filed Jan 12, 2024 · Visibility · ID

Tesla vehicles have an automatic wiper mode that is supposed to clear the windshield, without driver intervention, when it becomes obscured due to rain, snow, or water buildup. While driving on December 19, 2023, our Model 3 was passed by a large truck, throwing a large amount of water across the windshield. When this happened, the forward visibility was completely obscured momentarily. The automatic wipers did not clear the windshield as expected. The vision was obscured until the driver was able to manually enable the wipers. Obviously, driving at highway speeds on the freeway, without being able to see forwards, even momentarily, is a safety concern. Thinking the car had a failure, we tried to arrange for a repair from Tesla service. Their response was: "This issue has been identified as a known firmware issue, to be resolved on a future firmware release. For now, we recommend using the manual wipers as needed when auto wipers are not detecting rain. When a fix is available it will be sent to your vehicle automatically over the air. Unless you had any other questions, I will go ahead and close out this service request. Thanks!" Looking through Tesla owner forums, this appears to be a much discussed issue for the last 4-5 years. Many owners are having issues with functionality of the automatic wipers. We don't have any photos of the incident, but I recreated a similar situation in a local touchless car wash. With the car being completely deluged in water and soap, the automatic wipers never came on. The included pictures show the touchscreen with the Auto wiper mode and the windshield completely obscured, but no wiper activation. The last photo is a screenshot of part of the conversation with Tesla support about the repair request.

Filed Dec 6, 2023 · Visibility · CA

Currently occurring with FSD Beta firmware V.2022.27.12 but the same has occurred with previous firmware versions also. Normal operation of the vehicle with the ADAS engaged puts the windshield wipers into AUTO mode. At times the windshield wipers are activated when the windshield is dry. It isn't raining or misting and there's nothing on the surface of the windshield at the location of the front-facing cameras. "No rain" occurrences seem to correlate with times when visibility ahead has low contrast and there are no highlights and shadows to sharply define the scene, (ie, a little "muddy"). Observed when it is overcast but not raining, around sunrise when the sun is low in the sky and the light levels ahead are relatively low and headlights aren't helping illuminate the road ahead, and at times there are high-contrast light and shadows immediately ahead but farther down the road there is mist or fog, creating the same low contrast lighting conditions some distance away. It is as if the ADAS is aware that the scenery is not sharply defined and is "wiping its eyes" in an attempt to gain a more sharply-defined view. Occasionally, but rarely in my experience, the windshield washer is also engaged. Having the ADAS activate the wipers at these times is not a safety hazard, per se, but it is distracting and concerning as it gives the driver the impression that perhaps the ADAS is malfunctioning. I've read in user forums reports from a fair number of FSD Beta drivers complaining that the wipers go on when the windshield is dry and the ADAS is engaged. I haven't observed the same when the ADAS is not engaged.

Filed Nov 16, 2023 · Lights, Visibility · CA

FSD Beta Firmware Version 2023.27.7. -- When operating with FSD Beta in control of the vehicle, the turn signal is activated and the appropriate left or right side blind spot video is brought upon the driver's display automatically. This works perfectly for city street lane changes and turns at intersections or driveways, etc. When operating on a controlled access highway the systems works in the same manner, activating the turn signal and displaying the blind spot video on the driver's display when changing lanes and exiting the highway. However, the turn signal is not activated and the blind spot video is not displayed on the driver's instrumentation when first entering a controlled access highway. This is the one exception where the driver is required to activate the turn signal while FSD Beta is in control, and seems like an oversight or 'bug'. However, it might be by design, in which case the intent that the driver is required to activate the signal indicating the vehicle's merge has not, to my knowledge, been communicated to the driver as the one exception to the otherwise automatic operation of the turn signal and blind spot video display while the vehicle is under FSD Beta's control.

Filed Oct 13, 2023 · Visibility · WA

The automatic windshield wipers are not picking up rain - at all. Living in a raining area, it caused me to no have clear visibility and on the Tesla you have to manually change the mode on the screen, which causes you to take your eyes off the road. Tesla has known about this but not issued a warning (See screenshot from tesla service agent). Luckily an accident didnt occur but this is an overall safety issue.

Filed Sep 3, 2023 · Visibility · NY

Spontaneous shattering of side window, rear driver's side. Car was parked in driveway at the time.