Tesla Model S phantom braking problems

Filed Sep 11, 2026 · Driver assistance · NY

Since a XXX Tesla software update, Full Self-Driving on VIN [XXX] applies the brakes suddenly with no visible obstacle. This phantom braking occurs at least 5–6 times every day. Vehicles behind me have slammed on their brakes and I have had near rear-end collisions. I purchased FSD outright. I have taken the car to Tesla Service in Mount Kisco, NY and White Plains, NY. Neither location restored the feature or issued a software fix. Customer support said they cannot reach engineering. This is an ongoing safety hazard to following traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 23, 2025 · Driver assistance · CO

Software version 2025.32.3.1. Using Tesla’s auto-steer / enhanced autopilot (not fsd) causes many “phantom braking” events when going through several intersections on my commute. It’ll say a message “Curve Assist Active”, however I’ll be on a very straight and flat road with no curves. It’s 65 mph road and it will brake / slow down the car very hard and fast, if I don’t catch it in time it’ll get down to ~45 mph within a second. Even when traffic is going slow already, like 40 mph, it’ll still bring up the message and try to brake and slow down, though not as hard. Typically to about 25-30 mph. I usually can catch it and use the accelerator to prevent it, but sometimes it’ll happen so sudden and I worry about getting rear-ended by someone behind me. Very repeatable. Very startling and concerning when it happens when I don’t expect it to. I believe it’s a mapping issue as it has not been fixed in over a year and after several software updates.

Filed Jun 22, 2024 · Brakes, Driver assistance · PA

Driving on straight section of highway at dusk. No autopilot or other features on. Road slightly damp from earlier rain. Driving approximately 60mph. Without me moving my hands or feet then car suddenly slammed on the brakes and speed decreased to approximately 20mph. I pulled over and reset the car computer by pressing the two buttons on the wheel and no further problems but had someone been behind me there would have been a terrible crash and my daughter was in the backseat. Looking online it seems Tesla "phantom braking" is not uncommon. I am frightened to drive my car ever again but have a 7 hour drive home tomorrow.

Filed Mar 13, 2024 · Driver assistance · 100 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds between 40-50 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road. The contact indicated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions at the same road location. Also, the contact indicated that the vehicle had erroneously attempted to switch lanes and at one time attempted to switch lanes into oncoming traffic. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100.

Filed Nov 10, 2023 · Driver assistance · IL

5 times on a cross country trip, I experienced the phenomenon of "phantom braking" . As I was driving with Adaptive Cruise on, doing approximately the speed limit, the brakes were automatically applied and the car started to rapidly slow down. Luckily there was no one behind me so I was not rear ended ! I immediately took the car to the local Tesla service center thinking there was a problem with the car, but they told me this is a know issue with no solution at present. One tech told me he has a Tesla himself and has experienced the same issue ! He told me that he just punches the accelerator and keeps on driving !

Filed Oct 22, 2023 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · TX

While driving using cruise control, in the space of 9-10 miles, the vehicle had 14-16 instances of sudden, unexpected braking for no reason. Most were moderate braking incidents slowing the car 15-30 mph before I hit the accelerator to get the car back up to speed. 2 incidents were where the car slowed 5-10 mph then resumed speed. Very disconcerting. There was little to no traffic on the road and in every case, there was no other car within a 1/2 mile or more to the front. Finally got fed up with this and turned off cruise. Left cruise control off as I passed through a city then decided to try it again. Soon after engaging cruise at 72 mph, the car suddenly and violently braked for no reason. It was such a hard braking that one of my dogs in the back seat crashed into the front seat. The hard braking continued until the speed was about 20 mph at which point, I hit the accelerator in order to resume speed. Note that no other car was visible on the roadway which was a 4 lane highway. Conditions were clear and dry. Soon after this incident, while still on cruise, the car suddenly braked moderately hard. Since the road was clear before and behind me, I decided to see what would happen. The car slowed to 38 mph and stayed at that speed for 3-4 seconds then slowly resumed the set speed. A short time later 1-2 miles further, the exact same sequence happened again. Again, note the road was clear with zero traffic ahead of or behind me. I then turned off cruise and decided to drive manually the rest of the way. This car is dangerous and should be removed from the road

Filed Aug 29, 2023 · Acceleration, Brakes · NM

From Aug 23 to 28, 2023, we traveled in our 2020 Tesla Model S Long Range Plus vehicle from Santa Fe, NM to San Diego, CA and back, for a total distance of approximate 2100 miles. We drove primarily interstates (I-25, I-10, I-8, I-5) where speed limits ranged from 55 to 75. We experienced numerous instances of what is known to Tesla owners as sudden, severe "phantom braking" [hereinafter PB] while the cruise control was activated (not AutoPilot, nor FSD, just cruise control). In ALL instances, no cars or other objects were visible within 1 mile ahead of our vehicle, and in ALL instances, these "phantom braking" incidents happened on absolutely flat, straight, smooth road surfaces, at all times of day, morning, noon, and night. This car has had PB problems since the day was purchased; in fact on that day, there were at least two sudden PB incidents while I drove home in the new car! At numerous times since, I've reported these problems to Tesla Service---to no avail. The problem is widely known among Tesla owners, and to my knowledge no owner has been able to get Tesla to do anything. On this most recent long-distance trip, our PB incidents happened typically at the posted speed limit of 75mph in all-clear situations---nobody else anywhere remotely nearby. The car would be operating smoothly when all of a sudden the brakes would engage and the vehicle would rapidly decelerate, throwing forward anything not fastened down inside the car. Because of the history of this problem, I NEVER activate cruise control whenever ANY vehicle is near the rear of the car, as I can never tell if my car will "phantom brake" at that moment, causing a possible accident. I consider this problem VERY dangerous. I have owned this car since 2020, and Tesla has refused to do anything to fix it, always coming up with one or other stalling technique or excuse. I consider this an extreme safety flaw of this car and hope the federal safety agency can help to force Tesla to fix it once and for all.

Filed Aug 25, 2023 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CO

Vehicle braked without warning with cruise control engaged. Luckily there were no other vehicles near us when this phantom braking occurred.

Filed Jul 30, 2023 · Driver assistance · CA

The adaptive cruise control has had phantom braking issues from day 1 of ownership (and through every software release from Tesla as I always update when a new one is available). Most of the time it's not possible to identify exactly what triggers the event. However, on July 27th 2023 I drove from Phoenix to Sacramento via I10, I210, I5 and had 6 phantom braking events. 5 were directly correlated with passing a semi with me in the #1 lane and the semi in #2. I had the car in adaptive cruise control mode, but I maintained steering control. The car approached the semis normally, but as soon as the car was completely alongside the truck it began braking aggressively. More than just allowing regenerative braking to slow the car, the brakes were applied. This did not happen with every passed truck, maybe 1 in 10. One of the 6 phantom events could not be correlated with any clearly identifiable cause. There is no warning when the car begins decelerating so it is a surprise to the driver. Further it is an extreme hazard to following vehicles who WILL be forced to react. I have not directly reported my specific events to Tesla. For one thing they have no reasonable way to do this (online access, phone access. The number they give to report problems hits an automated phone tree where there is no option for reporting issues). Clearly Tesla is well aware of their phantom braking issues. I'm reporting this to you now in order to apply more pressure to Tesla to finally resolve this. In general, considering some of the other phantom braking episode beyond this one specific trip, I have occasionally noticed the car displays a yellow signal light on the driver's display but only while phantom braking has already begun. I believe this is case where the car believed it saw a caution sign or signal light in it's cameras and was reacting to that. There were no signal lights, but the sun was either coming in that direction or reflected off of other vehicles or buildings.

Filed Jul 16, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA

During a road trip (May 2023) with cruise control activated, I had at least 5 phantom braking events. The most serious was in Las Vegas on the freeway with a very severe braking event. I now no longer use cruise control in crowded traffic so that I won't get rear ended when a phantom braking event happens.