Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The reason that I'm currently writing you this letter is to report an incident that happened on Sep. 16th, 2025. This is the date that I was very excited because I got my first EV - Tesla Model 3 new car. Me and my wife went over to the delivery plant in Fefe, Washington. The address is 3701 20th St. E., Fife, WA 98424. We took the car and I myself drove it back home around 2:45ish (-3 :00 pm the latest). It was just two blocks away from the plant outbound to the eastward trying to get to the entry of the highway. I stopped my car on my brake, and suddenly my car went forward by itself. This unintended acceleration caused me to hit the car in front of me. We had to stop in the next parking lot on my left side as soon as we passed the traffic light. This intersection happened right at the intersection of 54th Ave. E (Northbound) and Pacific Highway E. I hit the car in front of me. …
On September 7, 2025 at ~7:53 PM, my 2025 Tesla Model 3 operating with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged performed an aggressive, uncommanded turn while under computer control. The maneuver occurred so abruptly that I could not safely override steering before impact, and a crash resulted. The Tesla app Trip View for Trip 3 (7:34-7:53 PM) shows "Vehicle on FSD" for 18 min 54 sec and records an "Aggressive Turning" event at 7:53 PM (2.0 sec) immediately before the trip ended (screenshot attached). This reflects a steering/driver-assist control defect in FSD's turning behavior and a failure of collision-mitigation to prevent the crash. I sustained bodily injuries and the vehicle incurred significant damage. I request that this incident be treated as a safety-critical malfunction warranting investigation and corrective action.
The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 65 MPH, and was driving on the exit ramp, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's daughter stated that the brake pedal felt hard. The contact's daughter used the emergency brake but failed to function as intended. In addition, the steering wheel locked. The contact's daughter, to avoid hitting the vehicle in front, was able to pull over to the side of the road using excessive force on the steering wheel, and hit a tree, where it came to a stop. The driver-side air bags and side curtain air bags deployed. Three of the contact's daughters were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The contact's daughter suffered three fractures in her left eye, three fingers on her left hand were fractured, and the seat belt left a burn on her neck. …
About two weeks ago with driver set cruise control, the phantom braking was so severe that it took me down from 75 to around 15 if I remember correctly. The braking was so severe and at the same time self steered to the edge of the road along the guard rail that my body was unable to move quicker to correct the vehicle. Your system gets jolted violently without notice which takes a couple seconds to recover from and I decided to report this one after watching the San Francisco video. Fortunately, the two vehicles behind me were far enough away. This is absolutely not OK, I have had several severe braking incidents and each time it not only takes about 2-3 seconds to correct but also created back pain.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while entering a parking lot, the brake pedal failed to respond, the driver was unable to control the steering wheel and crashed into a Ford vehicle and a tree. The air bags deployed, and the vehicle stopped shortly after. The forward collision emergency braking system failed to engage. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and shoulder and had bruises. Medical attention was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 12,166.
The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the third floor of a parking garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to full speed unintendedly, and the steering wheel and the brake pedal were inoperable, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a wall and crashed into the vehicle in front, and the vehicle stopped. No further information was available. No warning lights were illuminated. The front driver's side air bag deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at 40-60 MPH and making a turn using the self-driving mode, the brake pedal was depressed. However, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently at a higher speed. The contact depressed the brake pedal several times but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle crashed into the front passenger's side door of another occupied vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact briefly lost consciousness. The contact sustained soreness on the nose, the throat, the upper back shoulders, and increasingly on the back. Additionally, the contact sustained emotional trauma. The contact stated that she was in the process of seeking medical assistance. The two passengers occupying the front driver's seat and the front passenger's seat of the other vehicle sought medical assistance. …
The contact owned a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while her husband was driving 35 mph on traffic aware/cruise control, he attempted to depress the brake pedal but it failed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated the brake warning light was illuminated. The driver purposely steered the vehicle into a tree to not hit a house. The air bags did deploy. The driver had bruising on both legs, lower abdomen, and pelvic areas. The driver sought medical attention with his primary care, four days later of the accident. The police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,224.
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Critical fasteners
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model 3 and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021.
Frequently asked questions
Which Tesla Model 3 years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2022 (168), 2021 (126), 2018 (89), 2019 (63) and 2023 (56) model years. Brake complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2022.
Is there a recall for Tesla Model 3 brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 21V-387 (critical fasteners, May 25, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Tesla Model 3 brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 11,000 miles; 94% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the electrical (1 mentions), followed by the power assist (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.