2018 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 100owner reports
- 24,500median miles
- 9involved a crash
Newest report Aug 20, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
285 of the 1,026 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 100 of those describe phantom braking.
Tick what matches of 100 reports
Phantom braking on other Model 3 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Phantom braking is a car that brakes hard on its own, often at highway speed, with nothing in the road ahead. About one owner in five mentions a near miss with the car behind.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the software (22 reports) and the radar or camera sensor (17 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on collision avoidance cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds.
A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
All 19 recalls on the 2018 Tesla Model 3, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Model 3
Sudden unintended acceleration. Open.
Unexpected brake activation. Closed jun 29, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 41,023 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My Model 3 regularly brakes at highway speeds for no reason it does this in daylight but more frequently at night also - it appears more common in the rain - where reflections off the wet pavement seems to appear as solid objects to the cruise control i have stopped using the cruise control now - it is frightening to have the car suddenly slam on the brakes at highway speeds”
Filed Mar 9, 2022
“I read in the news that you are investigating phantom braking in cars without radar. I want to make sure you are aware that this is also affecting cars with radar. Each software update makes it worse as they seem to use the radar less and less.”
Filed Feb 18, 2022
“Phantom braking- was driving at 65mph and car hard braked and decreased to 55mph in 1 or 2 seconds”
Filed Feb 17, 2022
“My 2018 Tesla model 3 experiences âPHANTOM BRAKINGâ specifically and repeatedly traveling eastbound on the Loop 202 approaching 32nd street in Phoenix AZ. I have reported this issue to Tesla with no resolution.”
Filed Feb 17, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 9 of 100 reports involved a crash and 4 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 186 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 152 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 142 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 131 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 88 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 82 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 38 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 32 reports
- Full Self-Driving (FSD) does something unsafe 29 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 26 reports