2019 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 60owner reports
- 15,000median miles
- $806median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Sep 13, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
186 of the 615 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 60 of those describe infotainment.
Tick what matches of 60 reports
Infotainment 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
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (33 reports), the camera (32 reports) and the software (17 reports).
Recalls and investigations
10 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights.
In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
The unit of speed (mph or km/h) may fail to display on the speedometer while in Track Mode. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds.
The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds.
The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt.
The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
The rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
All 22 recalls on the 2019 Tesla Model 3, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Model 3
Fsd collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions. Open.
Traffic safety violations while full self driving ("fsd") is engaged. Open.
Compliance with standing general order 2021-01 reporting requirements. Open.
Actually smart summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.. Closed apr 3, 2026.
Fsd collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions. Closed mar 18, 2026.
Recall 23v838 remedy effectiveness. Open.
Defect petition interlock request. Closed mar 18, 2026.
Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.
Autopilot system driver controls. Closed apr 25, 2024, led to recall 23V-085.
Tesla passenger play. Closed may 26, 2023.
Autopilot & first responder scenes. Closed jun 8, 2022.
Sudden unintended acceleration. Closed jan 8, 2021.
What owners paid
10 of the 60 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $495 to $2,100.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,056 and 65,000 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Tesla Model 3 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is ...
On some Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles, condensation might build up inside of the B-pillar applique, potentially obscuring the B-pillar camera.
What owners wrote
“Car in park in busy parking lot. Car reset itself to factory settings, profiles gone, everything at factory default. Put car in reverse, rear-view cameras pop on as expected, but as I'm in motion in reverse the cameras freeze and a dialog box pops up with details on "what's new in V11", preventing rear visibility.”
Filed Mar 8, 2023
“A recall was issued on Dec 21, 2021 regarding a potential camera issue due to a cable wearing out. It states that a remedy is unavailable. However, it has been almost a year since this recall and I believe this is not a reasonable time frame at this point. My camera has become glitchy and sometimes shows a green screen rather than the actual camera view”
Filed Nov 21, 2022
“The rearview camera of the Tesla Model 3 is defective and it will lead to an incident since I rely on it when going in reverse. Tesla issue a recall letter in February 2022 but has not provided an update or dates as to when the solid core coaxial able will be replaced. If you can put pressure on Tesla to replace this part ASAP before someone gets hurt.”
Filed Jun 30, 2022
“Telsa has not timely corrected the faulty wiring harness for the rear and side cameras causing an increased backing hazard.”
Filed Apr 10, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 60 reports involved a crash. 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
- Airbag warning light or recall 85 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 82 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 77 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 77 reports
- Full Self-Driving (FSD) does something unsafe 73 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 64 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 63 reports