2021 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out
- 75owner reports
- 7,500median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Aug 31, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026
75 of the 657 complaints on this car describe false collision warning.
Tick what matches of 75 reports
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the software (16 reports), the forward camera (9 reports) and the radar sensor (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on collision avoidance covers the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“My full self driving computer has crashed for the 3rd time since owning the vehicle which controls all of the cars safety features.. Tesla says they wonât do anything because the car is past the warranty by 9,000 miles.. so Iâm basically stuck with a 1980âs Tesla.”
Filed Apr 18, 2023 · 9,000 miles
“Phantom braking when using cruise control. Car suddenly braking or rapidly decelerating for now discernible reason when traveling at speed on highways, both two-lane and multilane. The problem has occurred many times since first acquired in December 2021.”
Filed Feb 2, 2022
“Phantom braking events on most every type of road and drive when using cruise control, not autopilot or other automated systems. Standard cruise control is unusable and is a safety concern with constant warning alerts and automatic emergency braking when other vehicles pass by safely in the adjacent lane.”
Filed Dec 17, 2021
“Traffic Aware Cruise Control in the 2021 Model 3 is down right dangerous. Constant random braking for no reason at all. Happens multiple times if I use TACC on 2 lane roads. Happens nearly every time I use TACC on a 4 lane road. If I have traffic behind me I cannot use TACC at all for fear I would be rear ended.”
Filed Nov 16, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 75 reports involved a crash and 1 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.
Other problems on this car
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 261 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 239 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 124 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 57 reports