2021 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 59owner reports
- 17,000median miles
- $2,576median quote
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Sep 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
181 of the 664 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 59 of those describe infotainment.
Tick what matches of 59 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 (35 reports), the camera (23 reports) and the software (22 reports).
Recalls and investigations
10 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
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 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.
A software error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance.
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.
All 22 recalls on the 2021 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
5 of the 59 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,404 to $9,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,100 and 79,000 miles, from the 8 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2021 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 ...
What owners wrote
“Resistive occupancy sensor consistently failing causing: -Bluetooth to not automatically connect anytime the vehicle is entered - vehicle puts itself in park to prevent rollback if seatbelt is not applied - car does not recognize when driver is in seat These are serious safety concerns as it could cause a domino effect in safety features if not applied when needed.”
Filed Sep 8, 2025
“Autopilot feature is now unstable as I get constant nags if I look away for a few seconds to check my surroundings or check my navigation.i have been locked out of the feature multiple times over the past week forcing me to make navigation changes while manually driving.”
Filed Jan 3, 2024
“Electrical system rebooted in the middle of driving: screen went off couldn't signal i swayed to the side and waited till the screen came back on after 3 minutes.”
Filed Jul 17, 2023
“The screen keeps freezing while Iâm driving. It freezes and after a while the screen shuts off and resets. The most dangerous situation was when while I was on the interstate between Barstow and Baker. The screen screen recently froze while driving on August 20th around 255pm”
Filed Aug 24, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 59 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. 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
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 262 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 239 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 125 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 76 reports