2021 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 239owner reports
- 7,500median miles
- $2,800median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Jun 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
452 of the 664 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 239 of those describe phantom braking. Only driver assist is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 239 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 (39 reports) and the radar or camera sensor (35 reports).
Recalls and investigations
4 recalls on collision avoidance cover the 2021 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.
The fisheye and narrow camera cable terminals were incorrectly installed in the cable harness connector, resulting in swapped camera views.
A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
All 22 recalls on the 2021 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.
What owners paid
6 of the 239 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,576 to $3,400.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,500 and 31,043 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My Tesla Model 3 Phantom Brakes when using Cruise Control, particularly in the morning when the road is clear, no cars or obstacles in front or behind me. The NHTSA KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND I HAVE PREVIOUSLY MADE THIS COMPLAINT. I contacted Tesla to no avail. They did nothing. WHY HASN'T THE NHTSA DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS AN ACCIDENT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN.”
Filed Aug 20, 2023
“When cruise control is activated at highways speeds, vehicle sometimes brakes abruptly for no reason whatsoever. Issue is phantom braking. No other cars in sight, no changes in speed limits. Happened repeatedly on CA Hwy 46 between Interstate 5 and US 101 on 7/31/23 and 8/2/23. Similar instances observed on other highways, too.”
Filed Aug 4, 2023
“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
“For the past week, my car phantom braked with no obvious danger from a parked car. It just happens on a city road, not a freeway. Ithappened about 4 times”
Filed Nov 17, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 239 reports involved a crash and 3 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 grind, pulse or wear early 125 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 76 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 59 reports