2022 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves
- 349owner reports
- 3,000median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Aug 7, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
585 of the 765 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 349 of those describe driver assist, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2022 Model 3.
Tick what matches of 349 reports
Driver assist 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
These reports come from drivers whose assistance systems did something they didn't ask for. Adaptive cruise switches itself off, or brakes for a car that isn't there. Lane keeping tugs the wheel toward the line, or a "sensor blocked" message appears on a clear day. Because both systems can brake or steer, owners tend to file them as safety complaints, and NHTSA files them under speed control, lane departure or forward collision.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the software (37 reports), the camera (22 reports) and the radar (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on collision avoidance covers the 2022 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.
All 18 recalls on the 2022 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 1,900 and 6,000 miles, from the 32 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“I have approximately 3300 miles on the car since new. I cannot safely use the adaptive cruise control feature because the car randomly applies significant braking. This has happened about 10 times in a variety of conditions including completely clear with the car recently cleaned.”
Filed Feb 17, 2022 · 3,300 miles
“Random "phantom braking" while on cruise control. Unexpected and significant braking. On icy or wet roads, this could cause a departure from the vehicle path and road. It happens often enough that I'm rarely using it anymore. And fora feature that is supposed to be a safety feature (reducing driver fatigue, backup to emergency braking, safe following etc.) this is very bad.”
Filed Feb 4, 2022
“Driving on a two lane rural road with a 55mph speed limit, I had traffic aware cruise control engaged with the speed set to 55 mph. A truck crested a hill coming the opposite direction, fully within their lane, and the car engaged the emergency breaking system. Fortunately, no one was behind me at the time as this could have resulted in me being rear-ended.”
Filed Feb 4, 2022
“When driving with cruise control on the car will suddenly apply brakes if it detects a car coming at me from the opposite lane. This is a safety hazard as the cars behind me would have no idea I would be stopping and poses a serious rear end threat.”
Filed Feb 2, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 349 reports involved a crash and 2 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
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 341 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 167 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 91 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 41 reports