2022 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out
- 91owner reports
- 3,300median miles
- 9involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
91 of the 765 complaints on this car describe false collision warning.
Tick what matches of 91 reports
False collision warning 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: 2019, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This group is about the forward collision warning itself. Owners describe alarms with nothing ahead, a forward camera that fails or reports itself blocked, and other safety features shutting off at the same moment. A lot of them happen at highway speed, and a lot end with a dealer who couldn't reproduce it.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the software (11 reports), the forward camera (5 reports) and the radar sensor (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
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“While at a red light, my car was stopped with Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) on. When the car in front of me nudged forward, my car, still in FSD , accelerated and drove into the car in front. Looking at the event report of my car, the automatic emergency break did engage but too late. This means the sensors in front failed to recognize the vehicle ahead.”
Filed Sep 29, 2025
“When using auto pilot (adaptive cruise control), the car randomly slams on its brakes on its own, specifically when near semi trucks.”
Filed Feb 18, 2022
“On two occasions I've been driving on a highway using autopilot at 70 MPH and the car started to brake for no reason. During one of the incidents the car also started to steer to the right and also cause a crash.”
Filed Feb 17, 2022
“The autopilot feature which keeps the car in it's lane and speeds up or brakes the vehicle based on its surroundings is not functioning properly. It slams on the brakes whenever a semi-truck or large vehicle is driving in the opposite lane on a two-lane road. Especially if there is a bend in the road. It thinks that a forward collision is going to take place.”
Filed Feb 2, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 9 of 91 reports involved a crash and 5 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 349 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 341 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 167 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 41 reports