2023 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 92owner reports
- 5,000median miles
- 13involved a crash
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
219 of the 427 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 92 of those describe phantom braking, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2023 Model 3.
Tick what matches of 92 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 radar or camera sensor (10 reports) and the software (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2023 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
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 2,000 and 11,000 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Since purchasing this vehicle in May 2023 I have had four (4) instances of the vehicle automatically braking (phantom braking) while traveling at a higher speed on the interstate using cruise control (Autopilot). This has occurred during both daylight and nighttime driving. At the time it occurred, only once was there a vehicle in front of me, but far enough away that the auto braking should not have activated.”
Filed Jul 24, 2023
“When driving in highway using autopilot, the car suddenly slammed on the brakes. This made no sense at all as there were no cars in front of it.”
Filed Jul 13, 2023
“Phantom braking occurred 3 times over the span of several minutes while driving at highway speeds. The first two incidents occurred while utilizing Autosteer. The third time occurred while only using cruise control.”
Filed Jul 9, 2023
“Multiple times the car while on cruise control has slammed on brakes due to seemingly nothing. It's without warning our alert and it is extremely violent. It happens at least once every week.”
Filed Jul 3, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 13 of 92 reports involved a crash and 4 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 84 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 56 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 38 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 31 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 25 reports