2018 Tesla Model 3 automatic emergency braking problems
286 of the 1,028 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Tesla Model 3 name the automatic emergency braking (NHTSA’s “Forward Collision Avoidance” heading — forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the automatic emergency braking
Source: NHTSA complaint database42 of the 286 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 15 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 2 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 153 · 2023: 61 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 16
Half of the 12 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the automatic emergency braking problem between 15,000 and 50,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,028 complaints in all about the 2018 Tesla Model 3, 16 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Forward Collision Avoidance” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Tesla Model 3 automatic emergency braking problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the automatic emergency braking. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
On multiple occasions while my car was in Autopilot mode on highways and at highway speeds, I have experienced rapid braking (phantom braking) when there was no apparent reason for such. All of the phantom braking events have occurred on sunny days, usually around mid-day.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds with the vehicle in auto pilot mode, the vehicle would erroneously reduce speed and on occasions nearly come to a complete stop. On one occasion while driving approximately 70 MPH, the speed was suddenly reduced to 10 MPH.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 40 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle responded and accelerated as needed.
Many times when I am driving using the adaptive speed control the vehicle will suddenly brake very hard, slamming on the brake, scaring the driver and all passengers in the car. When this happens, there were no other vehicles near our vehicle at the time.
When using autopilot on the freeway there are multiple incidents where the brakes are aggressively applied for no apparent reason
What is on file about the automatic emergency braking
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 21V846000 HighOct 29, 2021 · 11,728 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
NHTSA investigation
- PE22002 Unexpected Brake Activationopened Feb 16, 2022 · closed Jun 29, 2026
- On February 16, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22002) to investigate reports of unexpected deceleration while driving with the adaptive cruise control system engaged in Model Year (MY) 2021 – 2022 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured by Tesla. The subject systems include Autopilot (all versions), Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Traffic Aware Cru…
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Tesla Model 3
Source: the same files- suspension problems 187 complaints
- electrical problems 169 complaints
- airbag problems 146 complaints
- seat belt problems 105 complaints
- cruise control problems 90 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre automatic emergency braking problems common on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 286 owner complaints naming the automatic emergency braking on this model year (28% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the automatic emergency braking on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 21V846000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do automatic emergency braking problems show up on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 28,200 miles; half of them between 15,000 and 50,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Forward Collision Avoidance" heading cover?
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.