2019 Tesla Model 3 automatic emergency braking problems
231 of the 615 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 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. 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 database17 of the 231 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 2 · 2021: 21 · 2022: 110 · 2023: 60 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 9
Half of the 17 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the automatic emergency braking problem between 20,000 and 41,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
615 complaints in all about the 2019 Tesla Model 3, 9 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.
Consistent "phantom breaking" when autopilot is engaged. There is not an option for a regular cruise control, rather, Tesla activates an autopilot feature when the cruise is activated - the adaptive breaking is consistently applying the breaks when there is no reason.
Phantom breaking on highways when approaching an overpass during daytime. Abrupt breaking on 5 fwy from 65mph Limit to 45 mph Limit when it is 65mph Limit
My radar-capable Tesla Model 3 is in the FSD beta program. As part of the program, Tesla disabled radar functionality. Unfortunately on vision the car brakes aggressively (10+ mph decrease) approximately one time per five miles on the local undivided highways of Central Oregon. This is not safe for me or for other drivers.
While driving with autopilot engaged (adaptive cruise control + automatic braking) the vehicle abruptly slams on the brakes even when there is no vehicle or objects in its path
During autopilot driving on highway, the car applied the brakes hard 2 times during my drive for no apparent reason. I was fortunate that no one was close behind me. This is a significant safety hazard
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.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Tesla Model 3
Source: the same files- electrical problems 91 complaints
- airbag problems 86 complaints
- suspension problems 83 complaints
- cruise control problems 71 complaints
- brake problems 63 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre automatic emergency braking problems common on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 231 owner complaints naming the automatic emergency braking on this model year (38% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is 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 2019 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 2019 Tesla Model 3?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 27,019 miles; half of them between 20,000 and 41,000. 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.