2019 Tesla Model 3 brake problems
63 of the 615 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Tesla Model 3 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). 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 brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database8 of the 63 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 2
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
615 complaints in all about the 2019 Tesla Model 3, 2 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 “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Tesla Model 3 brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Took my car five times for brake/suspension clicking, driver seat noise (bulletin already available), and steering column rattle ( advised by Tesla to move the steering a little because it touching the instrument panel ( bad design and shouldn't the customer change his comfort to comfort the bad design by Tesla.), also has issue with…
I, deputy a. Sabrsula #5090 with travis county sheriff's office highway enforcement unit responded to a collision on laguna cliff rd. a female backed out of her driveway, and upon placing her vehicle in "drive" mode, the Tesla "took off out of no where" and caused the vehicle to drive through a neighbors front gate/fence cluster and…
1. Phantom braking while driving on autopilot: mostly on highways, when driving on autopilot, the car suddenly applies brakes for no reason and no obstacle or vehicle in front of the car. This may lead to someone hitting me from behind (rear ending) as that driver would not expect my car to slow down. 2.
Driving on highway 280, the auto-pilot stopped working and driving became erratic and unsafe with random accelerations/decelerations. I had no choice but to keep on driving. Tesla kept confusing me with their service arrangements while I needed to use the car every day. It took a week to arrange for service.
While driving in the left-most lane on mopac expressway in austin (although has happened other times and places as well) with "full self driving" autopilot engaged (and with the car having been in control for quite some time before this), the vehicle slammed on the brakes for no apparent reason.
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 21V387000 HighMay 25, 2021 · 5,974 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model 3 and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Tesla Model 3
Source: the same files- automatic emergency braking problems 231 complaints
- electrical problems 91 complaints
- airbag problems 86 complaints
- suspension problems 83 complaints
- cruise control problems 71 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 63 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (10% 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 brakes on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 21V387000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.