Verified government source

NHTSA complaint #11510345

This page summarizes an official U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration owner complaint. Use the verification links below to confirm the record directly with NHTSA.

Vehicle

2022 TESLA MODEL 3

Manufacturer

Tesla, Inc.

Components

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Dates

Incident: 03/05/2023
Filed: 03/06/2023

Owner complaint summary

Since taking ownership of vehicle in summer 2022, have experienced multiple incidents of vehicle emergency braking for no apparent reason while using cruise control. In a few instances when I have attempted to use cruise control again after initial phantom braking incident, there is a 2nd incident of emergency like braking for no apparent reason in the same trip. Have never attempted to reuse cruise control within same trip after experiencing issue twice in that one trip. When phantom braking occurs: - It is while using cruise control (with or without steering assist). - There is no audible or visual warning (not even from auto emergency braking system) before or during vehicle braking. - Is a very strong braking force akin to an emergency maneuver. - There is no clear reason for why vehicle braked - no obstacles in road or slowing traffic. - Level of traffic (light or moderate) does not seem to be a factor, but I don't use system in moderate to heavy traffic. - Weather does not appear to be a factor - it can occur in perfect driving conditions (sunny, clear day). In most recent incident, was traveling at 78mph on highway with no traffic in front or behind vehicle for approx. a half mile in either direction. Without warning or reason, vehicle began to brake hard, slowing vehicle down to 62mph before I could disengage system (approx 1-2seconds). Unclear how low vehicle would brake to if cruise control wasn't disengaged. Cruise control feature feels extremely risky to the point that view as unusable in almost all driving situations (even if would be a good time to use cruise control).

This is an owner complaint filed with NHTSA (ODI #11510345). It is not automatically an official recall, investigation outcome, or manufacturer admission unless the complaint text itself describes one.

Official record ID (ODI): 11510345. This page is the human-readable source link used across afterwarranty. The raw JSON link proxies NHTSA's public API for machine verification; prefer this page when reading the complaint.