NHTSA Complaint #11561206 — 2018 TESLA MODEL 3

VISIBILITY/WIPER issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	11561206
Vehicle	2018 TESLA MODEL 3
Component	VISIBILITY/WIPER
Date of Incident	November 27, 2023
Date Filed	December 20, 2023
Mileage	N/A miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	MN

Consumer Description

The only cabin heating and defrosting mechanism in early model 3s, a PTC heater, is prone to failure leaving the vehicle without the ability to maintain clear vision through the front and side windows. This occurred on my model 3 in November of 2023 and Tesla was unable to source parts for several weeks, with a cost of $900. This failure is extremely common among model 3 in cold weather environments and is well documented online.

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#11694004 — October 17, 2025 — The center display (Vehicle Pad) on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 went completely blank while driving. This eliminated access...

#11652498 — April 3, 2025 — 1. PTC Heater, old part is available for inspection 2. PTC heater failed while driving, experienced loss of power and...

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