2021 TESLA MODEL 3 Exterior Lighting Problems
8 NHTSA complaints on file
Exterior Lighting Issues in the 2021 TESLA MODEL 3
8 exterior lighting complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 TESLA MODEL 3. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Exterior Lighting Complaints
Vehicle's turn signal is not hardware based, but instead relies on the software registering signal use. The turn signal can be "fully" pressed, and "partially" pressed, and the behavior is supposed to be: Full press: Blinks until you manually disengage 1/2 press: Blinks 3 times, then automatically disengages. Anything "between" a full press and a half-press, ie beyond the level which is supposed to trigger a 3-time blink, but not "bottoming out" the signal, regularly fails to trigger the signal at all. This leads to scenarios in which the driver "thinks" they have signaled, and creates unsafe situations for surrounding vehicles.
The Tesla uses “auto high beam” when in autopilot. The pros of this can allow drivers to utilize the light so the cameras can detect anything to avoid any possible wrecks, but it does not have an option to be turned off. Along with other people online, my brights have flashed at people on the interstate and highways or haven’t turned off at all. This is irritating and limits the way I am comfortable with using autopilot. Please inform Tesla to make the auto high beam feature OPTIONAL.
Car brakes while using adaptive speed control. In one incident the car was traveling at 71 miles per hour and braked to 25 mph. In other situations the car braked by at least 5 mph, on some situations this happened while speed control was engaged and I was traveling at 50 mph or less. In all these situations, there was not another vehicle in front of me that posed an immediate threat of collision. The adaptive self dimming headlights do not work properly while driving at night. Lights do not always dim for approaching vehicles or when approaching another vehicle from behind. On some occasions the bright lights engage when approaching other vehicles OR dim when not approaching another vehicle. Other times the light repeatedly switch from bright to dim when following other vehicles. I reported these issues to TESLA. The response was that their engineers are aware of the...
https://youtube.com/channel/UCNkrwnR_lAKd4neLwYAbugA My YouTube channel has 13 videos about Tesla safety concerns. They are the only videos on my channel. The minutes long clips show what happens when the mainframe screen goes black, dies out or powers down while driving. Listed from memory are the following concerns associated with the Tesla ‘Black Screen of Death’: 1. No energy/distance shown 2. Glove box is inaccessible 3. Front trunk ‘Frunk’ cannot be opened 4. Proof of signalling is gone 5. Proof of low vs high beam is gone 6. Changing of wiper speed is gone 7. Access to heating/Air-Con is gone 8. Back up camera is obsolete 9. Cameras used when signalling are missing 10. Speedometer is not visible 11. Odometer is missing (have never found it on screen when running anyways!) 12 Air pressure indication is gone 13 GPS is obsolete From memory that is all I have to add. Imagine everything...
The passenger side headlight has stopped functioning on repeated occasions, both the high and low beams stop functioning simultaneously each time. I have been on long distance road trips now each time that this has occurred. Tesla service techs insist that it's software related in both instances and provide a software update. This alleviates the problem temporarily. I am currently insisting that they replace the unit completely, as these are not standard headlights that a consumer is able to purchase and replace at a parts retailer or any auto service center. Today, I got another service update, no replacement yet. The inherent danger in this practice is the amount of days and weeks required to schedule a service appointment, while operating the vehicle with one headlight and a complete inability to source an alternative resolution.
The model 3 no longer turns on the headlights automatically when the windshield wipers are on. It requires the operator to search through menus to turn the lights on manually. This is required even if the headlights are in automatic mode. Voice Command doesn't turn the headlights on either. I believe it is dangerous to be diverting eyes to a menu screen to turn the headlights on while driving in the rain. In addition, failure to turn on the headlights in my state is a moving violation.
Front right headlight on a brand new car no longer functions, safety was put at risk by the fact that it is illegal to drive on 1 working light in the dark and rain; and this happened thankfully before leaving home on a dark morning so it was detectable and actionable. Problem was confirmed by remote diagnostic from dealer. No warnings or messages before failure which was confirmed by Tesla representative on the phone. They have not inspected the component and will not return calls / have not responded to service scheduling for 3 days. There is no service possible when they have a monopoly on their supply chain and will not schedule service. My car is unsafe to drive and is basically a lemon at this point until they fix it.
Periodically one headlight starts flashing and my front turn signal won’t work. This typically happens in the middle of driving so I’m at risk of getting home safely.
Other 2021 TESLA MODEL 3 Problem Areas
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control
275 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
225 complaints
Service Brakes
123 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
119 complaints
Unknown Or Other
89 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings
73 complaints
Electrical System
58 complaints
Visibilitywiper
28 complaints
Steering
24 complaints
Lane Departure Assist
18 complaints
Power Train
16 complaints
Structurebody
13 complaints
Lane Departure Warning
12 complaints
Seat Belts
11 complaints
Suspension
11 complaints
Air Bags
7 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
7 complaints
Electrical Systemadasautonomousself Driving
6 complaints
Seats
6 complaints
Wheels
6 complaints
Engine
5 complaints
Back Over Prevention Rearview System Braking
3 complaints
Back Over Prevention Sensing System Camera
3 complaints
Back Over Prevention Warnings
3 complaints
Electrical Systemadas
3 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance
3 complaints
Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection
3 complaints
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatchemergency Mechanical Release
3 complaints
Electrical Systemhorn
2 complaints
Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints
Electrical Systembody Control Modulesoftware
1 complaint
Electrical Systempropulsion Systeminverter
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Cooling
1 complaint
Firerelated
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Controlsoftware
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Controlsoftwaresignagesignal Recognition
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Dynamic Brake Supportbrake Assist
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkages
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
1 complaint
Steeringautomatedadaptive Steering
1 complaint
Structure
1 complaint
Structurebodydoorhandleexterior
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
1 complaint
Visibility
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System
1 complaint