2022 Tesla Model 3

Forward Collision System

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 Tesla Model 3 has 522 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) drove the vehicle onto a curb inadvertently, a few days after a software update. The incident caused a scratch to the wheel and a cut in the tire. Tesla has refused to cover the repair, stating that FSD requires driver attention. The issue is that the vehicle had never driven into a curb on a 90-degree turn before. I had my hands on the wheel and did not anticipate the software making an incorrect decision and striking the curb. Full Self-Driving was engaged at the time, and the software made an incorrect calculation that resulted in the impact. Tesla should replace the damaged tire and repair the wheel. I have the 1 min recording of the incident but could not upload the video due ot its size being more than 10 MB.” (NHTSA Complaint #11716577)

Vehicle Speed Control,Forward Collision Avoidance

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 Tesla Model 3 has 150 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “My family and I were in my Tesla Model 3 2022 and heading from Charlotte to Orlando on [XXX]. The car was in Full Self-Drive (FSD) mode while commuting through Daytona Beach. The rain was heavy in the area. While driving in Daytona Beach, FSD caused the car to change lanes and go to a lane that had standing rain puddles on [XXX]. After FSD caused the lane change, the car immediately hydroplaned out of control. The car’s short clearance from it’s bottom and the ground which traps water that exacerbates hydroplaning, along with its generative breaking feature made matters worse and uncontrollable. The car spun into the median three times and settled in the middle of danger interstate. The car is totalled. My family and I require medical attention and counseling due to the trauma. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11693098)

Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance

Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2022 Tesla Model 3 has generated 144 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “Tesla Model 3 while using the “FSD” or auto pilot mode will do what’s called “phantom breaking” with its emergency breaking system. This is very scary…”

Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance

Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2022 Tesla Model 3 has generated 96 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “I'm not quite sure what component was affected, some module of some sort got water in or near it that wasn't supposed to. It is available for inspecti…”

Other Systems

The 2022 Tesla Model 3 has generated 64 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “While I was making a left turn my steering wheel suddenly got stuck. A vehicle almost hit me.” (NHTSA Complaint #11718376)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2022 Tesla Model 3

The following 16 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Tesla Model 3 by the NHTSA or Tesla. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Tesla Model 3:

• 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
• 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
• 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Tesla to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Tesla must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2022 Tesla Model 3 qualifies as a lemon under California law, Tesla may be legally required to:

• Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
• Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
• Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Tesla pays all legal fees if you prevail
• Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Tesla willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2022 Tesla Model 3 Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Tesla a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Tesla dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Tesla pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Tesla a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2022 Tesla Model 3 Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2022 Tesla Model 3 as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Tesla pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Tesla is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2022 Tesla Model 3?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.