Tesla Model 3 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 4,228 owner complaints and 35 safety recalls for the Tesla Model 3. That averages 100.4 complaints per year on the road — far more complaints than typical (index 2.39 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #8 of 10 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 56.4.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, NHTSA has logged 4,228 owner complaints and 35 safety recalls for the Tesla Model 3, averaging 100.4 complaints per year which is far more than typical at an index of 2.39 against all tracked vehicles. The trend is worsening with the 2022 model year showing the highest rate of 163.3 complaints per year and running at least 50% above the model's own average, while half of all reported incidents occur within 27 months of the model year's start. Driver-assist systems account for 31.0% of complaints and are 5.4 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles, with recurring terms including "autopilot", "phantom", "cruise", "control" and "braking". Owners report 240 injuries and 16 deaths across all model years, while 442 complaints or 10.5% describe a crash or fire, and the latest open investigation covers "Lower Lateral Link detachment".
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 202% above the 2018 and 2019 models (252 early complaints per model year versus 91).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (163.3 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (67.0). The 2022 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Driver-assist systems (31.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (13.1%) and Brakes (12.2%). Driver-assist systems complaints are 5.4 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “autopilot”, “phantom”, “cruise”, “control” and “braking”. 442 complaints (10.5%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 240 injuries and 16 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 509 complaints versus 512 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (100). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 27 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 35 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (12), 19 fixable over the air. 18 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 6 still open; the latest is “Lower Lateral Link detachment” (opened 2026-07-29, still open).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model X and Ford Mustang Mach-E; Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,008 | 116.2 | 2.76 | 93 | 1.04 | 100 | 19 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2019 | 608 | 79.2 | 1.88 | 89 | 1.1 | 61 | 22 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2020 Fewest complaints | 447 | 67.0 | 1.59 | 71 | 1.25 | 50 | 21 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2021 | 657 | 115.8 | 2.75 | 411 | 6.72 | 52 | 22 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2022 Years to research carefully | 763 | 163.3 | 3.88 | 593 | 8.02 | 56 | 18 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2023 | 417 | 113.5 | 2.7 | 326 | 3.92 | 57 | 12 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2024 | 215 | 80.4 | 1.91 | 179 | 2.55 | 69 | 5 | Interior & equipment | View › |
| 2025 | 113 | 67.6 | 1.61 | — | — | 64 | 3 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 509 · Previous 12 months: 512 Steady
Problem areas
Driver-assist systems ›
1,312 · 31.0% · 5.41 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- cruise616
- autopilot423
- phantom431
- braking550
Electrical ›
552 · 13.1% · 0.83 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- visibility prevention25
- system visibility25
- safety restraint36
- screen85
Airbags & seat belts ›
347 · 8.2% · 2.15 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- restraint211
- system fault136
- passenger safety99
- front passenger125
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
285 · 6.7% · 2.7 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- suspension158
- lateral73
- control arm71
- front168
Body & structure ›
241 · 5.7% · 0.62 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- windshield69
- wipers38
- rain38
- visibility37
Other
123 · 2.9% · 1.61 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- accelerated44
- suddenly37
- front47
- acceleration27
Transmission / powertrain ›
83 · 2.0% · 0.17 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- charge14
- accelerated12
- center16
- reverse12
Lighting ›
51 · 1.2% · 0.77 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- turn signal18
- headlight12
- buttons10
- rear tail6
Engine ›
44 · 1.0% · 0.05 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- contactor3
- charge8
- inverter4
- motor8
Fuel system
20 · 0.5% · 0.11 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- charge7
- pcs3
- battery8
- pack3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- autopilot645
- phantom625
- cruise924
- control1378
- braking898
- front1092
- restraint268
- fsd239
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 27 months
What owners report
Client left the road and the vehicle hit a tree by the roadside. The vehicle caught fire and client was incapacitated and unable to operate the door handle from the inside or unlock the doors.
On XXX at approximately 12:56 PM Pacific on [XXX], my 2024 Tesla Model 3 VIN [XXX] was operating in Full Self-Driving (Supervised).
This is a follow-up to a previously submitted complaint regarding the same issue. I am submitting this update to reference NHTSA's recently opened investigation into 2018-2019 Tesla Model 3 suspension failures. Previous complaint ID is 11732882.
Tesla replaced the windshield on my 2021 Model 3 at the Tesla Service Center in Schaumburg, IL. Days after the installation, following a light rain, a film appeared on the exterior surface of the glass.
With its latest upgrade, 2026.20.6.11 with full self-driving V14 Light, Tesla no longer allows users to set a max speed. This is very dangerous, especially in school zones where the vehicle, with Full Self-Driving, consistently misreads the speed limit.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Electric vehicles
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model S | 708 | 17.4 | 0.41 | Worsening | Falling | 31 | Interior & equipment |
| 2 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | 532 | 17.8 | 0.42 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Electrical |
| 3 | Tesla Model X | 736 | 18.6 | 0.44 | Worsening | Falling | 33 | Interior & equipment |
| 4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 650 | 28.9 | 0.69 | Improving | Steady | 0 | Electrical |
| 5 | Ford F-150 Lightning | 536 | 33.4 | 0.79 | Improving | Falling | 2 | Electrical |
| 6 | Kia EV6 | 535 | 38.5 | 0.91 | Improving | Rising | 5 | Electrical |
| 7 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 991 | 48.7 | 1.16 | Worsening | Steady | 24 | Electrical |
| 8 | Tesla Model 3 | 4,228 | 100.4 | 2.39 | Worsening | Steady | 35 | Driver-assist systems |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,319 | 114.8 | 2.73 | Improving | Rising | 14 | Electrical |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 3,749 | 128.3 | 3.05 | Stable | Steady | 36 | Driver-assist systems |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 35
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 19
Safety recalls: 2018 (19) · 2019 (22) · 2020 (21) · 2021 (22) · 2022 (18) · 2023 (12) · 2024 (5) · 2025 (3)
Investigations
- Lower Lateral Link detachment Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 156 complaints alleging a suspension failure in model year (MY) 2018-2020 Model 3 and MY 2021-2023 Model Y vehicles. The suspension failure involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link, which potentially causes a loss of vehicle directional control. In most cases, there was no advance warning or indication that the suspension failur…
- FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Teslaâs Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the systemâs ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient t…
- Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable. Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a defect petition received on November 24, 2025, requesting an investigation into the emergency mechanical door release in 2022 Model Year (MY) Tesla Model 3. The petition alleges that the controls for the emergency mechanical door release are not accessible and clearly identifiable and thus fail to comply with Federal Motor V…
- Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (âODIâ) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute traï¬c safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automat…
- Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (âODIâ) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. (âTeslaâ) in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the âSGOâ), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the Standing General Order in place at the time required a…
- Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts. Closed
On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private prope…
Frequently asked questions
Which Tesla Model 3 model year has the most complaints?
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (163.3 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (67.0).
Is the Tesla Model 3 getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 202% above the 2018 and 2019 models (252 early complaints per model year versus 91). In the last 12 months owners filed 509 complaints versus 512 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Tesla Model 3 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Driver-assist systems (31.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (13.1%) and Brakes (12.2%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “autopilot”, “phantom”, “cruise”, “control” and “braking”.
How does the Tesla Model 3 compare with other Electric vehicles?
Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #8 of 10 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 56.4. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model X and Ford Mustang Mach-E; Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y have more.
Does the Tesla Model 3 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 35 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (12), 19 fixable over the air. 18 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 6 still open; the latest is “Lower Lateral Link detachment” (opened 2026-07-29, still open).