Tesla Model 3 problems and recalls by year

4,356 owner complaints since 2005, most for the 2018 (1,031); 36 recalls, 18 investigations.

By model year

Model 3 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsMost-reported system
2026281Unknown or other
20251193Unknown or other
20242205Unknown or other
202342812Forward collision avoidance
202276718Forward collision avoidance
202166922Forward collision avoidance
202045121Forward collision avoidance
201961722Forward collision avoidance
20181,03119Suspension
20172616Air bags

Years with 100+ complaints

2025 Model 3: 119 complaints

26 crashes, 10 injuries · 25V690000, 25V002000, 24V935000

2025 Model 3, 119 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Unknown or other37—
Steering259,840
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control20—
Electrical system1512,300
Lane departure › Assist13—
Vehicle speed control13—
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking12—
Service brakes12—

2024 Model 3: 220 complaints

27 crashes, 1 fire, 19 injuries · 26V445000, 25V002000, 24V935000, 24V554000, 24V284000

2024 Model 3, 220 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Unknown or other71—
Electrical system3920,000
Steering3713,816
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control32—
Exterior lighting26—
Vehicle speed control20—
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking18—
Forward collision avoidance › Warnings14—

2023 Model 3: 428 complaints

73 crashes, 1 fire, 50 injuries, 1 death · 26V507000, 26V283000, 25V092000, 24V935000, 24V554000, 24V376000, 24V051000, 23V838000, 23V434000, 23V085000, 22V844000, 21V834000

2023 Model 3, 428 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control1146,730
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking972,000
Steering871,859
Vehicle speed control673,048
Unknown or other59—
Service brakes5412,166
Electrical system452,725
Forward collision avoidance › Warnings31—

2022 Model 3: 767 complaints

53 crashes, 4 fires, 45 injuries, 1 death · 26V507000, 26V283000, 24V935000, 24V554000, 24V376000, 24V153000, 24V051000, 23V838000, 23V085000, 22V798000, 22V702000, 22V296000, 22V263000, 22V235000, 22V063000, 22V050000, 22V045000, 22V037000

2022 Model 3, 767 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control3895,000
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking3064,235
Service brakes1673,500
Vehicle speed control1657,826
Forward collision avoidance › Warnings9121,372
Unknown or other9140
Electrical system5033,000
Steering3727,000

2021 Model 3: 669 complaints

46 crashes, 5 fires, 19 injuries, 8 deaths · 26V507000, 26V283000, 24V935000, 24V554000, 24V376000, 24V153000, 24V051000, 23V838000, 23V085000, 22V798000, 22V702000, 22V317000, 22V263000, 22V235000, 22V063000, 22V050000, 22V045000, 22V037000, 21V846000, 21V834000, 21V835000, 21V387000

2021 Model 3, 669 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control28214,169
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking23015,000
Service brakes12618,000
Vehicle speed control12212,400
Unknown or other941,600
Forward collision avoidance › Warnings76—
Electrical system665,100
Visibility/wiper311,900

2020 Model 3: 451 complaints

54 crashes, 2 fires, 33 injuries, 2 deaths · 26V507000, 24V935000, 24V376000, 24V153000, 24V051000, 23V838000, 23V085000, 22V798000, 22V702000, 22V263000, 22V235000, 22V169000, 22V063000, 22V045000, 22V037000, 21V00D000, 21V846000, 21V834000, 21V835000, 21V387000, 21V389000

2020 Model 3, 451 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control10725,000
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking8212,000
Unknown or other811,600
Vehicle speed control671,200
Service brakes461,250
Steering463,000
Suspension462,000
Electrical system389,800

2019 Model 3: 617 complaints

60 crashes, 5 fires, 30 injuries, 4 deaths · 26V507000, 24V935000, 24V376000, 24V153000, 24V051000, 23V838000, 23V235000, 23V085000, 22V798000, 22V702000, 22V263000, 22V235000, 22V169000, 22V063000, 22V045000, 22V037000, 21V00D000, 21V846000, 21V835000, 21V387000, 21V389000, 19V719000

2019 Model 3, 617 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control12628,000
Air bags8610,000
Electrical system8512,000
Suspension8210,000
Unknown or other787,502
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking7741,000
Vehicle speed control705,300
Lane departure › Assist6125,000

2018 Model 3: 1,031 complaints

102 crashes, 4 fires, 44 injuries · 26V507000, 24V935000, 24V376000, 24V153000, 24V051000, 23V838000, 23V235000, 23V085000, 22V798000, 22V702000, 22V263000, 22V235000, 22V169000, 22V063000, 22V045000, 22V037000, 21V00D000, 21V846000, 21V389000

2018 Model 3, 1,031 complaints
ComponentComplaintsMedian miles
Suspension18820,000
Unknown or other17514,300
Electrical system16024,000
Air bags13916,000
Forward collision avoidance › Adaptive cruise control13180,000
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking11620,000
Seat belts10460,000
Vehicle speed control909,999

36 recall campaigns since 2005

  1. April 19, 2024 · 24V284000 · 2024 · Air bags › Side/window › Thorax

    The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment.

    Remedy: Tesla service replaced the side air bag, free of charge.

  2. March 31, 2023 · 23V235000 · 2018–2019 · Suspension › Critical fasteners; Suspension › Front

    The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.

    Remedy: Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge.

  3. October 21, 2022 · 22V798000 · 2017–2022 · Seat belts › Rear/other › Anchorage

    The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during vehicle service.

    Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as necessary, free of charge.

  4. April 18, 2022 · 22V263000 · 2018–2022 · Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel

    The unit of speed (mph or km/h) may fail to display on the speedometer while in Track Mode.

    Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.

  5. March 18, 2022 · 22V169000 · 2017–2020 · Back over prevention › Display function

    The rearview image may not immediately display when the vehicle begins to reverse.

    Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.

  6. December 21, 2021 · 21V00D000 · 2017–2020 · Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera; Electrical system › Wiring › Rear compartment/trunk; Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Interior

    The rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.

    Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and install a guide protector and new cable harness as necessary, free of charge.

  7. October 25, 2021 · 21V834000 · 2020–2021, 2023 · Air bags › Side/window › Curtain

    The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag.

    Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge.

  8. October 10, 2019 · 19V719000 · 2019 · Equipment › Other › Labels

    The driver-side sun visor may not have the required air bag warning information.

    Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will inspect the visor and replace it, as necessary, free of charge.

Shared, in full on the sibling's page:

Defect investigations

6 of 18 open.

Investigations naming the Model 3
InvestigationYearsOpenedSubjectStatus
PE260062018–2020, 2023July 29, 2026Lower Lateral Link detachmentOpen
EA260022017–2026March 18, 2026FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsOpen
PE250122017–2026October 7, 2025Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engagedOpen
AQ250022017–2026August 20, 2025Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting RequirementsOpen
RQ240092017–2024April 25, 2024Recall 23V838 Remedy EffectivenessOpen
DP230022017–2023June 29, 2023Sudden Unintended AccelerationOpen
DP250022022December 23, 2025Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable.Closed
PE240332017–2021, 2023–2025January 6, 2025Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.Closed
PE240312017–2024October 17, 2024FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsClosed
EA240012023February 1, 2024Loss of steering controlClosed
PE230142023July 28, 2023Loss of steering controlClosed
DP230012017–2023April 7, 2023Defect Petition Interlock RequestClosed
DP220052017–2022January 27, 2023Pedestrian alert soundsClosed
EA220022017–2023June 8, 2022Autopilot System Driver ControlsClosed
PE220022018, 2020–2024February 16, 2022Unexpected Brake ActivationClosed
PE210232017–2022December 21, 2021Tesla Passenger PlayClosed
PE210202017–2022August 13, 2021Autopilot & First Responder ScenesClosed
DP200012017–2019January 13, 2020Sudden Unintended AccelerationClosed

Complaints are unverified owner reports, and a recall names a model year, not a car: for one car, decode its VIN here or look it up at NHTSA. Tesla models.

Data: NHTSA, October 17, 2026.