Tesla Model 3
Reliability, NHTSA Complaints & Recall History
10 model years analyzed (2017–2026). All data sourced directly from the NHTSA public complaints and recall database — the same data used by federal regulators.
Checking a specific Tesla Model 3? Run a VIN check for its exact history.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
AI Interpretation
High ConfidenceBelow AverageNHTSA complaint data for the Tesla Model 3 (2017–2026) shows a high volume of reports concentrated in Forward Collision Avoidance, Vehicle Speed Control, and Service Brakes. Complaints peaked in 2018 and 2022, while 2025 and 2026 had zero reports, likely due to limited data. The data suggests recurring issues with driver-assistance and braking systems.
- Forward Collision Avoidance accounts for the highest number of complaints at 1653.
- Vehicle Speed Control and Service Brakes together total over 1100 complaints.
- Model years 2018 and 2022 have the most complaints, with 967 and 741 respectively.
- Forward Collision Avoidance system malfunctions or false activations.
- Vehicle Speed Control issues, including unintended acceleration or loss of power.
- Service Brakes problems, such as reduced braking performance or noise.
2018 and 2022 show elevated complaints, driven primarily by Forward Collision Avoidance and Vehicle Speed Control issues.
Model years 2017, 2025, and 2026 have the fewest complaints, but 2017 had low production and 2025–2026 are recent, so data may not reflect long-term reliability.
- Test drive to assess Forward Collision Avoidance and Vehicle Speed Control behavior.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for reported components like brakes and steering.
- Have a mechanic inspect suspension and electrical systems before purchase.
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
131 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
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Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 3,971 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
3,971 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
I am writing to file a formal safety complaint against Tesla, Inc. regarding a software update failure that has disabled legally required vehicle functions on my Tesla for over two years. For more than 26 months, my vehicle has been unable to complete a software update through Tesla's over-the-air (OTA) update system. As a direct result of this failure, my vehicle's display screen does not function for the first several minutes of every drive. This prevents me from accessing my speedometer, turn signals, and other legally required safety features, rendering the vehicle non-compliant with federal and state motor vehicle safety standards during this period. I have made multiple documented attempts to resolve this issue through Tesla's customer support channels over the course of these two years. Despite these efforts, the issue remains unresolved. Tesla has now informed me that resolving the defect will require a paid service visit — despite the fact that the failure originates within Tesla's own software update infrastructure, not from any action or negligence on my part. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this matter on the following grounds: 1. The software defect disables legally required vehicle safety functions, including the speedometer, turn signals, hazard lights, and more. 2. The defect has persisted for over two years despite repeated good-faith efforts by the vehicle owner to resolve it through the manufacturer. 3. Tesla's OTA update system is manufacturer-controlled infrastructure. A failure within that system constitutes a manufacturer defect, not a maintenance issue. 4. Tesla is requiring payment from the consumer to correct a defect in their own systems. I believe this issue may not be isolated to my vehicle and could affect other Tesla owners experiencing similar OTA update failures. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether a broader safety defect exists and whether a recall or corrective action is warranted.
I received an error about the occupant classification system and a safety restraint fault. These are due to known manufacturing defects. Addressing these concerns was expensive and also required a replacement of the front passenger airbag.
En primer lugar decir que el VIN utilizado es completamente aleatorio. Esta notificación está dirigida para todos los fabricantes de vehículos eléctricos y fabricantes de baterías. Actualmente los diferentes medios de comunicación y redes sociales no paran de reportar incendios en las baterías de los vehículos eléctricos, con el peligro que esto representa para personas y bienes colindantes. Estos incendios están producidos en gran medida por la deformación que sufren las baterías a lo largo de su vida útil, con las cargas y descargas de las baterías, estas empiezan a hincharse, deformarse hasta que llega a un punto donde las celdas que componen la batería entran en cortocircuito produciendo los incendios ya mencionados. Existe un sistema ya patentado para controlar la deformación de las celdas que componen una batería, una vez que el sistema detecta el hinchado o deformación en las celdas que componen una batería, este puede detener la carga, carga por regeneración y impedir el siguiente arranque del vehículo poniéndolo en modo seguro. Adjunto presentación del sistema mencionado en el siguiente enlace: [XXX] Saludos. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Hello. I am following up with the previous safety report I submitted for my vehicle. I just received an updated repair estimate citing the parts that will need replaced (pdf attached). I also confirmed with the service advisor that the functionality of the safety restraint system may be impacted by this issue, however, Tesla still wants to charge drivers $1,300 for this repair.
There is a warning on my car saying “front passenger safety restraint system fault”. The Tesla service center says the fix requires an air bag replacement and to replace the seat sensor. Does this not impact the safety of the passenger? This is the second model 3 I’ve owned that continuously has this fault. I feel like this model should be recalled since it is such a widespread issue. I dealt with this warning light for 2-3 years because Tesla wants to charge >$1,000 for the replacement of these parts. I’m definitely not the only one. There are plenty of complaints online and most people never get it fixed if the vehicle is out of warranty. On the other hand, some people try to fix the problem themselves which could create a worse problem for the safety restraints system.
I purchased a new 2017 Tesla model 3 in late 2017, drove it 135k miles and suddenly had issues with the battery cooling fan staying on all the time and the interior cooling not working. The Tesla service center found the condenser completely blocked with road debris. This was possible because of a design flaw in the condenser being horizontal and receiving unfiltered air directly scooped from the vent below the grill of the car. This design flaw is present in all model 3 and model Y as I can see but, the amount of debris scooped depends on many factors such as mileage, geography, highway vs local, etc. The result was damage costing $4k to repair and no way of preventing the design flaw from causing another failure in the future.
My car has been having this issue since it was purchased in 2018. An alert appears on the screen which says, "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault/Service is Required." I had the car serviced four times by Tesla under warranty. It has now appeared a fifth time and Tesla says the airbags need to be replaced for over $1,600. The prior repairs included replacing wiring harnesses and occupancy sensor.
I had just finished Supercharging my vehicle from 50% to 80% and when I entered the car to drive home two warnings showed up 1. Steering assist was reduced and it might be more difficult to drive; and 2. Lane departure avoidance warning was not working. I did a hard reset twice - (foot on the brake while pressing the two steering wheel 'wheels') and began driving the 10-15 minute home. After an incredibly scary and difficult drive down a circular driveway, and great difficulty turning the wheel to make a right turn in one try, I picked the straightest route to my home - stopping one more time to hard reset. Again nothing! Luckily there was no traffic but I had to make 9 ninety degree turns to get there. I got home - taking 4 tries to maneuver the car into my driveway and garage. I left the car in the garage. Tesla service was closed for the weekend so I arranged for a tow on Monday. The next (Sunday) morning I did another reset and this time the steering assist worked, and I have to assume the lane departure avoidance was working as well because I only drove around the block and put it back in the garage. I understand other models of Tesla have been recalled for this very issue and I'm wondering why the Model 3 was not recalled as well since the software is the same is it not? I don't know if there was something wrong with the Supercharger that created the problem.
Within a week of posting a complaint here about phantom braking while in autopilot, my autopilot was disabled. Does the NHTSA share VIN numbers with the manufacturer? Because that sure felt like retaliation by Tesla
Back windshield spontaneously cracked from the heat.
Safety Restraint System Fault in front passenger seat alert. Appears to be a common occurrence in Tesla Model 3 cars. Not covered under warranty to due to only 50k mile coverage for safety system, but the failure seems quite common. Required a replacement seat and replacement airbag. Many users reporting the same issue in the car.
Feb 25 around 4pm PT we were driving north on US Hwy 101 using the basic cruise control feature of our Model 3. Based on our settings I believe this would be considered adaptive cruise control, but I'm not sure. Enhanced Auto-Pilot was not in use. On a largely open highway, in particular with no one in front of us, and thankfully, no one close behind us, the car suddenly started to lose speed, not brake, just lose speed. I pressed the right-hand button on the steering wheel and called out "report bug" so there should be an incident record with Tesla I believe. After letting it slow a bit, I pressed the accelerator to resume and it resumed speed ok. I have used the "report bug" several times on this issue so there should be records of other incidents. Feb. 26, around noon. Traveling on Central Expwy at 55, the car suddenly slowed to about 25 in the space of a few seconds before re-accelerating. No visible object to cause this. Thankfully, no one behind me which is why I let it drop speed to see what it would do. Again, this was using CC, not EAP. This first happened on Jan 14, '22 using cc on s-bd US 101. I have video of this, but it's 19MB, so can't upload. I took to Tesla service and they concluded it was moisture obstructing camera view. Made no sense then as you would it expect to occur constantly, not intermittently. Presumably if this was a vacuum issue, they would have checked that. I think the 3 works CC by wire.
The vehicle frequently applies emergency braking when approaching overpasses at night while driving on highways at night at normal speeds. This happens about once per 100 miles or so.
My tesla model 3 , parking break do not release. so i can not go front or back!!! i thing they had recall about that long time ago. it happend every month once. you get stuck for 2 hrs or so and then it get atomatically release!!!
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
My rear glass cracked. However, there was no damage to suggest an impact of any sort. I looked carefully and saw there was no damage to suggest this was caused by an impact. I took the car to the Tesla dealership and they also examined the glass and agreed that there was no impact of any sort that would have caused the glass to crack. They then told me that they have seen this on multiple Tesla vehicles and believe it's a manufacturing defect possibly related to the defroster. They refused to cover it under any warranty as I was out of the warranty period.
Experiencing unexpected braking on freeway while on cruise control. Car brakes for apparently no reason. There is no warning, vehicles in sight, on clear sunny day. Has braked up to 3 times/hr on two different days on road trip. No indicators say that anything is wrong with the car or its cameras. It is jarring and scary for both driver and passenger. Collecting info for Tesla service appt in August. Read info of phantom braking for newer Teslas. We drove this same route in this car in summer of 2019 and didn’t experience phantom braking.
Many phantom braking incidents both on autopilot and in adaptive cruise control mode result in surprising (and frightening) sudden braking for no reason. In high traffic conditions, this could lead to a possible rear-end collision. The adaptive cruise control has become so unstable in the last few months we will not use it. As this is a mature feature that used to work nearly flawlessly this is very frustrating to go backwards with an update.
Essentially all of the safety and convenience features repeatedly shut off. Lane departure, autopilot, regenerative braking, VSC, emergency braking, airbags, traction control, automatic vehicle hold, stability control, and a few others stopped working on multiple occasions. This definitely put my life and my family's life at risk. The problems were reproduced and confirmed by the dealer and the vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer. All of the warning lamps and messages only popped up when the failure occurred. Tesla initially "fixed" all of these issues by doing a wheel alignment. Obviously this did not work and eventually a much more extensive repair was done. Also, they provided a loaner with tires so bald they the tread was below the wear bar.
Tesla vehicles have driver profiles to adjust seats automatically when a driver taps the brake pedal after entering the vehicle. A recent software update 2021.44.25.2 took away any on-screen indication of what profile the car is trying to set the seats to. There is no longer an on-screen STOP button, nor does a menu pop up giving a driver a chance to select a different profile. The result is that a driver has no expectation that seats might continue to move past the expected point, and since there's no longer an on-screen STOP button, nor way of getting to it without drilling through menus, a driver's legs could get crushed before the driver realizes that there's a problem. Since a driver expects to see the information on the screen, as was described in the owner's manual when the driver purchased the car, the driver will be focused on that area and could be crushed before realizing how to stop the seats.
Showing 20 of 3,971 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check a Specific Tesla Model 3
This page shows fleet averages across all 10 model years. Enter a VIN to see the exact accident history, odometer records, title brands, and open recall status for a specific car.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Tesla Model 3 has 3,971 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Tesla Model 3 has 131 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 385 of the Tesla Model 3's 3,971 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the AI Rating Calculated?
The AI reliability rating (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. The rating provides a plain-English summary for buyers who want a quick verdict without parsing raw numbers. It is one input in your buying decision — always verify with a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Tesla Model 3 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Tesla Model 3 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Tesla Model 3 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.