2017 Tesla Model 3: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2017 Tesla Model 3? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 24 complaints, with Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB as the top reported area.
2017 Tesla Model 3 Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated energy efficiency for the 2017 Tesla Model 3. Values shown in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent).
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions.
2017 Tesla Model 3 Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
Not RatedFrontal Crash
Not RatedSide Crash
Not RatedRollover
Not RatedSource: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2017 Tesla Model 3 has 24 owner complaints, 1 crash-related complaints, and 14 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Tesla
- Model
- Model 3
- Model year
- 2017
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 24
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Safety recall campaigns
- 14
- Top reported component
- Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPGe combined
- 126
- EPA MPGe city / highway
- 131 / 120
- Fuel type
- Electricity
- Electric range (miles)
- 310
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2017 Tesla Model 3 Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB
Uncategorized Issues
Airbag Malfunctions
Complaint patterns center on Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB, Uncategorized Issues, Airbag Malfunctions. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2017 Tesla Model 3?
The 2017 Tesla Model 3 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2017 Tesla Model 3
Inspection Focus
- Inspect the Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB system for proper operation.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for airbag, seat belt, and seat-related repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect the Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB system for proper operation.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for airbag, seat belt, and seat-related repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2017 Tesla Model 3, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on 24 complaints for the 2017 Tesla Model 3, issues are concentrated in the Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB system, with 8 complaints. Other recurring themes include airbag, seat belt, and seat-related problems, each with 5 complaints. Unintended acceleration and lane departure concerns also appear, though with fewer reports. Given the low sample size, these patterns should be interpreted cautiously.
- Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB accounts for the highest number of complaints (8 out of 24).
- Airbag, seat belt, and seat-related issues each have 5 complaints, indicating a cluster of safety restraint concerns.
- Unintended acceleration and lane departure are reported but less frequently (4 complaints each).
- Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB system malfunctions
- Airbag system issues
- Seat belt problems
All 2017 Tesla Model 3 Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Tesla Model 3. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Tesla Model 3. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
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 T…
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 e…
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…
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 …
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 pos…
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 …
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 t…
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 air…
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 …
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 exceede…
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 im…
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 c…
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 unstab…
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. Thi…
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 o…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2017 Tesla Model 3.
2017 Tesla Model 3 Recalls
14 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2017 Tesla Model 3. 14 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2017 Tesla Model 3 Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2017 Tesla Model 3 reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 24 owner complaints, 1 crash-related complaints, and 14 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2017 Tesla Model 3 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Tesla Model 3?▾
#1: Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB (8 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (5 complaints). #3: Airbag Malfunctions (5 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Tesla Model 3?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2017 Tesla Model 3?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2017 Tesla Model 3, NHTSA complaints include 1 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 24 total complaints. 1 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2017 Tesla Model 3 have any recalls?▾
Yes. 14 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2017 Tesla Model 3. A major recall area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE. 14 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2017 Tesla Model 3?▾
The 2017 Tesla Model 3 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Tesla Model 3 reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2017 Tesla Model 3 based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.