Tesla Model 3 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 4,380 consumer complaints across the 10 model years of the Tesla Model 3 (2017–2026) that have at least 5 complaints. 2018 has the most, with 1,034. Across all years, the part named most often is forward collision avoidance (1,749 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Model 3 years →
All Model 3 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29 | 5,224 | 1 | 2 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2025 | 122 | 9,970 | 3 | 4 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 222 | 13,816 | 5 | 58 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 428 | 3,400 | 12 | 76 | 63 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 773 | 5,100 | 18 | 76 | 80 · More | Falling |
| 2021 | 673 | 10,000 | 22 | 85 | 74 · More | Falling |
| 2020 | 452 | 3,650 | 21 | 112 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2019 | 620 | 10,000 | 22 | 106 | 35 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2018 | 1,034 | 16,838 | 19 | 161 | 46 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 27 | 44,900 | 16 | 154 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Forward collision avoidance1,749 33%
- Other or unknown709 13%
- Vehicle speed control635 12%
- Brakes572 11%
- Electrical system565 11%
- Steering411 7.7%
- Suspension380 7.1%
- Air bags318 6.0%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2019: “On 3/15/2021, my car suddenly turned 90 degree to the right under autopilot on highway 210 when hit a puddle. The rain is very small. I think the highway has risk as accumulated a puddle unexpected at all. Tesla 3 has issue as well since it shouldn't turn 90 degree. I was hit by a car and the car stopped. If there were container truck besides me, I might die that day.”
NHTSA complaint #11413583, filed 2021-04, 39,000 miles2018: “When putting the car in reverse the screen is black as the rearview camera does not work properly. I have had this issue appear and disappear intermittently for as long as I have owner this car, since july 2018. Tesla has not repaired this issue. The rearview camera is unreliable at best. I can send more images if needed taken after multiple occurrences of the same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11397025, filed 2021-02, 14,645 miles2020: “So regarding the car brakes they are very hard to fully depress and I believe its because of the regenerative braking. For example when going eat highway speed and you need to press the break pedal hard it literally feels like the car is refusing to let you use the full capacity of the breaks. Its very scary it happened to me and I could not press the break pedal completely down. …”
NHTSA complaint #11300192, filed 2020-01, 5 milesOther Tesla models
4,299 complaintsTesla Model S
3,413 complaintsTesla Model X
1,557 complaintsTesla Cybertruck
213 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology