Tesla Model 3

Where it stands out against its peers

• Forward collision avoidance: more complaints than 98% of 2018 cars — 20% of its 1,005 complaints, where an ordinary 2018 car has 3%.
• Suspension: more complaints than 96% of 2018 cars — 18% of its 1,005 complaints, where an ordinary 2018 car has 3%.
• Seat belts: more complaints than 95% of 2018 cars — 10% of its 1,005 complaints, where an ordinary 2018 car has 2%.
• Seats: more complaints than 94% of 2018 cars — 7% of its 1,005 complaints, where an ordinary 2018 car has 2%.
• Lane departure: more complaints than 94% of 2018 cars — 5% of its 1,005 complaints, where an ordinary 2018 car has 1%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• SUSPENSION — 123 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 76 owners reported this, 7 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 49 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• AIR BAGS — 44 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• SEAT BELTS — 39 owners reported this
• SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 34 owners reported this, 4 involving a crash
• STRUCTURE — 27 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• STEERING — 26 owners reported this
• AIR BAGS,SEATS — 21 owners reported this
• STEERING,SUSPENSION — 21 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — 20 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 20 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• VISIBILITY/WIPER — 18 owners reported this
• FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE — 17 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 17 owners reported this, 8 involving a crash
• AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS — 15 owners reported this
• SERVICE BRAKES — 15 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• LANE DEPARTURE — 13 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 10 owners reported this
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 9 owners reported this
• SEATS — 9 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,BACK OVER PREVENTION — 8 owners reported this
• STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS — 8 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS — 7 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

3% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 19V719000

  Failure to provide the air bag warning information increases the risk of injury.

  Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will inspect the visor and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 6, 2019. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-19-15-003.

• 21V00D000

  A rearview camera that does not function reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service will inspect and install a guide protector and new cable harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-17-008.

• 21V387000

  Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-33-002.

• 21V389000

  An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

  Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.

• 21V834000

  A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.

  Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-006.

• 21V835000

  A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-003.

• 21V846000

  Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.

• 22V037000

  Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.

20 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Lower Lateral Link detachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2026, still open.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2026, still open.

• Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable.

  Defect petition, opened December 2025, closed July 2026.

• Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2025, still open.

• Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

  Audit query, opened August 2025, still open.

• Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2025, closed April 2026.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2024, closed March 2026.

• Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

  Recall query, opened April 2024, still open.

• Loss of steering control

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2024, closed June 2026.

• Loss of steering control

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2023, closed February 2024.

• Sudden Unintended Acceleration

  Defect petition, opened June 2023, still open.

• Defect Petition Interlock Request

  Defect petition, opened April 2023, closed March 2026.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Autopilot System Driver Controls

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2022, closed April 2024.

• Unexpected Brake Activation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 2022, closed June 2026.

• Tesla Passenger Play

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2021, closed May 2023.

• Autopilot & First Responder Scenes

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2021, closed June 2022.

• Sudden Unintended Acceleration

  Defect petition, opened January 2020, closed January 2021.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Tesla filed 2 bulletins about the 2026 Model 3.

• Seats: 2

• On some vehicles, degraded or excessive glue under the front seat cushion(s) may cause creaking noises during cornering or when pressing on the seat cushion(s). Upon customer complaint, inspect the… · July 2026
• On some vehicles, insufficient lubricant at the front seat recliner tube ends may cause creaking noises during weight shifting when the seat is occupied. Upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle… · June 2026

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.