Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the Tesla Model 3, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 2018 Tesla Model 3 - 1,008 complaints in its first 8 years (1,008 to date)
- 2022 Tesla Model 3 - 761 complaints in its first 8 years (761 to date)
- 2021 Tesla Model 3 - 656 complaints in its first 8 years (656 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 2018 Tesla Model 3 - 1,008 complaints in its first 8 years (1,008 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 | 17 | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 Tesla Model 3 | 113 | 113 | 3 |
| 2024 Tesla Model 3 | 214 | 214 | 5 |
| 2023 Tesla Model 3 | 417 | 417 | 12 |
| 2022 Tesla Model 3 | 761 | 761 | 18 |
| 2021 Tesla Model 3 | 656 | 656 | 22 |
| 2020 Tesla Model 3 | 447 | 447 | 21 |
| 2019 Tesla Model 3 | 609 | 609 | 22 |
| 2018 Tesla Model 3 | 1,008 | 1,008 | 19 |
| 2017 Tesla Model 3 | 26 | 23 | 16 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V507000 | 2017-2023 | Exterior Lighting | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The headlight low beams may be too bright and exceed the maximum light output. |
| 26V445000 | 2024 | Structure | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be... |
| 26V283000 | 2017-2023 | Back Over Prevention | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. |
| 25V690000 | 2025 | Electrical System | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles. The battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power. |
| 25V410000 | 2026 | Seats | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The fasteners attaching the seat back to the seat bottom may have been improperly tightened. |
| 25V092000 | 2023 | Steering | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4. |
| 25V002000 | 2024-2025 | Electrical System | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. |
| 24V935000 | 2017-2025 | Tires | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. |
| 24V554000 | 2021-2024 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. |
| 24V376000 | 2017-2023 | Seat Belts | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. |
| 24V284000 | 2024 | Air Bags | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling one 2024 Model 3 vehicle. The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment. |
| 24V153000 | 2018-2022 | Forward Collision Avoidance | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. |
| 24V051000 | 2017-2023 | Electrical System | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. |
| 23V838000 | 2017-2023 | Electrical System | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the... |
| 23V434000 | 2023 | Electrical System | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The pyrotechnic battery disconnect may be defective. |
| 23V235000 | 2018-2019 | Suspension | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the... |
| 23V085000 | 2017-2023 | Steering | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or... |
| 22V844000 | 2023 | Exterior Lighting | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. One or both taillights may intermittently fail to illuminate. |
| 22V798000 | 2017-2022 | Seat Belts | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly... |
| 22V702000 | 2017-2022 | Visibility | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3, 2020-2022 Model Y, and 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles. |
| 22V317000 | 2021 | Lane Departure | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Model 3 and 2021 Model Y vehicles. |
| 22V296000 | 2022 | Equipment | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S, Model X, and 2022 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating certain firmware releases. |
| 22V263000 | 2018-2022 | Electrical System | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Model 3 Performance vehicles. The unit of speed (mph or km/h) may fail to display on the speedometer while in Track Mode. |
| 22V235000 | 2017-2022 | Forward Collision Avoidance | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y, Model X, Model S, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. |
| 22V169000 | 2017-2020 | Back Over Prevention | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model S, Model X, and 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles equipped with Autopilot Computer 2.5 and operating certain firmware releases. |
| 22V063000 | 2017-2022 | Forward Collision Avoidance | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. |
| 22V050000 | 2021-2022 | Visibility | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. |
| 22V045000 | 2017-2022 | Seat Belts | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. |
| 22V037000 | 2017-2022 | Steering | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. |
| 21V00D000 | 2017-2020 | Visibility | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles. The rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the... |