Tesla Model 3 Problems and Recalls by Year (2012-2023)
Thinking about a used Tesla Model 3? Here is what the US government's records show for model years 2012 to 2023: how many owner complaints and safety recalls NHTSA has on file for each year, and which parts owners report most. Use it to decide which years deserve a closer look, then check the exact car you are considering.
At a glance
- Owner complaints on file (2012-2023): 4,010
- Years with the most complaints: 2018 (1,035), 2022 (773), 2021 (674)
- Years with the most recall campaigns: 2019 (22), 2021 (22), 2020 (21)
- Most reported problem areas overall: forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control, electrical system, air bags
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns | Most reported areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | – | – | no records on file |
| 2013 | – | – | no records on file |
| 2014 | – | – | no records on file |
| 2015 | – | – | no records on file |
| 2016 | – | – | no records on file |
| 2017 | 27 | 16 | air bags (7), vehicle speed control (4), forward collision avoidance (4) |
| 2018 | 1,035 | 19 | suspension (152), electrical system (146), air bags (121) |
| 2019 | 619 | 22 | forward collision avoidance (92), electrical system (77), air bags (70) |
| 2020 | 453 | 21 | forward collision avoidance (81), vehicle speed control (60), steering (47) |
| 2021 | 674 | 22 | forward collision avoidance (212), vehicle speed control (108), service brakes (71) |
| 2022 | 773 | 18 | forward collision avoidance (278), vehicle speed control (156), service brakes (91) |
| 2023 | 429 | 12 | steering (89), forward collision avoidance (86), vehicle speed control (49) |
Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov) complaint and recall records. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer model years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare years with care. A high count does not mean every car of that year has the problem.
Note: NHTSA lists unusually few complaints for 2017. That can mean a short sales year or a gap in its records, so do not read it as a sign that those cars are trouble-free.
What owners report most
- Forward Collision Avoidance: among the top three areas in 6 of 7 model years
- Vehicle Speed Control: among the top three areas in 5 of 7 model years
- Electrical System: among the top three areas in 2 of 7 model years
- Air Bags: among the top three areas in 3 of 7 model years
- Service Brakes: among the top three areas in 2 of 7 model years
Before you buy a used Tesla Model 3
- Run the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recalls are listed by model year, not by car, so only the VIN shows which are still open.
- Get a vehicle history report (Carfax, AutoCheck or an NMVTIS-based report) for accidents and title problems.
- Ask for service records for the areas above, then have an independent mechanic inspect the car.
- Compare the asking price with similar cars at the same mileage, not just the listed average.
Enter the VIN or paste the listing to get recalls, a fair-price range from live dealer listings, red flags and what to say to the seller.
Check a car, first one is free