2021 TESLA MODEL 3 — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 654 complaints · 22 recalls
Most-reported system: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (367 complaints · 56.1%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 45
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 19
  • Deaths 8
Compare with 2020 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE appears in 367 of 654 owner complaints (56.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: 367 complaints, 56.1% of reports FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 367 · 56.1% · 8 crash reports 1 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 36 complaints, 5.5% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 36 · 5.5% · 3 crash reports 1 fire reports LANE DEPARTURE: 25 complaints, 3.8% of reports LANE DEPARTURE 25 · 3.8% · 4 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 23 complaints, 3.5% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 23 · 3.5% · 5 crash reports SERVICE BRAKES: 20 complaints, 3.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 20 · 3.1% · 4 crash reports VISIBILITY: 20 complaints, 3.1% of reports VISIBILITY 20 · 3.1% STEERING: 13 complaints, 2.0% of reports STEERING 13 · 2.0% · 7 crash reports 2 fire reports SEAT BELTS: 12 complaints, 1.8% of reports SEAT BELTS 12 · 1.8% · 2 crash reports STRUCTURE: 11 complaints, 1.7% of reports STRUCTURE 11 · 1.7% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 497 complaints, 76.0% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 497 · 76.0% · 17 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 367 56.1% 8 crashes · 1 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 36 5.5% 3 crashes · 1 fires
LANE DEPARTURE 25 3.8% 4 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 23 3.5% 5 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 20 3.1% 4 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 20 3.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 13 2.0% 7 crashes · 2 fires
SEAT BELTS 12 1.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 11 1.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 497 76.0% 17 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2020; the first recall shown was reported in May 2021. 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2021-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2021-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2021-Q4: 46 owner reports 46 2022-Q1: 211 owner reports 211 2022-Q2: 48 owner reports 48 2022-Q3: 45 owner reports 45 2022-Q4: 34 owner reports 34 2023-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 2023-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 2023-Q3: 33 owner reports 33 2023-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2024-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2024-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2024-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2024-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2025-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2025-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2025-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2026-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2026-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2026-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 Owner reports Oct 2020 Aug 2026 Recall campaign 21V387000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V387000 Recall campaign 21V834000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V834000 Recall campaign 21V835000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V835000 Recall campaign 21V846000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V846000 Recall campaign 22V037000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V037000 Recall campaign 22V045000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V045000 Recall campaign 22V050000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V050000 Recall campaign 22V063000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V063000 Recall campaign 22V235000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V235000 Recall campaign 22V263000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V263000 Recall campaign 22V317000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V317000 Recall campaign 22V702000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V702000 Recall campaign 22V798000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V798000 Recall campaign 23V085000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V085000 Recall campaign 23V838000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V838000 Recall campaign 24V051000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V051000 Recall campaign 24V153000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V153000 Recall campaign 24V376000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V376000 Recall campaign 24V554000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V554000 Recall campaign 24V935000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V935000 Recall campaign 26V283000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V283000 Recall campaign 26V507000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V507000 Investigation PE21020 ● Investigation PE21020 Investigation PE21023 ● Investigation PE21023 Investigation PE22002 ● Investigation PE22002 Investigation EA22002 ● Investigation EA22002 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005 Investigation DP23001 ● Investigation DP23001 Investigation DP23002 ● Investigation DP23002 Investigation RQ24009 ● Investigation RQ24009 Investigation PE24031 ● Investigation PE24031 Investigation PE24033 ● Investigation PE24033 Investigation AQ25002 ● Investigation AQ25002 Investigation PE25012 ● Investigation PE25012 Investigation EA26002 ● Investigation EA26002
  • Campaign 21V834000 was reported 3 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V846000 was reported 126 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V037000 was reported 395 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V045000 was reported 291 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V050000 was reported 292 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V063000 was reported 294 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V235000 was reported 361 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V263000 was reported 367 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V317000 was reported 388 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V702000 was reported 286 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V798000 was reported 70 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V085000 was reported 779 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V838000 was reported 970 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V051000 was reported 1,019 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V153000 was reported 1,047 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V376000 was reported 655 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V554000 was reported 1,195 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V283000 was reported 1,547 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V507000 was reported 1,775 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 6
2021-Q2 Owner reports 7
2021-Q3 Owner reports 12
2021-Q4 Owner reports 46
2022-Q1 Owner reports 211
2022-Q2 Owner reports 48
2022-Q3 Owner reports 45
2022-Q4 Owner reports 34
2023-Q1 Owner reports 26
2023-Q2 Owner reports 22
2023-Q3 Owner reports 33
2023-Q4 Owner reports 12
2024-Q1 Owner reports 29
2024-Q2 Owner reports 19
2024-Q3 Owner reports 15
2024-Q4 Owner reports 11
2025-Q1 Owner reports 6
2025-Q2 Owner reports 8
2025-Q3 Owner reports 16
2025-Q4 Owner reports 11
2026-Q1 Owner reports 11
2026-Q2 Owner reports 14
2026-Q3 Owner reports 11
Recall campaign 1 21V387000
Recall campaign 1 21V834000
Recall campaign 1 21V835000
Recall campaign 1 21V846000
Recall campaign 1 22V037000
Recall campaign 1 22V045000
Recall campaign 1 22V050000
Recall campaign 1 22V063000
Recall campaign 1 22V235000
Recall campaign 1 22V263000
Recall campaign 1 22V317000
Recall campaign 1 22V702000
Recall campaign 1 22V798000
Recall campaign 1 23V085000
Recall campaign 1 23V838000
Recall campaign 1 24V051000
Recall campaign 1 24V153000
Recall campaign 1 24V376000
Recall campaign 1 24V554000
Recall campaign 1 24V935000
Recall campaign 1 26V283000
Recall campaign 1 26V507000
Defect investigation 1 PE21020
Defect investigation 1 PE21023
Defect investigation 1 PE22002
Defect investigation 1 EA22002
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
Defect investigation 1 DP23001
Defect investigation 1 DP23002
Defect investigation 1 RQ24009
Defect investigation 1 PE24031
Defect investigation 1 PE24033
Defect investigation 1 AQ25002
Defect investigation 1 PE25012
Defect investigation 1 EA26002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (22)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V387000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V834000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V835000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V846000

    Report date
    Component:
    FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
    Consequence:
    Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V037000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V045000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V050000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V063000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall has been superseded by Recall 22V-235. Tesla's number for the new recall is SB-22-00-003.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V235000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V263000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    The driver may not know how fast the vehicle is traveling without the mph or km/h unit display, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V317000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Swapped camera views can prevent the vehicle's cameras from detecting crossing objects and high-curvature lane lines, impairing the Autosteer and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) performance, and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service will correct the swapped terminals and recalibrate the cameras, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-17-007.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V702000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    Consequence:
    A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-013.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V798000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    An incorrectly reassembled seat belt anchor can impair the performance of the seat belt during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-20-004.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V085000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V838000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  16. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V051000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  17. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V153000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  18. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V376000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  19. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V554000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  20. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V935000

    Report date
    Component:
    TIRES
    Consequence:
    Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  21. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 26V283000

    Report date
    Component:
    BACK OVER PREVENTION
    Consequence:
    A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  22. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 26V507000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 15, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-003.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 654 complaints · page 1 of 27

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources