2023 TESLA MODEL 3 — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 413 complaints · 12 recalls
Most-reported system: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (149 complaints · 36.1%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 70
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 49
  • Deaths 1
Compare with 2022 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints 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.

Component Problem Distribution

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

Component Problem Distribution FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE appears in 149 of 413 owner complaints (36.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: 149 complaints, 36.1% of reports FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 149 · 36.1% · 21 crash reports 1 fire reports STEERING: 58 complaints, 14.0% of reports STEERING 58 · 14.0% · 5 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 28 complaints, 6.8% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28 · 6.8% · 4 crash reports LANE DEPARTURE: 23 complaints, 5.6% of reports LANE DEPARTURE 23 · 5.6% · 6 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 16 complaints, 3.9% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16 · 3.9% · 10 crash reports SERVICE BRAKES: 14 complaints, 3.4% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 14 · 3.4% · 5 crash reports STRUCTURE: 13 complaints, 3.2% of reports STRUCTURE 13 · 3.2% · 1 crash reports VISIBILITY: 10 complaints, 2.4% of reports VISIBILITY 10 · 2.4% AIR BAGS: 8 complaints, 1.9% of reports AIR BAGS 8 · 1.9% · 4 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 257 complaints, 62.2% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 257 · 62.2% · 41 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 149 36.1% 21 crashes · 1 fires
STEERING 58 14.0% 5 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28 6.8% 4 crashes · 0 fires
LANE DEPARTURE 23 5.6% 6 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16 3.9% 10 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 14 3.4% 5 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 13 3.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 10 2.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 8 1.9% 4 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 257 62.2% 41 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 2022; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2021. 2022-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2023-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2023-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2023-Q3: 98 owner reports 98 2023-Q4: 52 owner reports 52 2024-Q1: 38 owner reports 38 2024-Q2: 27 owner reports 27 2024-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2024-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2025-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2025-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2025-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2025-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2026-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2026-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2026-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 Owner reports Oct 2021 Aug 2026 Recall campaign 21V834000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V834000 Recall campaign 22V844000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V844000 Recall campaign 23V085000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V085000 Recall campaign 23V434000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V434000 Recall campaign 23V838000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V838000 Recall campaign 24V051000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V051000 Recall campaign 24V376000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V376000 Recall campaign 24V554000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V554000 Recall campaign 24V935000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V935000 Recall campaign 25V092000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V092000 Recall campaign 26V283000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V283000 Recall campaign 26V507000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V507000 Investigation PE22002 ● Investigation PE22002 Investigation EA22002 ● Investigation EA22002 Investigation DP23001 ● Investigation DP23001 Investigation DP23002 ● Investigation DP23002 Investigation PE23014 ● Investigation PE23014 Investigation EA24001 ● Investigation EA24001 Investigation RQ24009 ● Investigation RQ24009 Investigation PE24031 ● Investigation PE24031 Investigation PE24033 ● Investigation PE24033 Investigation AQ25002 ● Investigation AQ25002 Investigation PE25012 ● Investigation PE25012 Investigation EA26002 ● Investigation EA26002 Investigation PE26006 ● Investigation PE26006
  • Campaign 23V434000 was reported 150 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V838000 was reported 326 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V051000 was reported 375 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V376000 was reported 161 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V554000 was reported 551 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V092000 was reported 654 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V283000 was reported 1,204 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2022-Q4 Owner reports 11
2023-Q1 Owner reports 23
2023-Q2 Owner reports 37
2023-Q3 Owner reports 98
2023-Q4 Owner reports 52
2024-Q1 Owner reports 38
2024-Q2 Owner reports 27
2024-Q3 Owner reports 26
2024-Q4 Owner reports 12
2025-Q1 Owner reports 13
2025-Q2 Owner reports 11
2025-Q3 Owner reports 16
2025-Q4 Owner reports 15
2026-Q1 Owner reports 16
2026-Q2 Owner reports 12
2026-Q3 Owner reports 6
Recall campaign 1 21V834000
Recall campaign 1 22V844000
Recall campaign 1 23V085000
Recall campaign 1 23V434000
Recall campaign 1 23V838000
Recall campaign 1 24V051000
Recall campaign 1 24V376000
Recall campaign 1 24V554000
Recall campaign 1 24V935000
Recall campaign 1 25V092000
Recall campaign 1 26V283000
Recall campaign 1 26V507000
Defect investigation 1 PE22002
Defect investigation 1 EA22002
Defect investigation 1 DP23001
Defect investigation 1 DP23002
Defect investigation 1 PE23014
Defect investigation 1 EA24001
Defect investigation 1 RQ24009
Defect investigation 1 PE24031
Defect investigation 1 PE24033
Defect investigation 1 AQ25002
Defect investigation 1 PE25012
Defect investigation 1 EA26002
Defect investigation 1 PE26006
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (12)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. 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 →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V844000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of 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 January 14, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-016.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. 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 →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V434000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    A defective battery disconnect may not isolate the vehicle's high voltage battery after a crash or fault detection, increasing the risk of electrical shock and injury.
    Remedy:
    Tesla Service will replace the pyrotechnic battery disconnect, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-16-005.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. 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 →

  6. 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 →

  7. 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 →

  8. 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 →

  9. 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 →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 25V092000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, 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 March 25, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-004.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. 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 →

  12. 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 2026-08-22 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.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-22
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 413 complaints · page 1 of 17

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 2026-08-22 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.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-22.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources