Owners have filed 4,242 complaints with NHTSA about the Tesla Model 3 from 2017 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the driver assist systems, the cruise control and acceleration and the brakes and stability control. The years with the most complaints are 2018, 2022 and 2021.
Get recall alerts for your Model 3
Add it to My Garage, free. We email you when a new recall is issued for it, plus service reminders and what it is worth each month.
Add it to My GarageStart a free car search
Tell us which years you are looking at and your budget. We review every request and help you find a good one and skip the bad years.
Start my car searchComplaints by year
Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.
Every year at a glance
| Year | Vs. other years | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Model 3 | One of the better years | 27 | 16 |
| 2018 Model 3 | Among the worst years | 1,037 | 19 |
| 2019 Model 3 | About average | 623 | 22 |
| 2020 Model 3 | About average | 455 | 21 |
| 2021 Model 3 | About average | 674 | 22 |
| 2022 Model 3 | Too new to judge | 774 | 18 |
| 2023 Model 3 | Too new to judge | 429 | 12 |
| 2024 Model 3 | Too new to judge | 223 | 5 |
Similar electric cars
Compare the Model 3 with these side by sideOther Tesla models
Tesla Model 3 questions
What are the worst Tesla Model 3 years?
Compared with its other years, the Model 3 years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2018. The most reported problem area across all years is the driver assist systems.
What are the best Tesla Model 3 years?
The Model 3 years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2017. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.
What are the most common Tesla Model 3 problems?
Across 2017 to 2024, owners report problems with the driver assist systems, the cruise control and acceleration and the brakes and stability control most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.
How many recalls does the Tesla Model 3 have?
NHTSA lists 135 recalls across the 2017 to 2024 Model 3, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a Tesla Model 3?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model