What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2019 Tesla Model 3

Typical pattern

4.8% of complaints about the 2019 Tesla Model 3 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2019 vehicle — around the middle of the 191 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is collision avoidance (230 complaints), typically at 4.0 yr or about 27,019 miles.

Complaints
1,058
Median age at failure
4.2 yr
Median mileage
10,000 n=204
Crash / fire / tow
11.8% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Collision avoidance
230 reports · 27,019 mi
4.0 yr
7.4%
Electrical system
90 reports · 14,419 mi
4.5 yr
8.9%
Lane departure
89 reports · 30,000 mi
3.8 yr
4.5%
Air bags
84 reports · 10,000 mi
5.9 yr
11.9%
Suspension
83 reports · 10,000 mi
4.8 yr
8.4%
Other
78 reports · 7,502 mi
3.7 yr
17.9%
Speed control
71 reports · 5,300 mi
3.3 yr
31%
Service brakes
60 reports · 5,000 mi
4.0 yr
15%
Seat belts
54 reports · 8,500 mi
6.0 yr
0%
Steering
52 reports · 10,000 mi
5.2 yr
11.5%
Seats
47 reports · 66,000 mi
6.1 yr
2.1%
Visibility / wipers
24 reports · 4,361 mi
3.3 yr
4.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V507000 2026-08-05
Exterior lighting:headlights

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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

24V935000 2024-12-17
Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.

24V376000 2024-05-28
Seat belts:front:warning light/devices

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

24V153000 2024-02-27
Forward collision avoidance: warnings:external/pedestrian alert

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. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.

24V051000 2024-01-30
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

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. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

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.

23V838000 2023-12-12
Electrical system:adas:autonomous/self driving:software

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 version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

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.

23V235000 2023-03-31
Suspension:front

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 sub-frame.

A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.

23V085000 2023-02-15
Steering:automated/adaptive 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 pending installation.  The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in pos

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.

22V798000 2022-10-21
Seat belts:rear/other:anchorage

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 reassembled during vehicle service.

An incorrectly reassembled seat belt anchor can impair the performance of the seat belt during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

22V702000 2022-09-19
Visibility:power window devices and controls

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3, 2020-2022 Model Y, and 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles. The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.

In owners’ own words

Other 200 mi 7 mo in service
THREE TIMES WHEN DRIVING THE TESLA THE SCREEN STARTS FLASHING, THEN EITHER GOES BLACK OR FREEZES. THE TESLA'S SCREEN IS FOR NAVIGATION AND DRIVING SETTINGS. IT'S VERY SCARY TO DRIVE WITH A FROZEN SCREEN BECAUSE THE CAMERAS DON'T WORK: AND THE INTERACTION WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CAR IS UNKNOWN. WHEN I ASKED TESLA FOR A SERVICE REQUEST TO FIX IT, THEY SAID FIRMWARE WILL BE PUSHED TO THE CAR WHEN IT WAS DEVELOPED BUT GAVE NO TIMETABLE. THEY CANCELED MY SERVICE REQUEST. OTHER PEOPLE WITH MODEL 3S I KNOW DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS.
Other mileage not reported 8 mo in service crash / fire / tow
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SECOND IN LINE. MY CAR LUNGED BACKWARDS HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD DONE NOTHING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SLIGHT DAMAGE TO MY REAR END AND THEIR FRONT END. MY NECK DID WHIPLASH. THERE WAS AN INFANT IN THE BACKSEAT WHO WAS INJURED IN THE OTHER CAR. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT INJURED. PLEASE CALL ME (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Other 2,000 mi 11 mo in service
FRONT TRUNK UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. MADE A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE SAYING THE TRUNK IS UNLATCHED. GOT OUT AND CHECKED, THE PRIMARY LATCH IS UNLATCHED AND THE SECONDARY LATCH IS ENGAGED.
Structure mileage not reported 11 mo in service crash / fire / tow
AS I WAS OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR, MY NAIL GOT CAUGHT IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE CAR. AS BACKGROUND, IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR ONE I HAS TO PUSH THE HANDLE ON ONE SIDE FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO COME OUT, AS I WAS DOING THIS MY NAIL GOT CAUGHT IN THE GAP CREATED WHEN PUSHING ONE SIDE TEARING OFF MORE THAN HALF OF MY NAIL. THIS ALSO RIPPED THE SKIN AND I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I GOT TWO SHOTS BECAUSE THE PAIN WAS SO INTENSIVE, AND THEN I NEEDED WRAPPING AND A SPLINT.

Other Model 3 model years

20252024202320222021202020192018

How to read this