Tesla Model 3 Reliability
7,203 NHTSA complaints (2017–2026). Complaint rate: 108.8 per 1,000 vehicles.
Tesla Model 3 Generations
Manufacturer redesigns the car every few years (a “generation”). Each generation has different engineering and common issues. Click a generation to see year-by-year breakdown.
| Generation | Years | Code | Complaints | Crashes | Volume | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | 2017–2023 | — | 6,736 | 711 | Hide years | |||
| 2017 | 52 | 3 | View 2017View→ | |||||
| 2018 | 1,618 | 202 | View 2018View→ | |||||
| 2019 | 1,000 | 96 | View 2019View→ | |||||
| 2020 | 727 | 94 | View 2020View→ | |||||
| 2021 | 1,188 | 80 | View 2021View→ | |||||
| 2022 | 1,453 | 97 | View 2022View→ | |||||
| 2023 | 698 | 139 | View 2023View→ | |||||
| Gen 2 | 2024–present | Highland refresh | 467 | 80 | Show years | |||
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2018 Tesla Model 3 (202 crash-related complaints). The 2017 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Tesla Model 3 Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | 1,158 | 2.9% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 915 | 7.2% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 640 | 12.2% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 599 | 17.5% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 545 | 15.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 463 | 10.2% |
| STEERING | 358 | 16.2% |
| SUSPENSION | 311 | 7.7% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS | 294 | 16.3% |
| AIR BAGS | 273 | 20.9% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017GOOD | Gen 1 | 52 | 3 | — | View 2017View→ |
| 2018AVOID | Gen 1 | 1,618 | 202 | 7 | View 2018View→ |
| 2019 | Gen 1 | 1,000 | 96 | 10 | View 2019View→ |
| 2020 | Gen 1 | 727 | 94 | 5 | View 2020View→ |
| 2021 | Gen 1 | 1,188 | 80 | 9 | View 2021View→ |
| 2022 | Gen 1 | 1,453 | 97 | 5 | View 2022View→ |
| 2023 | Gen 1 | 698 | 139 | — | View 2023View→ |
| 2024TOO NEW | Gen 2(Highland refresh) | 287 | 33 | — | View 2024View→ |
| 2025TOO NEW | Gen 2(Highland refresh) | 178 | 45 | — | View 2025View→ |
| 2026TOO NEW | Gen 2(Highland refresh) | 2 | 2 | — | View 2026View→ |
See also: Tesla Model 3accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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