35 NHTSA safety recalls cover the Tesla Model 3, across model years 2017–2026. Every recall repair is free at any Tesla dealer.
Is yours affected? Check your Model 3 by VIN — or pick your model year below for every recall, complaint and fix.
Recalls and owner complaints by model year
Of the Tesla Model 3 model years, the 2018 drew the most owner complaints (1,031).
Recalls: NHTSA campaigns covering each Tesla Model 3 model year on this page. Complaints: owner reports filed with NHTSA for that model year, including trims and variants sold under the model name (e.g. an F-150 page counts F-150 Raptor). Separate scales: compare the shape, not the heights across panels.
| Model year | Recalls | Owner complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 16 | 26 |
| 2018 | 19 | 1031 |
| 2019 | 22 | 617 |
| 2020 | 21 | 451 |
| 2021 | 22 | 666 |
| 2022 | 18 | 766 |
| 2023 | 12 | 428 |
| 2024 | 4 | 219 |
| 2025 | 3 | 117 |
| 2026 | 1 | 28 |
What these recalls fix, grouped by the vehicle system NHTSA files them under:
Tesla is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles that may lack knee airbags and safety features, increasing crash injury risk. Owners must return vehicles for free repurchase by September 5, 2026.
Tesla is recalling certain 2017-2023 Model 3 vehicles with overly bright low beams that could reduce visibility and increase crash risk. Owners must have headlights replaced free by Tesla.
Tesla is recalling certain 2020 Model Y vehicles with software version 2026.8.6 due to delayed rearview camera images when reversing, which may cause crashes. Owners must update software via over-the-air update.
Tesla is recalling 2026 Model Y vehicles with potential drive power loss causing crash risk. Owners must have battery pack contactors replaced free by Tesla.
Tesla is recalling 2026 Model Y vehicles with improperly tightened seat fasteners that may not restrain occupants during crashes. Owners must contact Tesla for free seat inspections.
When the Tesla Model 3 recalls were issued, by year — a cluster usually means one defect recalled in stages or across a platform.
Owners have filed 4,349 complaints with NHTSA about the Tesla Model 3; the most reported area is forward collision avoidance. These are reports, not recalls: they are how NHTSA spots defects.
See Tesla Model 3 complaints, TSBs and investigations by year →
We have 35 NHTSA safety recalls on record for the Tesla Model 3, covering model years 2017–2026. The most recent was issued Jul 7, 2026 (Structure).
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 has the most, with 22 recalls on record. Every model year with a recall is listed on this page with links to each one.
By system: Electrical System (11), Back Over Prevention (4), Seat Belts (3), Forward Collision Avoidance (3).
None of these recalls carries an NHTSA do-not-drive or park-outside warning, but each fixes a safety defect, so book the free repair promptly.
Run a VIN recall check: enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact year, then confirm at NHTSA.gov which are still unrepaired on your vehicle. Any Tesla dealer can also look it up.
Yes. Federal law requires Tesla to fix safety recalls free of charge at any authorized Tesla dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had.