The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control is the largest identified problem area: 70 of 224 complaints (31%) mention it. 72 complaints mention a component NHTSA leaves uncategorised.
Complaints filed fell from 429 in 2023 to 224 in 2024.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 224
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $550–$700
- Combined MPG
- 112–137
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Advertisement
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | vs. 2024 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 550–650 | 550–650 | 550–700 | 550–700 | 550–700 | |
| Combined MPGe | 113–132 | 113–132 | 112–137 | 109–137 | 111–139 | |
| City / Highway MPGe | 118–138 / 107–126 | 118–138 / 107–126 | 117–145 / 107–128 | 113–145 / 104–128 | 117–147 / 106–130 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Complaints filed | 774 | 429 | 224 | 124 | 30 | |
| Recalls issued | 18 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 57 | 73 | 28 | 27 | 10 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 47 | 50 | 19 | 10 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2024 Tesla Model 3 have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What gas mileage does the 2024 Tesla Model 3 get?
EPA rates it 112–137 MPGe combined across 5 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2024 Tesla Model 3?
EPA estimates $550–$700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 137 MPGe | 124 MPGe | 130 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 140 MPGe | 125 MPGe | 132 MPGe | $550 (low) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 133 MPGe | 122 MPGe | 128 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 145 MPGe (high) | 128 MPGe (high) | 137 MPGe (high) | $550 (low) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 117 MPGe (low) | 107 MPGe (low) | 112 MPGe (low) | $700 (high) | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 47 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 40 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 9 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 70 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 72 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER; STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
- Consequence
- A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or resolutions@tesla.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
- Defect
- 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."
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:THORAX
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling one 2024 Model 3 vehicle. The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment.
- Consequence
- Without a deflector, the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla service replaced the side air bag, free of charge. The affected vehicle was repaired April 12, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-13-001.