The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 46 of 124 complaints (37%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 224 in 2024 to 124 in 2025.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 124
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $550–$700
- Combined MPG
- 109–137
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | vs. 2025 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 550–650 | 550–700 | 550–700 | 550–700 | 550–700 | |
| Combined MPGe | 113–132 | 112–137 | 109–137 | 111–139 | 111–137 | |
| City / Highway MPGe | 118–138 / 107–126 | 117–145 / 107–128 | 113–145 / 104–128 | 117–147 / 106–130 | 117–145 / 106–128 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Complaints filed | 429 | 224 | 124 | 30 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 12 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 73 | 28 | 27 | 10 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 50 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
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 2025 Tesla Model 3 have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 46 of 124 NHTSA complaints (37%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Tesla Model 3 get?
EPA rates it 109–137 MPGe combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2025 Tesla Model 3?
EPA estimates $550–$700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| 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 | 133 MPGe | 122 MPGe | 128 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 145 MPGe (high) | 128 MPGe (high) | 137 MPGe (high) | $550 (low) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 113 MPGe (low) | 104 MPGe (low) | 109 MPGe (low) | $700 (high) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 140 MPGe | 123 MPGe | 131 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 13 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 27 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 46 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 37 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 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 (3)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:FUSES, RELAYS, CONTACTS, AND SHUNTS
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles. The battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power.
- Consequence
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will replace the battery pack contactors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-16-005.
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.