Tesla Model 3 years to avoid
No model year of the Tesla Model 3 stands out with more than twice its typical number of complaints.
Best Tesla Model 3 years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Tesla Model 3 complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Tesla Model 3 problems
All model years combined.
- Driver assistance1,979
- Acceleration637
- Brakes574
- Electrical572
- Steering418
- Suspension384
- Airbags319
- Seat belts231
- Visibility208
- Seats179
- Body164
- Transmission93
Most reported problems on the Tesla Model 3
Ball joint 199Collision warning 128Sudden acceleration 107Backup camera 93Grinding brakes 84Headlights 67Power steering loss 63No deployment 57Seat belt 44Harsh shifting 35Door locks 34
Tesla Model 3 problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | - | 31 | Driver assistance | 1 | 10 | ||
| 2025 | - | 125 | Driver assistance | 10,100 | 3 | 27 | |
| 2024 | - | 224 | Driver assistance | 15,000 | 5 | 28 | |
| 2023 | - | 429 | Driver assistance | 3,400 | 12 | 73 | |
| 2022 | 61 | 774 | Driver assistance | 5,200 | 18 | 57 | |
| 2021 | 66 | 674 | Driver assistance | 10,000 | 22 | 46 | Fewest complaints |
| 2020 | 73 | 455 | Driver assistance | 4,000 | 21 | 54 | Fewest complaints |
| 2019 | 68 | 624 | Driver assistance | 10,000 | 22 | 61 | Fewest complaints |
| 2018 | 51 | 1,038 | Driver assistance | 17,000 | 19 | 103 | |
| 2017 | 89 | 27 | Driver assistance | 16 | 1 |
Recalls 36
Compare the Model 3
Model 3 vs Tesla Model YModel 3 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5Model 3 vs Nissan LeafModel 3 vs Volkswagen ID.4Model 3 vs Chevrolet Bolt EVModel 3 vs Ford Mustang Mach EModel 3 vs Kia EV6
Tesla Model 3 in the news
Questions about the Tesla Model 3
What years of the Tesla Model 3 should you avoid?
No single model year of the Tesla Model 3 has more than twice its typical number of owner complaints.
What is the best year for a used Tesla Model 3?
2020, 2019 and 2021 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (455, 624 and 674).
What is the most common problem with the Tesla Model 3?
Driver assistance, with 1,979 complaints across all years, followed by acceleration (637) and brakes (574).
How many recalls does the Tesla Model 3 have?
36 recalls between 2017 and 2026. The 2021 model year has the most, with 22.
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