MODELYEARINDEX

Tesla Model 3

5,795 complaints across 4 scored model years and 32 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Tesla Model 3 Full report
D
Grade 2018–2021
2021 vs model median 1.4×
Model median3× median
Driver Assist 608
Brakes 123
Speed Control 120
Avoid

2018 · 2021

Best

2019 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2018
1.08× 656 D
2019
0.92× 648 D
2020
0.86× 612 D
2021
1.38× 1,140 D
2022 P
1.80× 1,485 F
2023 P
1.20× 724 D
2024 P
0.47× 317 B
2025 P
0.36× 206 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG132
City / Highway140 / 125
Engine—
DriveRear-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$550

Recalls

32 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
24V051000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 2018–2023 2,193,869
23V838000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE 2018–2023 2,031,220
24V554000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2021–2023 1,849,638
22V702000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS 2018–2022 1,096,762
22V045000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2018–2022 817,143
24V935000 TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS 2018–2025 696,281
22V235000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2018–2022 594,894
22V063000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2018–2022 578,607

+ 24 further campaigns

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura ILX
20142016
C
Audi A3
20152017
C
BMW 1 Series
none flagged
C
BMW I3
none flagged
C
Buick Verano
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Bolt EV
2017
C
Chevrolet Cobalt
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Cruze
20112012
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2021 Model 3
Complaints in window
1,140
Severity-weighted
1,437.5
Model median (weighted)
1,043
vs model median
1.38×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
21
Open investigations
5
Score 40.6 D