Tesla Model 3 Best and Worst Years (2017–2025)
Avoid the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Tesla Model 3 — they carry the highest Complaint Index scores (75, 100, and 88) and lead with Collision Avoidance & Camera complaints. The 2025 and 2017 rate Best, while 2024 rates Good, based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- Model years
- 9
- 2017–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 4,302
- Recall campaigns
- 35
- Crashes reported
- 437
- Fires reported
- 22
- Top problem area
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras
Model 3 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Tesla Model 3 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Best | 0 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 16 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 126 | — |
| 2018 | Caution | 63 | 1,024 | 102 | 4 | 19 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 119.5 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Caution | 38 | 614 | 59 | 5 | 22 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 126.5 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Caution | 50 | 451 | 54 | 2 | 21 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 122 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Avoid | 75 | 663 | 46 | 5 | 22 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 134 | 5★ |
| 2022 | Avoid | 100 | 765 | 53 | 4 | 18 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 131 | 5★ |
| 2023 | Avoid | 88 | 425 | 72 | 1 | 12 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 131 | 5★ |
| 2024 | Good | 25 | 217 | 25 | 1 | 5 | Electrical System | 130 | — |
| 2025 | Best | 13 | 117 | 25 | 0 | 3 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 129.5 | — |
Model 3 years to avoid: what went wrong
2022 Tesla Model 3 Index 100 · 765 complaints · 18 recalls
The 2022 Model 3 has the highest Complaint Index of any year at 100, from 765 complaints and 18 recall campaigns. Collision Avoidance & Cameras make up 70% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 1,900 miles, followed by Engine (23%), Brakes (22%), and Electrical System (8%). Owners report brake pedals failing to stop the vehicle, sudden unintended acceleration during self-driving mode use, and laggy backup cameras during parking maneuvers that led to collisions. Recalls cover headlight brightness, rearview camera delay, and TPMS warnings.
2022 collision avoidance & cameras problems →2022 engine problems →2022 brakes problems →
2023 Tesla Model 3 Index 88 · 425 complaints · 12 recalls
The 2023 Model 3 has a Complaint Index of 88 from 425 complaints and 12 recall campaigns. Collision Avoidance & Cameras account for 43% of complaints at a median failure mileage of 4,000 miles, followed by Steering at 20%, Engine at 18%, and Brakes at 13%. Owners describe sudden uncontrolled acceleration in parking areas, airbags failing to deploy in a collision, and brake assist not activating. A steering recall addresses a power steering circuit board overstress issue, along with headlight and camera-delay recalls.
2023 collision avoidance & cameras problems →2023 steering problems →2023 engine problems →
2021 Tesla Model 3 Index 75 · 663 complaints · 22 recalls
The 2021 Model 3 has a Complaint Index of 75 out of 663 total complaints, with 22 recall campaigns on file. Collision Avoidance & Cameras account for 62% of complaints, followed by Engine at 19%, Brakes at 19%, and Electrical System at 13%. Owners describe unintended acceleration events, dashboards that stayed illuminated after parking, and camera lag during low-speed maneuvers. Median mileage at failure for the top problem area was 10,000 miles. Recalls affecting this year cover headlight brightness, rearview camera delay, and TPMS warning light failures.
2021 collision avoidance & cameras problems →2021 engine problems →2021 brakes problems →
Most common Tesla Model 3 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,806 (42%)
- Other697 (16%)
- Engine668 (16%)
- Electrical System628 (15%)
- Brakes573 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires426 (10%)
- Steering390 (9%)
- Structure & Body357 (8%)
- Airbags311 (7%)
- Lane Departure296 (7%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What year Tesla Model 3 should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to the 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years as the ones to avoid, with Complaint Index scores of 75, 100, and 88 respectively — the highest among all Model 3 years.
- Which Tesla Model 3 years are best?
- The 2017 and 2025 model years rate Best, with Complaint Index scores of 0 and 13. The 2024 model year rates Good with a Complaint Index of 25.
- Is the 2022 Tesla Model 3 reliable based on complaints?
- The 2022 Model 3 has the highest Complaint Index of any year, 100, out of 765 complaints and 18 recall campaigns, with Collision Avoidance & Cameras making up 70% of those complaints.
- What is the most common problem area across Tesla Model 3 years?
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras is the top problem area overall, accounting for 1,806 complaints, or 42% of all 4,302 complaints logged across all years.
- Why is the 2019 Model 3 rated Caution despite a lower Complaint Index?
- The 2019 Model 3 has a Complaint Index of only 38 but its verdict is capped to Caution because it has 8 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit.