2021 Tesla Model 3 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 84 electrical system complaints for the 2021 Tesla Model 3, 13% of the 663 total complaints filed for the year, including 7 crashes, 1 fire, and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure is 7,000. Several related recalls exist, though none target this exact complaint pattern do-not-drive.
- Electrical System complaints
- 84
- 13% of 663
- Crashes reported
- 7
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 7,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 6
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report the car powering off or losing motive power while driving, sometimes requiring a tow.
- Several complaints describe sudden unintended acceleration, including one that ended in a crash after the car accelerated on its own while parking or nearly stationary.
- Headlights and turn signals reportedly flicker or fail intermittently, including one headlight going dark on a new car.
- Owners describe an interior dash electrical fire that started while the car was charging overnight, causing smoke damage and a total loss.
- Some owners report camera error messages, such as a pillar camera showing an 'obstructed' warning with no actual obstruction.
- One owner reported water intrusion into wiring near the rear trunk closure switch, causing the trunk to open randomly.
When 2021 Tesla Model 3 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 20, 2021, latest Sep 16, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2021 Tesla Model 3
- NHTSA 26V507000Aug 4, 2026Electrical System20,349 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The headlight low beams may be too bright and exceed the maximum light output. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-003.
- NHTSA 24V554000Jul 24, 2024Electrical System1,849,638 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Electrical system:software
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 24V051000Jan 30, 2024Electrical System2,193,869 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
- NHTSA 23V838000Dec 12, 2023Electrical System2,031,220 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Electrical system:adas:driver monitoring:software
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Risk: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
- NHTSA 22V263000Apr 18, 2022Electrical System48,184 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Model 3 Performance vehicles. The unit of speed (mph or km/h) may fail to display on the speedometer while in Track Mode. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: The driver may not know how fast the vehicle is traveling without the mph or km/h unit display, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-008.
- NHTSA 22V050000Feb 2, 2022Electrical System26,681 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Electrical system:software
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A software error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Risk: Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.
Electrical System complaints by Model 3 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical system complaints on the 2021 Tesla Model 3?
- NHTSA lists 84 electrical system complaints for the 2021 Model 3, which is 13% of the 663 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Are there any recalls related to the 2021 Tesla Model 3 electrical system?
- Yes. NHTSA lists several electrical system recalls that cover 2021 Model 3 vehicles, including campaigns for a heat pump refrigerant valve software error, an Autosteer-related recall, and an incorrect font size on the brake display.
- Have there been any crashes or fires tied to these complaints?
- Among the 84 electrical system complaints, NHTSA records 7 crashes, 1 fire, and 4 injuries.
- At what mileage do these electrical problems tend to occur?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 7,000 miles.
- What kinds of electrical failures do owners describe most?
- Sample complaints describe sudden loss of power while driving, unintended acceleration, flickering headlights and turn signals, camera error messages, and one dash fire during overnight charging.