YearToAvoid

2022 Tesla Model 3 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 178 Engine complaints for the 2022 Tesla Model 3, 23% of the year's 765 total complaints. There are 15 crashes and 12 injuries tied to this area, with a median mileage at failure of 3,200. No related recalls are on file.

Engine complaints
178
23% of 765
Crashes reported
15
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
12
Median mileage
3,200 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while braking, at speeds ranging from a stop to 40-60 MPH, often resulting in a crash into another vehicle or object.
  • Several reports describe the vehicle lurching forward on its own during low-speed parking maneuvers, striking barriers, transformers, or garage structures.
  • Some complaints describe loss of control while merging or turning, with the vehicle swerving or spinning before hitting a divider or fixed object.
  • One report describes acceleration and a lane change into standing water while Full Self-Driving mode was engaged, followed by an immediate crash.
  • A few owners report the steering wheel seizing or turning unexpectedly while accelerating at highway speed, leading to a crash.

When 2022 Tesla Model 3 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 17, 2021, latest Jul 31, 2026.

2022 Tesla Model 3 engine complaints: complaints filed per month46Dec 2021May 2022Oct 2022Mar 2023Aug 2023Feb 2024Aug 2024May 2025
178 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Feb 2022 (46).

Engine recalls for the 2022 Tesla Model 3

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Model 3 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20174 (15%)
  2. 2018100 (10%)
  3. 201973 (12%)
  4. 202070 (16%)
  5. 2021127 (19%)
  6. 2022178 (23%)
  7. 202375 (18%)
  8. 202424 (11%)
  9. 202517 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Tesla Model 3 engine considered a problem area?
NHTSA lists 178 Engine-related complaints for the 2022 Model 3, which is 23% of all 765 complaints filed for that model year, the highest share among all model years reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2022 Tesla Model 3 engine complaints?
No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2022 Model 3.
How severe are the reported engine issues?
NHTSA data tied to this area shows 15 crashes and 12 injuries among the 2022 Model 3 complaints, with no fires reported.
At what mileage do these engine problems tend to occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 3,200 miles.
What kind of engine problems do owners describe?
Owners describe unintended acceleration during braking, low-speed lurching while parking, loss of steering control during acceleration, and one incident involving Full Self-Driving mode causing a lane change into standing water before a crash.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.