2024 Tesla Model 3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
50/100
#5 most-complained of 9 Model 3 years
The 2024 Tesla Model 3 has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 5th worst out of 9 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 217 complaints, 25 crashes, 1 fire, and 5 recalls, with Electrical System issues the top problem area at 30% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 217
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 25 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 19 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 130
- 137 city / 124 hwy
Top 2024 Tesla Model 3 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other70 (32%)
- Electrical System65 (30%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras51 (24%)
- Steering36 (17%)
- Engine24 (11%)
- Lane Departure15 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (5%)
- Airbags8 (4%)
- Structure & Body7 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners describe unintended acceleration events, including one while stopped in a drive-thru line that ended in a wall collision with airbag deployment.
- Some report the central touchscreen going blank at highway speed while Autopilot engaged on its own and steered the car into another vehicle.
- Full Self-Driving (Supervised) reportedly made abrupt, uncommanded steering inputs, in one case causing a collision with a tunnel wall after logged steering hardware errors.
- Owners report FSD suddenly veering or turning into barriers without warning, in one case totaling the car.
- Smart Summon has reportedly engaged the vehicle in drive with no reverse lights active, then lurched backward and struck a bystander.
- One owner described exterior lights shutting off completely on an unlit freeway while using FSD at night.
2024 Tesla Model 3 recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V445000Jul 7, 2026Structure & Body15 vehicles
Structure:body:bumpers
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
Risk: A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 5, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or [email protected]. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
- NHTSA 25V002000Jan 6, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras239,382 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Back over prevention:software
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
- NHTSA 24V935000Dec 17, 2024Suspension, Wheels & Tires696,281 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
2024 Tesla Model 3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 137 MPG
- Highway
- 124 MPG
- Combined
- 130 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Electricity
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2024 compared with other Model 3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2024 Tesla Model 3 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2024 Model 3 a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 5th worst of 9 model years, which earns a Caution verdict relative to other Model 3 years.
- What problems does the 2024 Tesla Model 3 have?
- The top problem area is the Electrical System, accounting for 30% of complaints, followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 24% and Steering at 17%. NHTSA logged 217 complaints, 25 crashes, 1 fire, and 19 injuries for this year.
- Does the 2024 Tesla Model 3 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2024 Model 3, covering structure/body knee airbags, a rearview camera circuit board issue, TPMS warning light software, a hood latch detection fix, and a single airbag deflector assembly error. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2024 Model 3 compare to other years?
- With a Complaint Index of 50, 2024 falls between the higher-complaint 2022 (100, Avoid) and 2023 (88, Avoid) years and the lower-complaint 2020 (13, Best) and 2025 (25, Good) years.