"How reliable is the 2019 Tesla Model 3?"

"Based on 997 NHTSA complaints, the 2019 Tesla Model 3 has a median complaint mileage of 10000 miles. The most common issue is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL."

"What are common problems with the 2019 Tesla Model 3?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Tesla Model 3 is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, accounting for a significant portion of the 997 total complaints filed."

2019 Tesla Model 3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 997 complaints

997

Total Complaints

10,000mi

Median Mileage

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

4,315 25th Percentile

10,000 Median Mileage

24,742 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

122

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUSPENSION

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BRAKES

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

STEERING

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THREE TIMES WHEN DRIVING THE TESLA THE SCREEN STARTS FLASHING, THEN EITHER GOES BLACK OR FREEZES. THE TESLA'S SCREEN IS FOR NAVIGATION AND DRIVING SETTINGS. IT'S VERY SCARY TO DRIVE WITH A FROZEN SCREEN BECAUSE THE CAMERAS DON'T WORK: AND THE INTERACTION WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CAR IS UNKNOWN. ..."

"HI, ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: HTTPS://WWW.BUSINESSINSIDER.COM/TESLA-MODEL-S-CATCHES-FIRE-IN-SAN-FRANCISCO-GARAGE-2019-5 TESLA CEO ELON MUSK HAS SAID THE COMPANY'S VEHICLES ARE LESS LIKELY TO CATCH FIRE THAN GAS-POWERED ONES, BUT DATA FROM THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION S..."

"I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SECOND IN LINE. MY CAR LUNGED BACKWARDS HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD DONE NOTHING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SLIGHT DAMAGE TO MY REAR END AND THEIR FRONT END. MY NECK DID WHIPLASH. THERE WAS AN INFANT IN THE BACKSEAT WHO WAS INJURED IN THE OTHER CAR. THE DRIV..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28