2021 Tesla Model 3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1186 complaints
1186
Total Complaints
8,900mi
Median Mileage
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Top Issue
78
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

1,900 25th Percentile
8,900 Median Mileage
18,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
275
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
225
SERVICE BRAKES
123
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
119
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
89
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
73
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
59
VISIBILITY/WIPER
28
STEERING
24
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
18

Severity Assessment

78
Crashes
9
Fires
41
Injuries
6
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHEN I TEST DROVE THE TESLA MODEL 3, THERE WAS AN OPTION TO TURN REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO LOW. THIS ALLOWED THE CAR TO HAVE MORE OF A COASTING EFFECT WHEN ONE LIFTS THE FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I RECEIVED DELIVERY OF THE CAR, THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING EFFECT WAS NOT AVAI..."
"WHEN I TEST DROVE THE TESLA MODEL 3, THERE WAS AN OPTION TO TURN REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO LOW. THIS ALLOWED THE CAR TO HAVE MORE OF A COASTING EFFECT WHEN ONE LIFTS THE FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I RECEIVED DELIVERY OF THE CAR, THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING EFFECT WAS NOT AVAI..."
"WHEN I TEST DROVE THE TESLA MODEL 3, THERE WAS AN OPTION TO TURN REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO LOW. THIS ALLOWED THE CAR TO HAVE MORE OF A COASTING EFFECT WHEN ONE LIFTS THE FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I RECEIVED DELIVERY OF THE CAR, THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING EFFECT WAS NOT AVAI..."

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