NHTSA lists 451 complaints for the 2020 Tesla Model 3, 54 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 27 complaints mention an injury, with 33 injuries and 2 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-07.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as TESLA MODEL 3.
Recalls
21 recalls. Showing the latest 10 of 21.
Date: 2026-08-04. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Defect: 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."
Consequence: Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will replace the headlights, free of charge. 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2024-12-17. Systems: TIRES.
Defect: 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 Monit (excerpt)
Consequence: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash. (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2024-05-28. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2024-02-27. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE.
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Consequence: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2024-01-30. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Defect: 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, "Hydraul (excerpt)
Consequence: 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. (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2023-12-12. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Defect: 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 advance (excerpt)
Consequence: 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. (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2023-02-15. Systems: STEERING.
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation.A The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersect (excerpt)
Consequence: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash. (excerpt)
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.A Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023.A Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.A Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2022-10-21. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The second-row left seat belt buckle and second-row center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during vehicle service.
Consequence: An incorrectly reassembled seat belt anchor can impair the performance of the seat belt during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-20-004.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2022-09-19. Systems: VISIBILITY.
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3, 2020-2022 Model Y, and 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles. The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Consequence: A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-013.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2022-04-18. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Defect: 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."
Consequence: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
14 investigations; 6 open.
PE26006
Opened: 2026-07-29. Closed: Not listed.
Lower Lateral Link detachment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 156 complaints alleging a suspension failure in model year (MY) 2018-2020 Model 3 and MY 2021-2023 Model Y vehicles. The suspension failure involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link, which potentially causes a loss of vehicle directional control. In most cases, there was no advance warning or indication that the suspension failur
Systems: SUSPENSION.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
EA26002
Opened: 2026-03-18. Closed: Not listed.
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Teslaa s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the systema s ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient t
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE25012
Opened: 2025-10-07. Closed: Not listed.
Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged
The Office of Defects Investigation (a ODIa ) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute trai? c safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automat
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
AQ25002
Opened: 2025-08-20. Closed: Not listed.
Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements
The Office of Defects Investigation (a ODIa ) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. (a Teslaa ) in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the a SGOa ), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the Standing General Order in place at the time required a
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE24033
Opened: 2025-01-06. Closed: 2026-04-03.
Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.
On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private prope
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE24031
Opened: 2024-10-17. Closed: 2026-03-18.
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
On October 17, 2024, NHTSAa s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031) of Teslaa s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) to assess: the ability of the FSD system to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions; whether any other FSD crashes had occurred under degraded roadway visibility co
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
RQ24009
Opened: 2024-04-25. Closed: Not listed.
Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report (Recall 23V838) applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its Autopilot system, which Tesla described as an SAE Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Autopilot is the simulta
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
DP23002
Opened: 2023-06-29. Closed: Not listed.
Sudden Unintended Acceleration
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12VDC systems may have caused some or all of the incidents examined by ODI in DP20-001. The petitioner bases this information on a review of open-source research and the DP20-001 denial. The petiti
Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
DP23001
Opened: 2023-04-07. Closed: 2026-03-18.
Defect Petition Interlock Request
On March 21, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting a a recall of all Tesla carsa produced from 2013 to the date on which the petition was filed due to what Petitioner considers to be the increased likelihood of pedal misapplication. Attached to the Petition is a paper authored by Petitioner. According to Petitioner, the differences in the operator contro
Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
DP22005
Opened: 2023-01-27. Closed: 2023-08-07.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: 22V063000.
EA22002
Opened: 2022-06-08. Closed: 2024-04-25.
Autopilot System Driver Controls
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded PE21020 to EA22002 on June 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the PE21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how Teslaa s Autopilot system may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the drivera s supervision. To suppor
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: 23V085, 23V838.
PE22002
Opened: 2022-02-16. Closed: 2026-06-29.
Unexpected Brake Activation
On February 16, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22002) to investigate reports of unexpected deceleration while driving with the adaptive cruise control system engaged in Model Year (MY) 2021 a 2022 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured by Tesla. The subject systems include Autopilot (all versions), Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Traffic Aware C
Systems: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE21023
Opened: 2021-12-21. Closed: 2023-05-26.
Tesla Passenger Play
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-023) on December 21, 2021, to evaluate the driver distraction potential and use frequency / circumstances of in-vehicle game-play functionality referred to as ?Passenger Play? in certain model year (MY) 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles. Distracted driving can result in an increased risk of a crash. PE21-023
Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE21020
Opened: 2021-08-13. Closed: 2022-06-08.
Autopilot & First Responder Scenes
On August 13, 2021, NHTSA?s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-020) to assess the performance of Tesla?s Autopilot system (a system characterized by Tesla as an SAE Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task) available in Tesla vehicles. The investigation opening was motivated by an accumulatio
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
112 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 41 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 22 |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 15 |
|---|
| AIR BAGS | 9 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 8 |
|---|
| SEATS | 6 |
|---|
| SUSPENSION | 6 |
|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
|---|
11033173
Date: 2026-05-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.
On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which may result in loss of brake fluid. Loss of brake fluid will result in a customer facing alert if the fluid reaches the predetermined level to trigger an alert. Upon customer complaint of a low brake fluid alert,
11029583
Date: 2026-02-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.
On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which may result in loss of brake fluid. Loss of brake fluid will result in a customer facing alert if the fluid reaches the predetermined level to trigger an alert. Upon customer complaint of a low brake fluid alert,
11020192
Date: 2025-06-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.
A firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that monitors wheel alignment over time. This feature detects changes in wheel alignment that may be related to incorrect tire pressures, degraded ball joints, bushings or damaged suspension links. If the feature determ
11008806
Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file
11008807
Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file
11008824
Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file
11008827
Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file
11008829
Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file
11008830
Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file
11008831
Date: 2024-09-30. Type: Over The Air. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available ownera s manual content is integrated into the vehicle software, and only the content relevant for a given vehicle, based on vehicle configuration and software version installed, is displayed on its touchscreen. This file