Short answer
Among Tesla Model 3 model years through 2024, 2024 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (5) and 2019 and 2021 have the most (22). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Tesla Model 3: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 10 (2017–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 36
- Fewest recalls
- 2024 (5)
- Most recalls
- 2019 and 2021 (22)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (27)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2018, 2019, 2020 and 3 more years
Tesla Model 3 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Seats |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Tires |
| 2024 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2023 | 12 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Steering |
| 2022 | 18 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts |
| 2021 | 22 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 21 | 5 stars | Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts, Electrical system |
| 2019 | 22 | 5 stars | Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts, Electrical system |
| 2018 | 19 | 5 stars | Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts, Electrical system |
| 2017 | 16 | Not rated | Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts, Back over prevention |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20253 recalls
- 20245 recalls
- 202312 recalls
- 202218 recalls
- 202122 recalls
- 202021 recalls
- 201922 recalls
- 201819 recalls
- 201716 recalls
Tesla Model 3: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Tesla Model 3 recalls are electrical system (27), forward collision avoidance (23), seat belts (22), steering (14) and back over prevention (10). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 6 of these 10 model years, and 2018, 2019, 2020 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Tesla Model 3 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Tesla Model 3?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 5 each.
Which Tesla Model 3 model years have the most recalls?
2019 and 2021 have the most, with 22 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Model 3", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy