35 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
On certain Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the low beam headlights may shine brighter than they are allowed to be. Headlights that are too bright can reduce how well oncoming drivers are able to see the road, other vehicles, and their surroundings. This reduced visibility for drivers coming the other way raises the chance of a crash happening.
Certain Tesla vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags. They may also be missing certain interior safety features and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet federal safety standards for occupant crash protection, interior impact protection, and bumper standards.
Tesla is recalling certain Model 3, Model S, Model X and Model Y vehicles that are running software version 2026.8.6. When the vehicle is put into reverse, the picture from the rearview camera may be delayed before it appears. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal safety standard for rear visibility. Tesla has released a software update that reaches the vehicle over the air, at no cost.
Certain Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles may have improperly tightened fasteners connecting the seat back to the seat bottom. The affected seat may not hold its occupant properly during a crash. Tesla Service Centers will inspect these fasteners and tighten or replace them as needed, free of charge.
Some Tesla Model 3 vehicles running older software can experience a problem with the power steering system. A circuit board for the electric power steering assist can become overstressed and cause the power steering assist to stop working right when the car comes to a stop and then starts moving again. When that happens, the steering wheel becomes much harder to turn, especially at low speeds.
In certain Tesla vehicles, a circuit board inside the car's computer can short out and the picture from the rearview camera can be lost. Without that image, these vehicles do not meet the federal safety standard for rear visibility. Tesla has sent out a free software update over the air. Tesla will also find vehicles whose computer board has failed or is under strain that could lead to failure, and replace those computers free of charge.
Tesla is recalling certain Cybertruck, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The warning light for the tire pressure monitoring system may not stay lit from one drive to the next. When that happens, the system does not warn the driver that a tire is low on air. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet the federal rules for tire pressure monitoring systems. Tesla has already released a software update that fixes it.
Some Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles have a hood latch that may fail to detect when the hood isn't fully latched. If the hood isn't properly closed, it could open fully while driving, blocking the driver's view of the road. Tesla is fixing this with a free over-the-air software update, so no dealer visit is needed.
Tesla is recalling certain Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. If the driver is not wearing a seat belt, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not turn on the way they are supposed to. This means the vehicle may fail to alert an unbelted driver that their seat belt is not fastened.
The driver seat side airbag on the affected vehicle was built without a deflector part that directs the airbag's gas flow when it deploys. Without this part, the airbag may not deploy the way it's designed to.
Tesla is recalling certain Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Doing a factory reset on the car turned off the sound the car makes so that people walking nearby can hear it coming. With that sound muted, the vehicles do not meet the federal rule on minimum sound for electric and hybrid vehicles. Tesla has put out a software update that the car receives over the air.
Tesla is recalling certain Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck vehicles. The Brake, Park and Antilock Braking System warning lights on the instrument panel are shown in the wrong font size, smaller than it should be. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet the federal safety standards for hydraulic, electric and light vehicle brake systems. Tesla has begun sending out a free over-the-air software update to fix the display.
Tesla is recalling Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that have Autosteer, a driver-assistance feature that helps steer the car. Autosteer still requires the driver to stay in charge of driving and take over when needed. In certain situations, the way the feature's controls are presented may not be clear or noticeable enough to keep drivers from using Autosteer in ways it was not designed for, or to make clear when it is not on.
A part designed to disconnect the vehicle's high-voltage battery may be defective. If this part fails, the battery may not be properly isolated after a crash or after the vehicle's system detects a fault. This can increase the risk of electrical shock and injury to people near or in the vehicle. To address this, Tesla will replace the battery disconnect part free of charge.
On certain Tesla Model 3 vehicles, the fasteners that hold the front suspension's lateral link to the sub-frame may loosen over time. If they loosen enough, the lateral link can separate from the sub-frame entirely, changing how the vehicle's wheel is aligned.
Tesla is recalling Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that have the Full Self-Driving Beta software, or are waiting for it to be installed. The software may let the car behave unsafely at intersections, for example going straight through an intersection from a turn-only lane, entering a stop-sign intersection without coming to a full stop, or going into an intersection on a steady yellow light. It may also respond poorly to changes in posted speed limits or allow speeding.
One or both taillights on certain vehicles may sometimes fail to light up. This is an intermittent problem, meaning the taillight might work at times and stop working at other times. When a taillight isn't lit, the vehicle becomes harder for other drivers to see, which reduces its visibility on the road.
Tesla is recalling certain Model 3 vehicles. On these cars, the buckle for the left seat belt in the second row and the anchor for the middle seat belt in the second row may have been put back together incorrectly during a service visit. Tesla Service will inspect the seat belt anchors and put them back together properly where that is needed. The work is done at no cost to the owner.
Tesla is recalling certain Model 3, Model S, Model X and Model Y vehicles because of the power windows. When a window is closing and something is in the way, the system that is supposed to sense it and stop the window may not respond the way it should. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal rule for power-operated window systems.
Tesla is recalling certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles because two camera cable terminals, for the fisheye and narrow cameras, were installed incorrectly in the cable harness connector. This wiring mistake causes the views from these two cameras to be swapped with each other. As a result, the vehicle receives camera images from the wrong camera for each of these two positions.
The computer that runs the center touchscreen can overheat while the car is getting ready to fast-charge or while fast-charging. This can cause the computer to slow down or restart. When that happens, the center screen may stop showing the rearview camera image, the gear you have selected, the windshield visibility settings, and warning lights, which can make it harder for the driver to see important information.
In some Model 3 Performance cars, the speedometer may not show the speed unit—miles per hour or kilometers per hour—while the car is in Track Mode. Without that unit shown, a driver may not be able to tell how fast the vehicle is going. Tesla will fix this with an over-the-air software update sent directly to the car, at no cost to the owner.
Tesla is recalling certain Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over the Boombox feature. Boombox can play sounds through a speaker on the outside of the car while the car is moving. Those sounds may cover up the warning noise the car makes so people walking nearby can hear it approaching. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal rule on minimum sound for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Tesla is recalling certain Model 3 vehicles equipped with a specific onboard computer and certain software versions. On these vehicles, the rearview camera image may not show up right away when the driver shifts into reverse. Because the image is delayed, the driver has a reduced view of what's behind the vehicle while backing up, instead of seeing it immediately as intended.
On certain Tesla Model S, Model X, Model Y, and Model 3 vehicles, a feature called Boombox lets sounds play through an outside speaker while the car is moving. This can be loud enough to cover up the warning sounds the vehicle is supposed to make so pedestrians nearby can hear it approaching. Because those warning sounds may be muffled, people walking near the vehicle may not notice it coming.
Tesla is recalling certain Model 3, Model S, and Model Y vehicles because of a software error. The error can cause a valve inside the heat pump to open when it shouldn't, which traps refrigerant inside the evaporator. When this happens, the vehicle's ability to defrost or defog the windshield is reduced. Vehicles with the problem no longer meet the federal safety standard for windshield defrosting and defogging systems.
Tesla is recalling certain Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. When the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt, the audible warning chime may not activate the way it is supposed to. This means a driver could start driving without being reminded by a chime that their seat belt is not fastened.
Tesla is recalling certain Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that have the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software. A setting in that software called rolling stop can let the car go through an intersection where every direction has a stop sign without first coming to a complete stop. Tesla is turning the rolling stop feature off with a software update sent to the car over the air.
Tesla is recalling all 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles. The cable harness that carries the rearview camera signal runs through the trunk area, and opening and closing the trunk lid can damage it. If the cable is damaged, the camera image may not show up on the screen. Tesla Service will inspect the car and, if needed, fit a guide protector and a new cable harness.
A communication error in the software running on these Tesla vehicles can trigger a false forward-collision warning or cause the automatic emergency braking system to activate when it isn't needed. If the automatic braking activates unexpectedly, the car can come to a sudden stop while driving. A car that suddenly stops without the driver expecting it raises the chance that another vehicle could crash into it.
On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the bolts that hold the front suspension's lateral link in place may loosen over time. If they loosen enough, the lateral link can separate from the sub-frame. That can change the wheel's alignment, making the vehicle feel unstable. Tesla will tighten or replace the affected fasteners at no cost to the owner.
On these Tesla Model 3 vehicles, the left and/or right side curtain airbag may not have been properly secured to the roof rail, which can leave the airbag twisted. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet federal safety standards for side impact protection and for keeping occupants inside the vehicle during a crash. Tesla Service will inspect the airbags and realign them as needed.
On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the bolts holding a brake caliper in place may be loose. If a caliper comes loose, it can separate and touch the wheel rim. That contact can cause a tire to lose air pressure. Tesla will inspect the caliper bolts and tighten or replace them if needed, at no cost to the owner.
On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, one or both of the fasteners that secure the front seat's shoulder belt to the pillar beside the door may not be properly attached. Because the belt is not securely fastened at that point, the seat belt system may not work the way it was designed to. Tesla will check both fasteners on affected vehicles and repair them if a problem is found.
Tesla is recalling certain 2019 Model 3 cars. The sun visor on the driver's side may be missing the airbag warning information that is supposed to be printed on it. Because that warning information is not there, these cars do not meet the federal rule for occupant crash protection. Tesla service centers will look at the visor and replace it if that is needed, at no cost to the owner.
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 1,015 | 102 | 4 | 44 |
| 2019 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 611 | 58 | 5 | 27 |
| 2020 | 21 | 11 | 0 | 450 | 54 | 2 | 33 |
| 2021 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 660 | 45 | 5 | 19 |
| 2022 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 764 | 53 | 4 | 45 |
| 2023 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 430 | 73 | 1 | 50 |
| 2024 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 224 | 28 | 1 | 19 |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
NHTSA lists 35 safety recalls covering the 2018–2026 Tesla Model 3. 20 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Headlights Too Bright" (NHTSA campaign 26V507000), reported Aug 5, 2026.
The 2019 Tesla Model 3 has the most, with 22 recalls. The 2026 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 1. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
No. None of the 35 Tesla Model 3 recalls on file carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA.
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised Tesla dealer, including for second owners.
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: