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Buying a used 2020 Tesla Model 3? Check these 21 recalls first
Alongside the carryover seat belt, suspension bolt, caliper bolt, unexpected braking and FSD Beta campaigns, this year adds a high-severity recall for a side curtain airbag that may be twisted. NHTSA shows 450 unverified complaints with 54 crashes, 2 fires and 33 injuries. Forward collision avoidance is by far the biggest reported area, followed by vehicle speed control and service brakes — braking and driver-assist behavior recur across both the recalls and the reports.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Verify the side curtain airbag recall shows as completed for this VIN.
- Confirm the caliper bolt and front suspension bolt repairs were done, and have the fasteners inspected.
- Ask about sudden unprompted braking and brake feel, given speed control and service brakes rank in the top reported areas.
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Tesla dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2020 Tesla Model 3
What owners have reported to NHTSA
450 complaints filed for this model year, including 54 mentioning a crash, 2 a fire and 33 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Assistance | 191 | Yes |
| Speed Control | 69 | None found |
| Brakes | 48 | Yes |
| Suspension | 46 | Yes |
| Steering | 45 | Yes |
| Electrical System | 42 | Yes |