Home › Tesla › Model 3 › Used 2021
Buying a used 2021 Tesla Model 3? Check these 22 recalls first
Fastener recalls continue here — brake caliper bolts and front suspension bolts that may loosen — plus a twisted side curtain airbag, cameras wired backwards, and a hood latch warning that fails. Softer items cover FSD Beta, a weakening defroster and the speedometer display. Of 660 unverified NHTSA complaints (45 crashes, 5 fires, 19 injuries), forward collision avoidance accounts for 407, with service brakes and vehicle speed control next.
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.
- Confirm by VIN that the caliper bolt, suspension bolt, airbag and reversed-camera recalls were all completed.
- Open and close the hood and check that the latch warning behaves correctly, per that recall.
- Test the defroster and ask about unexpected braking or collision warnings, which make up the bulk of owner reports.
- 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 2021 Tesla Model 3
What owners have reported to NHTSA
660 complaints filed for this model year, including 45 mentioning a crash, 5 a fire and 19 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 | 438 | Yes |
| Brakes | 126 | Yes |
| Speed Control | 123 | None found |
| Electrical System | 77 | Yes |
| Visibility And Wipers | 29 | Yes |
| Steering | 26 | Yes |