NHTSA Safety Recalls
2021 Tesla Model 3 Recalls
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 has 22 NHTSA safety recalls on file, the newest reported on August 4, 2026.
A recall covers a range of VINs, not every 2021 Tesla Model 3. Whether a recall on your own car is still open shows only on a VIN check; recall repairs are free.
- Recalls
- 22
- Owner complaints
- 672
- Crashes reported
- 46
- NHTSA crash test
- ★★★★★
NHTSA campaigns
filed with NHTSA
5 fires
overall, 5 stars max
On a 2021 Tesla Model 3, the 17-character VIN is on the driver-side dashboard, visible through the windshield, or on the door jamb sticker.
22 recalls on the 2021 Tesla Model 3
Exterior lighting: headlights
- Campaign
- 26V507000
- Reported
- August 4, 2026
- Vehicles affected
- up to 20,349
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 108, lamps and reflective devices
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022–2023 Model 3, 1 other model
Back over prevention: software
- Campaign
- 26V283000
- Reported
- May 4, 2026
- Vehicles affected
- up to 218,868
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 111, rear visibility
- Same campaign
- also 2017, 2022–2023 Model 3, 2 other models
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
- Campaign
- 24V935000
- Reported
- December 17, 2024
- Vehicles affected
- up to 696,281
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 138, tire pressure monitoring
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022–2024 Model 3, 2 other models
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
- Campaign
- 24V554000
- Reported
- July 24, 2024
- Vehicles affected
- up to 1,849,638
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2022–2024 Model 3, 2 other models
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices
- Campaign
- 24V376000
- Reported
- May 28, 2024
- Vehicles affected
- up to 125,233
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash and injury
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 208, occupant crash protection
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022–2023 Model 3, 2 other models
Forward collision avoidance: warnings: external/pedestrian alert
- Campaign
- 24V153000
- Reported
- February 27, 2024
- Vehicles affected
- up to 6,557
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 141, minimum sound for hybrid and electric vehicles
- Same campaign
- also 2018–2020, 2022 Model 3, 2 other models
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- Campaign
- 24V051000
- Reported
- January 30, 2024
- Vehicles affected
- up to 2,193,869
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 105, hydraulic and electric brakes
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022–2023 Model 3, 3 other models
Electrical system: adas: autonomous/self driving: software
- Campaign
- 23V838000
- Reported
- December 12, 2023
- Vehicles affected
- up to 2,031,220
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022–2023 Model 3, 2 other models
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
- Campaign
- 23V085000
- Reported
- February 15, 2023
- Vehicles affected
- up to 362,758
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022–2023 Model 3, 2 other models
Seat belts: rear/other: anchorage
- Campaign
- 22V798000
- Reported
- October 21, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 24,064
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash and injury
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022 Model 3
Visibility: power window devices and controls
- Campaign
- 22V702000
- Reported
- September 19, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 1,096,762
- Risk NHTSA names
- injury
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 118, power windows and roof panels
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022 Model 3, 2 other models
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking
- Campaign
- 22V317000
- Reported
- May 9, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 7
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- only the 2021 Tesla Model 3
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- Campaign
- 22V263000
- Reported
- April 18, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 48,184
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 101, controls and displays
- Same campaign
- also 2018–2020, 2022 Model 3
Electrical system: software
- Campaign
- 22V235000
- Reported
- April 12, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 594,894
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 141, minimum sound for hybrid and electric vehicles
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022 Model 3, 2 other models
Electrical system: software
- Campaign
- 22V063000
- Reported
- February 4, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 578,607
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 141, minimum sound for hybrid and electric vehicles
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022 Model 3, 2 other models
Electrical system: software
- Campaign
- 22V050000
- Reported
- February 2, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 26,681
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 103, windshield defrosting and defogging
- Same campaign
- also 2022 Model 3, 2 other models
Electrical system: software
- Campaign
- 22V045000
- Reported
- February 1, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 817,143
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash and injury
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 208, occupant crash protection
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022 Model 3, 2 other models
Electrical system: adas: autonomous/self driving: software
- Campaign
- 22V037000
- Reported
- January 27, 2022
- Vehicles affected
- up to 53,822
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020, 2022 Model 3, 2 other models
Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: camera
- Campaign
- 21V846000
- Reported
- October 29, 2021
- Vehicles affected
- up to 11,728
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2017–2020 Model 3, 2 other models
Air bags: side/window: curtain
- Campaign
- 21V834000
- Reported
- October 25, 2021
- Vehicles affected
- up to 3
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash and injury
- Federal standard
- FMVSS 214, side impact protection
- Same campaign
- also 2020, 2023 Model 3
Suspension: critical fasteners
- Campaign
- 21V835000
- Reported
- October 25, 2021
- Vehicles affected
- up to 2,791
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2019–2020 Model 3, 1 other model
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- Campaign
- 21V387000
- Reported
- May 25, 2021
- Vehicles affected
- up to 5,974
- Risk NHTSA names
- crash
- Same campaign
- also 2019–2020 Model 3, 1 other model
2021 Tesla Model 3 complaints by year
NHTSA has received 672 owner complaints about the 2021 Tesla Model 3, the newest on October 22, 2026. Of these, 46 describe a crash (7%) and 5 a fire; owners reported 19 injuries and 8 deaths.
In complaints about the 2021 Tesla Model 3, the component group named most often is the forward collision avoidance (61%), followed by the service brakes (19%) and the vehicle speed control (18%).
3 of the 2021 Tesla Model 3's 22 recalls also concern the forward collision avoidance.
Where 2021 Tesla Model 3 owners gave the mileage (43 complaints), the median was 10,000 miles.
Component groups named in complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance410
- Service Brakes126
- Vehicle Speed Control123
- Unknown Or Other94
- Electrical System80
- Lane Departure33
Complaints received, by year
| 2020 | 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | |
| 2022 | 339 | |
| 2023 | 93 | |
| 2024 | 74 | |
| 2025 | 42 | |
| 2026 | 52 |
Complaints about the 2021 Tesla Model 3 peaked in 2022, when NHTSA received 339. 86% arrived between 2020 and 2024, the model year's first years on the road.
Adjusted for how many complaints NHTSA received about all 2021 vehicles, the 2021 Tesla Model 3 drew 1.8× the complaints of the median Tesla Model 3 year in the same window: 1st highest of the 5 ranked years.
NHTSA crash-test stars
- Overall: ★★★★★
- Frontal: 5/5
- Side: 5/5
- Rollover: 5/5
The 672 complaints about the 2021 Tesla Model 3 are unverified owner reports, and a model sold in large numbers collects more of them.
Tesla Model 3 by model year
Other 2021 Tesla models
Newest record on this page: October 22, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted