2017 Tesla Model 3 vs 2018 Tesla Model 3
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2017 Tesla Model 3 | 2018 Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 26 | 1,020 |
| Recall campaigns | 16 | 19 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 154 | 161 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 102 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 19,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Tesla Model 3 | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 8 | 202 |
| Suspension | 1 | 182 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 168 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 141 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 104 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 90 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 88 |
| Steering | 1 | 80 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 42 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 24 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 17 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 14 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 12 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 12 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 6 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 6 |
2017 Tesla Model 3
2018 Tesla Model 3
Compare all Tesla Model 3 vs Tesla Model 3 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.