2020 Tesla Model 3 vs 2021 Tesla Model 3
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Tesla Model 3 | 2021 Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 443 | 655 |
| Recall campaigns | 20 | 21 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 112 | 85 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 52 | 45 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 9,000 mi | 10,223 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Tesla Model 3 | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 156 | 405 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 69 | 123 |
| Service Brakes | 46 | 124 |
| Electrical System | 40 | 76 |
| Steering | 45 | 26 |
| Lane Departure | 35 | 31 |
| Suspension | 43 | 12 |
| Visibility/wiper | 22 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 8 | 11 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 5 |
2020 Tesla Model 3
2021 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.