2021 Tesla Model 3 vs 2023 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 | 2021 Tesla Model 3 | 2023 Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 655 | 413 |
| Recall campaigns | 21 | 11 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 85 | 76 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 45 | 70 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | 132 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 10,223 mi | 5,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Tesla Model 3 | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 405 | 171 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 123 | 67 |
| Service Brakes | 124 | 51 |
| Electrical System | 76 | 51 |
| Steering | 26 | 85 |
| Lane Departure | 31 | 27 |
| Visibility/wiper | 28 | 12 |
| Structure | 16 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 11 | 10 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 10 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 5 |
2021 Tesla Model 3
2023 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.