Hyundai Elantra vs Tesla Model 3
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Hyundai Elantra
- Total complaints
- 8,695
- Avg per model year
- 256
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 53
- Most complained year
- 2013 (1,313)
Top problems: Engine, Air Bags, Steering
Tesla Model 3
- Total complaints
- 4,311
- Avg per model year
- 431
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 36
- Most complained year
- 2018 (1,020)
Top problems: Forward Collision Avoidance, Unknown / Other, Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints by model year
| Year | Hyundai Elantra | Tesla Model 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | 115 | ||
| 2024 | 53 | 216 | ||
| 2023 | 98 | 424 | ||
| 2022 | 100 | 764 | ||
| 2021 | 130 | 662 | ||
| 2020 | 250 | 451 | ||
| 2019 | 250 | 612 | ||
| 2018 | 281 | 1,020 | ||
| 2017 | 767 | 26 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.