Tesla Model 3 — YEARS TO AVOID
Data updated 2026-09-01. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.
Avoid: 2018 · Best bets: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2020
COMPLAINT HISTORY
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 1008 |
| 2019 | 609 |
| 2020 | 447 |
| 2021 | 656 |
| 2022 | 761 |
| 2023 | 417 |
| 2024 | 214 |
| 2025 | 113 |
| 2026 | 17 |
EVERY YEAR, RANKED
| Year | Ranking | Complaints | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Not enough data | 17 | Only 17 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2025 | Recommended | 113 | This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2024 | Recommended | 214 | This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2023 | Recommended | 417 | This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year. |
| 2022 | Caution | 761 | This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2021 | Caution | 656 | This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2020 | Recommended | 447 | This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year. |
| 2019 | Caution | 609 | This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2018 | Avoid | 1008 | This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year. |
| 2017 | Not enough data | 26 | Only 26 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |