Tesla Model 3 — YEARS TO AVOID
Data updated 2026-08-02. 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 | 25 |
| 2018 | 981 |
| 2019 | 592 |
| 2020 | 432 |
| 2021 | 647 |
| 2022 | 746 |
| 2023 | 410 |
| 2024 | 199 |
| 2025 | 108 |
| 2026 | 8 |
EVERY YEAR, RANKED
| Year | Ranking | Complaints | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Not enough data | 8 | Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2025 | Recommended | 108 | This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2024 | Recommended | 199 | This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2023 | Recommended | 410 | This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year. |
| 2022 | Caution | 746 | This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2021 | Caution | 647 | This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2020 | Recommended | 432 | This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year. |
| 2019 | Caution | 592 | This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2018 | Avoid | 981 | This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year. |
| 2017 | Not enough data | 25 | Only 25 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |