NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 127 owner complaints for the 2025 Tesla Model 3. It has 2 open investigations that name this model year, not counting audit queries.
Recalled components: electrical system, backover prevention and rearview camera, and tires. Most-described problem: shaking, shuddering or vibration (7 complaints, 6%). Most-reported area: forward collision avoidance (30 complaints, 24%).
Too new to rank against other Model 3 years
The 2025 Model 3 has not had three full years of owner complaints yet.
Years to avoid: 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Tesla Service will replace the battery pack contactors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-16-005.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MODEL 3. Tesla campaign SB-25-16-005.
The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MODEL 3. Components: Backover prevention and rearview camera: software; Electrical system. Tesla campaign SB-25-00-001.
Tires
Dec 17, 2024
pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Fails federal standard 138 (tire pressure monitoring)
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MODEL 3. Tesla campaign SB-24-00-018.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 3 investigations that name the 2025 Tesla Model 3, not counting audit queries; 2 are still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
FSD collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions
Engineering analysis EA26002Open since Mar 18, 2026
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Tesla’s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system.
NHTSA listing: MODEL 3. Component: Electrical system (ADAS).
Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged
Preliminary evaluation PE25012Open since Oct 7, 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute traffic safety… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: MODEL 3. Component: Electrical system (ADAS).
Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts
Preliminary evaluation PE24033Closed Apr 3, 2026 (opened Jan 6, 2025)
On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions.
NHTSA listing: MODEL 3. Component: Electrical system (ADAS, autonomous/self driving).
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 127 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Model 3. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Shaking, shuddering or vibration7 · 6%
Phantom braking or false collision alerts5 · 4%
Power steering problems or locked steering5 · 4%
Unintended acceleration or surging5 · 4%
Loss of power or limp mode4 · 3%
Driver-assist errors or blocked-sensor messages4 · 3%
Most named: adaptive cruise control (20); automatic emergency braking (12)
Steering27 · 21%
Electrical system25 · 20%
Most named: adas, autonomous/self driving (4)
Lane departure systems18 · 14%
Most named: assist (13); warning (7)
Speed control15 · 12%
Brakes13 · 10%
Exterior lighting7 · 6%
Unknown or other37 · 29%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Tesla Model 3 recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2025 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2022 Model 3 drew the most (666).
Owner complaints
2025: 127 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Tesla Model 3
Model year
Complaints
2017
27
2018
1,040
2019
624
2020
455
2021
675
2022
774
2023
430
2024
224
2025
127
2026
31
Safety recalls
2025: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Tesla Model 3
Model year
Recalls
2017
16
2018
19
2019
22
2020
21
2021
22
2022
18
2023
12
2024
5
2025
3
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 127 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model 3, the problems described most are shaking, shuddering or vibration (7), phantom braking or false collision alerts (5), and power steering problems or locked steering (5). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 open investigations that name the 2025 Tesla Model 3, not counting audit queries: FSD collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions (EA26002, opened Mar 18, 2026) and traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged (PE25012, opened Oct 7, 2025). It has closed 1 other. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Model 3 has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Tesla fixes safety recalls for free, often with an over-the-air software update.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MODEL 3.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.