NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 31 owner complaints for the 2026 Tesla Model 3. It has 2 open investigations that name this model year, not counting audit queries.
The fasteners attaching the seat back to the seat bottom may have been improperly tightened.
Risk: The seat may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Tesla Service Centers will inspect and tighten or replace the seat assembly fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-13-003.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MODEL 3. Tesla campaign SB-25-13-003.
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 2 investigations that name the 2026 Tesla Model 3, not counting audit queries; both 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).
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 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Model 3. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Most named: automatic emergency braking (5); adaptive cruise control (4)
Steering7 · 23%
Backover prevention and rearview camera5 · 16%
Most named: warnings (5)
Lane departure systems4 · 13%
Electrical system3 · 10%
Body structure2 · 6%
Speed control2 · 6%
Unknown or other10 · 32%
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 2026 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
2026: 31 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
2026: 1 recallTap 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.
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: forward collision avoidance (8), steering (7), backover prevention and rearview camera (5). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2026 Tesla Model 3 safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2026 Tesla Model 3 earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 open investigations that name the 2026 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). 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.