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The 2024 Tesla Model 3 has 216 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
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The 2024 Tesla Model 3 has 216 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 36 complaints, typically surfacing around 13,816 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Model 3 | 660 | 22 |
| 2022 Model 3 | 764 | 18 |
| 2023 Model 3 | 423 | 12 |
| 2024 Model 3 (this page) | 216 | 5 |
| 2025 Model 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026 Model 3 | 0 | 1 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: steering is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 13,816 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 5 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
the car consistently has phantom braking. the speed will drop around 15 miles of speed immediately. it also will slow on rolling hills and random long turns on cruise control. most recent date listed
Vehicle Information: 2024 Tesla Model 3 Description of the Problem: We purchased a brand-new 2024 Tesla Model 3 just seven days ago, and we’ve already encountered a serious safety issue: the turn signal frequently fails to function. This problem compromises our ability to…
Entire screen froze. FSD stopped working completely. The system GPS stopped working, auto wipers stopped working, auto park, anything related to the cameras stopped working. After trying multiple resets, it didn't help. It luckily started working again in the morning. Others…
Issue is with Tesla's new turn signal buttons. They removed regular turn signal stocks with a left/right button on the left side of the steering wheel. This is a safety issue because it hardly works because you have to tap it dead center and I would have to take my eyes off the…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA26002 on NHTSA →
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. PE25012 on NHTSA →
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. AQ25002 on NHTSA →
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. RQ24009 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2024 Tesla Model 3 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2024 Tesla Model 3 is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Steering: 36 complaints, classified severe; Electrical system: 33 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 5 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 36 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 13,816 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 216 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 13,816 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 36 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 13,816 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 13,816 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 216 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.