2024 Tesla Model 3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (24) · Vehicle Speed Control (21) · Exterior Lighting (20)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Tesla Model 3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:knee Bolster 2026-07-07 · campaign 26V445000 · 15 vehicles
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and
Risk: A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or resolutions@tesla.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-01-06 · campaign 25V002000 · 239,382 vehicles
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. 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.
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.
Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 2024-12-17 · campaign 24V935000 · 696,281 vehicles
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. 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.
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.
Electrical System:software 2024-07-24 · campaign 24V554000 · 1,849,638 vehicles
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
Risk: An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
Air Bags:side/Window:thorax 2024-04-19 · campaign 24V284000 · 1 vehicles
Defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling one 2024 Model 3 vehicle. The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment.
Risk: Without a deflector, the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla service replaced the side air bag, free of charge. The affected vehicle was repaired April 12, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-13-001.
Service bulletins (58)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Seats 2026-06-04 · SB-26-13-005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
on some vehicles, degraded or excessive glue under the front seat cushion(s) may cause creaking noises during cornering or when pressing on the seat cushion(s). upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle for symptoms related to the condition. if symptoms are present, rework the front seat cushion(
Seats 2026-05-29 · SB-26-13-006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
on some vehicles, insufficient lubricant at the front seat recliner tube ends may cause creaking noises during weight shifting when the seat is occupied. upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle for symptoms related to the condition. if symptoms are present, lubricate the front seat recliner tub
Suspension 2025-06-24 · SB-25-31-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
a firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on model 3 and model y vehicles that monitors wheel alignment over time. this feature detects changes in wheel alignment that may be related to incorrect tire pressures, degraded ball joints, bushings or damaged suspension links. if the feature determ
Electrical System 2025-03-20 · SB-25-16-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain model 3 and model y vehicles were manufactured with high voltage (hv) batteries containing cell modules that do not meet tesla’s internal quality standards, potentially resulting in a reduction of range.
Service Brakes 2024-11-06 · SB-24-33-006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
on some model 3 vehicles, the rh front wheel speed sensor (wss) might have been misrouted, which may cause damage to the wss harness.
Service Brakes 2024-10-31 · SB-24-33-006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
on some model 3 vehicles, the rh front wheel speed sensor (wss) might have been misrouted, which may cause damage to the wss harness.
Showing the 6 most recent of 58 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-25 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“subject: vehicle safety complaint — 2024 tesla model 3 rwd — sudden loss of steering control and total-loss crash i am submitting this complaint concerning a serious safety incident involving my 2024 tesla model 3 rear-wheel drive. while driving manually on a wet highway in [xxx], my vehicle suddenly moved sideways and began to lose control. i wa…”
2026-10-20 · Vehicle Speed Control“on october 16, 2026, my 2024 tesla model 3 initiated a standard, factory-prompted over-the-air (ota) firmware update. during this automated install process, the car's firmware crashed. following the crash, the vehicle was left unresponsive. tesla service conducted a diagnostic review and isolated the problem to a physical failure of the internal h…”
2026-10-09 · Steering“on xxx at approx. 10:30 am est, my 2024 tesla model 3 was operating on full self-driving (supervised) on [xxx]. without warning, the vehicle steered off the paved roadway. the driver attempted to take control by [turning the steering wheel / pressing the brake], but the vehicle did not respond to her input and fsd did not disengage. the car left th…”
2026-10-06 · Electrical System:adas · 💥 crash“tesla fsd rear ended vehicle stopped at red light. …”
2026-09-29 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“my tesla displays a mandatory fsd (supervised) disengagement feedback survey on the center touchscreen while the vehicle is in motion. whenever i disengage fsd and resume manual control, the vehicle automatically asks me to select a reason for the disengagement. on one occasion, after disabling the software due to fsd getting too close the construc…”
2026-09-23 · Visibility/Wiper“as of an ota update to the telsa early this summer, a prompt stating "why did you intervene" appears over critical display information on the infotainment console. fsd v14.3.2 and onward. (released as part of software update 2026.2.9.9) the prompt appears at the instant you retake manual control. it covers or prevents access to navigation/other dr…”
2026-09-03 · Wheels“both front tires on my 2024 tesla model 3 performance developed structural bulges on the inboard sidewall at under 19,000 miles. the tires are the original equipment pirelli p zero 235/35r20 delivered with the vehicle on 12/07/2024. on 08/05/2026 at 18,951 miles, tesla service in doral, florida inspected and road-tested the vehicle for a metallic r…”
2026-09-01 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“client left the road and the vehicle hit a tree by the roadside. the vehicle caught fire and client was incapacitated and unable to operate the door handle from the inside or unlock the doors. bystanders attempted to open all four doors from the outside, but they were all locked. bystanders noted that the handles themselves were functional and b…”
2026-08-27 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“on xxx at approximately 12:56 pm pacific on [xxx], my 2024 tesla model 3 vin [xxx] was operating in full self-driving (supervised). the system detected oncoming traffic, stopped, then reversed to yield and backed into a parked 2015 ford transit van that had an occupant inside. i am the registered owner. [xxx] was the driver. teslacam saved events a…”
2026-08-21 · Unknown Or Other“muffled or significantly quieter horn during rain. users on reddit generally agree that the sound typically returns to normal once the area dries out. why this happens: speaker design: newer models (such as recent tesla model 3 and tesla model y versions) utilize electronic pedestrian warning speakers or integrated units for the horn function ra…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.