no report yet
Exterior lighting: headlights
NewRisk. Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
2020 Tesla Model 3Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 455 owner complaints about the 2020 Tesla Model 3, most often about the forward collision avoidance. It is covered by 21 safety recalls, and for recall 21V00D000 the manufacturer reports only 79% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2020 Tesla Model 3 has problems
455 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
157Forward collision avoidance11 crash/fire/injury
70Vehicle speed control18 crash/fire/injury
48Steering8 crash/fire/injury
47Suspension3 crash/fire/injury
46Service brakes7 crash/fire/injury
42Electrical system10 crash/fire/injury
36Lane departure
30Air bags
23Seats
12513 other systems15 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 157 | 11 |
| Vehicle speed control | 70 | 18 |
| Steering | 48 | 8 |
| Suspension | 47 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 46 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 42 | 10 |
| Lane departure | 36 | 4 |
| Air bags | 30 | 10 |
| Seats | 23 | 2 |
| 13 other systems | 125 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
21 recalls
2020 Tesla Model 3 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q2
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk. Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q2
Front: warning light/devices
Risk. A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q1
Electrical system: software
Risk. Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 17 more recalls
repaired · 2025 Q4
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk. Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Driver monitoring: software
Risk. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as…
repaired · 2025 Q1
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
Risk. FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a…
repaired · 2024 Q3
Rear/other: anchorage
Risk. An incorrectly reassembled seat belt anchor can impair the performance of the seat belt during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2024 Q4
Visibility: power window devices and controls
Risk. A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk. The driver may not know how fast the vehicle is traveling without the mph or km/h unit display, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Electrical system: software
Risk. Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q3
Back over prevention: display function
Risk. A delayed rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Electrical system: software
Risk. Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Electrical system: software
Risk. The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
Risk. Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q4
Sensing system: camera
Risk. A rearview camera that does not function reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2021 Q4
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking
Risk. Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Suspension: critical fasteners
Risk. A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Side/window: curtain
Risk. A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Seat belts
Risk. An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Service brakes, hydraulic: critical fasteners
Risk. Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Tesla.
Best & worst years
2020 vs. every other Model 3 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Model 3 median. How we score
'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2020 Tesla Model 3 safety ratings
2020 Tesla Model 3 4 DR RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (6.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
14 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2020 Tesla Model 3, and the recalls they led to.
- Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting RequirementsOpen
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Defect Petition Interlock RequestNo recall
- Sudden Unintended AccelerationOpen
- Autopilot System Driver ControlsLed to recall 23V-838
- FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsOpen
- Autopilot & First Responder ScenesNo recall
- Tesla Passenger PlayNo recall
- Unexpected Brake ActivationNo recall
- FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsNo recall
- Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.No recall
- Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engagedOpen
- Lower Lateral Link detachmentOpen
- Recall 23V838 Remedy EffectivenessOpen
In owners' words
What Model 3 owners report
Recent forward collision avoidance complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
VEHICLE INFORMATION Make/Model/Year: Tesla Model 3 (2020) Component: Steering / Autonomous Control (ADAS) INCIDENT SUMMARY While driving on Autopilot/FSD southbound from [XXX], the vehicle experienced a sudden, uncommanded lateral steering excursion (phantom steering actuation) pulling abruptly…
All Teslas vehicles running HW3 / AI3 Autopilot self driving computers have been known for years to have a defective design problem with the cooling system without its own dedicated cooling and which puts the self driving computer last in the cooling looping at the top of the cooling stack. When…
Car was sitting at a red light while in Full Self Driving (supervised). The screen showed at least four red lights. Suddenly the car started to move forward while the lights were still red. I was able to stop it from going further. This has happened before and I reported it then. If I had not had…
Own a 2020 Model 3?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.