Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2019 Tesla Model 3
NHTSA data on file today
The 2019 Tesla Model 3 has 22 NHTSA recall campaigns and 622 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Newest 20 recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V507000 Low Beam Headlights May Be Too Bright/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V935000 TPMS Light May Not Remain Illuminated/FMVSS 138 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V376000 Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V153000 Muted Pedestrian Warning Sound/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V051000 Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V838000 Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V235000 Front Suspension Lateral Link May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V085000 Full Self-Driving Software May Cause Crash NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V798000 Seat Belt Buckle, Anchor Incorrectly Reassembled NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V702000 Power Windows May Pinch/FMVSS 118 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V263000 Unit of Speed May Fail to Display/FMVSS 101 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V235000 Pedestrian Warning Sound May Be Obscured/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V169000 Initial Delay In Rearview Image Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V063000 Pedestrian Warning Sound May Be Obscured/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V045000 Seat Belt Chime May Not Activate/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V037000 Vehicle May Fail to Stop at Stop Sign NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V00D000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V846000 Unexpected Activation of Automatic Emergency Brake NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V835000 Front Suspension Lateral Link May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V387000 Loose Brake Caliper Bolts NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 170 complaints
- Electrical System 94 complaints
- Air Bags 88 complaints
- Suspension 83 complaints
- Unknown or Other 78 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 71 complaints
Of the 622 complaints on file, 61 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 622 complaints, owners report 32 injuries and 4 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2019 Tesla Model 3 has an extensive history of recalls, with 22 recall campaigns, primarily for software and system compliance issues. While there are 619 owner complaints, the focus appears on electrical systems and forward collision avoidance, with no overwhelming frequency of mechanical failures. The complaint figures show areas of concern but not necessarily critical mechanical failures. Overall, the vehicle represents a balance of advanced features and reliability concerns, leading to an average rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision system | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,000 | common |
| Airbags | Unknown | $400–$1,500 | occasional |
| Suspension | Unknown | $700–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Replace cabin air filter annually
- Brake fluid check and refill annually
- Battery coolant flush every 50,000 miles
- Replace wiper blades annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Warning lights on dashboard
- Unusual braking behaviors
- Noises from suspension
- Loss of power or electrical failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2019 Tesla Model 3 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.