Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Tesla Model 3
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Tesla Model 3 has 21 NHTSA recall campaigns and 455 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 #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 #21V834000 Side Curtain Air Bag May Be Twisted/FMVSS 214, 226 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V387000 Loose Brake Caliper Bolts NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 157 complaints
- Unknown or Other 82 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 70 complaints
- Steering 48 complaints
- Suspension 47 complaints
- Service Brakes 46 complaints
Of the 455 complaints on file, 54 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 455 complaints, owners report 33 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$20,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Tesla Model 3 experiences numerous issues, with 21 recalls and 452 complaints. Most issues relate to software and electrical components, notably forward collision avoidance with 157 complaints. Given the high recall count, the reliability outlook is below-average. Evidence of common failures is limited but indicates potential concerns with electronics and safety systems.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision system | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Steering system | Unknown | $300–$1,000 | common |
| Service brakes | Unknown | $400–$1,200 | occasional |
| Suspension | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | 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.
- Battery health checks
- Tire rotations
- Brake inspections
- Software updates
- Coolant system checks
- Suspension inspections
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unexpected braking
- Steering looseness
- Forward collision warnings
- Sudden speed changes
- Airbag malfunction indicators
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Tesla Model 3 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.