Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2022 Tesla Model 3
NHTSA data on file today
The 2022 Tesla Model 3 has 18 NHTSA recall campaigns and 773 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.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V507000 Low Beam Headlights May Be Too Bright/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V283000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V935000 TPMS Light May Not Remain Illuminated/FMVSS 138 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V554000 Software May Fail to Detect Unlatched Hood 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 #22V296000 Overheating May Cause Center Display Malfunction 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 #22V063000 Pedestrian Warning Sound May Be Obscured/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V050000 Windshield May Not Defrost Properly/FMVSS 103 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
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 535 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 171 complaints
- Service Brakes 168 complaints
- Unknown or Other 94 complaints
- Electrical System 60 complaints
- Lane Departure 45 complaints
Of the 773 complaints on file, 57 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 773 complaints, owners report 47 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$6,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2022 Tesla Model 3 has an average reliability rating primarily due to software-related recalls affecting critical safety systems like rear visibility and tire pressure monitoring. The vehicle's software issues are recurring, but most can be addressed with updates, which is a positive aspect. While mechanical components are generally reliable, some owners have reported various issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| software systems | 30,000–50,000 miles | No reliable estimate | common |
| rearview camera | 20,000–40,000 miles | $150–$300 | common |
| seat belts | 50,000–70,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
| instrument panel | 40,000–60,000 miles | $100–$200 | 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.
- Rotate tires every 10k miles
- Brake fluid check every 2 years
- Battery health check annually
- Air filter replacement every 2 years
- Cabin air filter replacement every 2 years
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Delayed rear camera display
- Seat belt chime not activating
- Infotainment system glitches
- Warnings for tire pressure not staying on
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2022 Tesla Model 3 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.