NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
This page covers 21 recalls, 426 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2020 Tesla Model 3.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2020 Model 3, the dominant complaint category by a wide margin is the forward collision avoidance and driver assistance system. Owners frequently report the vehicle failing to recognize red lights while operating with Full Self-Driving or Autopilot engaged, either running the light at speed or making a turn against a red signal with no braking response. Suspension draws a notable share of complaints as well, with owners describing clunking noises during turns and steering maneuvers, sometimes accompanied by dashboard warnings that traction control, stability control, and lane departure features have been disabled. Wheel and rim cracking appears across several reports, with owners describing repeated rim failures under what they characterize as routine driving conditions and no significant road impacts. A smaller number of reports mention the passenger seat occupancy sensor triggering airbag system warning alerts.
426
Total Complaints
50
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
24
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Tesla Model 3 has 21 recalls, the most serious involving Full Self-Driving Beta software that can cause the vehicle to exceed speed limits, run stop signs, or behave unpredictably at intersections, raising the risk of a crash.
On the mechanical side, brake caliper bolts may be loose and allow the caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim, which can cause a sudden loss of tire pressure. Front suspension lateral link fasteners can also loosen, causing the link to separate from the subframe and shift wheel alignment in a way that makes the vehicle unstable. A separate software issue can trigger false forward-collision warnings or cause the automatic emergency braking system to fire unexpectedly, stopping the vehicle without warning.
Several recalls involve occupant restraints: front shoulder belt anchors at the b-pillar may not be properly attached, and rear seat belt buckles and anchors may have been incorrectly reassembled during service, either of which can reduce belt performance in a crash. Side curtain airbags may also be improperly secured to the roof rail, causing them to deploy incorrectly and raising the risk of occupant ejection.
Rear visibility is a recurring theme, with recalls covering a rearview camera cable that can be damaged by trunk operation, delayed camera images when shifting into reverse, and a driver assist system that may not adequately prompt the driver to stay engaged when Autosteer is active. The tire pressure warning light may also fail to stay on between drives, leaving low tire pressure undetected.
Remaining recalls cover the pedestrian warning sound being muted or over
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may be delayed when you shift into reverse, affecting your ability to see behind the vehicle.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update to your vehicle over-the-air to fix the camera display delay.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure warning light may turn off between trips even when tire pressure is low, so you won't get alerted to underinflated tires.
What the fix does
Tesla sends a free software update to your vehicle that keeps the warning light on when tire pressure is low.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt warning light and chime may not activate when the driver is unbelted, failing to alert the driver to fasten their seat belt.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a software update over the air to fix the warning system so it activates properly for unbelted drivers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A factory reset can silence the Pedestrian Warning System sounds, which alert pedestrians to the vehicle's presence. The vehicle then fails to meet federal sound requirements for electric vehicles.
What the fix does
Tesla releases a free software update (2023.44.30.14) over-the-air to restore the Pedestrian Warning System sounds.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System warning lights on the instrument panel display in an incorrect font size, which does not meet federal brake system safety standards.
What the fix does
Tesla is releasing a free over-the-air software update to correct the warning light font size display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Autosteer controls may not be prominent or clear enough to prevent drivers from misusing this advanced driver-assistance feature when it's engaged.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to improve how Autosteer controls are displayed and managed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The FSD Beta software may drive unsafely at intersections—going straight in turn-only lanes, not stopping at stop signs, or proceeding through yellow lights without caution. It may also not properly adjust for posted speed limits or account for driver speed changes above limits.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to fix the FSD Beta system's intersection and speed-limit handling.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second-row left seat belt buckle and center seat belt anchor may have been incorrectly reassembled during service, affecting proper fastening.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble the seat belt anchors as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The automatic window reversal system may fail to stop the window when it detects an obstruction, potentially trapping or injuring occupants.
What the fix does
Tesla will update the automatic window reversal system software over-the-air at no cost to fix the detection and reversal response.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The speedometer may not display the speed unit (mph or km/h) when Track Mode is active, making it unclear what speed is shown.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over-the-air to fix the speedometer display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Boombox function can play sounds through an external speaker while driving, which may mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert nearby pedestrians.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon features.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may not display immediately when the vehicle shifts into reverse, leaving the driver without rear visibility.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over-the-air to restore proper rearview camera display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Boombox function plays audio through an external speaker while driving, which can mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert pedestrians to the vehicle's movement.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse, restoring pedestrian warning sounds.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The audible chime that alerts the driver to an unbuckled seat belt may not sound when the vehicle starts.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to restore the chime function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Full Self-Driving (Beta) software's rolling stop feature may allow the vehicle to pass through all-way stop intersections without fully stopping.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free over-the-air software update that disables the rolling stop functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera cable harness can be damaged when the trunk lid opens and closes, which stops the rearview camera image from displaying.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect your vehicle and install a guide protector and new cable harness if needed, at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software communication error may cause the forward-collision warning to activate falsely or trigger the automatic emergency brake system unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to fix the communication error.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left and/or right curtain air bag may not be properly secured to the roof rail, causing it to twist. This affects side impact protection and ejection mitigation.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect and realign both curtain air bags as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, causing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fasteners securing the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached, affecting one or both sides.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the brake calipers may loosen, causing the caliper to separate and rub against the wheel rim.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect the caliper bolts and tighten or replace them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
