Tesla Model 3 by Model Year: Problems, Recalls and MPG

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2022 Tesla Model 3 drew the most (666; most-reported area: forward collision avoidance) and the 2019 the fewest (133).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2017 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 142 MPGe combined, arrived in 2021.

Most and fewest complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and partial first years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Year by year

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Electric: 126 to 142 MPGe (every year from 2017 to 2026); highest in 2021.