Recalls · problems · safety

2021 Tesla Model 3: recalls and problems

22 recalls and 663 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is forward collision avoidance.

22recalls
663complaints
46crashes reported
5fires reported
19injuries reported

Recalls

Check recalls for your exact VIN

Most common problems

  • Forward Collision Avoidance407 · 61%
  • Service Brakes125 · 19%
  • Vehicle Speed Control123 · 19%
  • Unknown Or Other94 · 14%
  • Electrical System78 · 12%
  • Lane Departure32 · 5%
  • Visibility/Wiper30 · 5%
  • Steering26 · 4%
  • Power Train17 · 3%
  • Structure16 · 2%

What owners report

Unknown Or Other,Back Over PreventionCrash

I am reporting a repeatable safety problem with fsd lite's end-to-end parking behavior. on july 22, 2026, fsd lite reversed the vehicle into a solid concrete garage wall while backing into a parking space. the vehicle did not stop before hitting the wall and sustained a scrape. on september 20, 21, and 22, 2026, fsd lite selected parking spaces and began reversing toward parked cars. i had to intervene each time to p

Suspension

The front suspension became loose and produced a clunk while driving. the vehicle was taken in the same day. two independent shops examined it and neither could perform the repair. one reported that a nut for the lower suspension link fasteners was still loose inside the vehicle structure and could be heard moving, and that the cause was unknown. the vehicle was then taken to a manufacturer service center. its prin

Electrical System,Visibility/Wiper,Lane Departure

After a tesla-delivered over-the-air software update, my 2021 tesla model 3 equipped with hardware 3 experienced loss of the rear-view camera along with other camera and autopilot-related functions. the exact date the condition first appeared is unknown, but it occurred after the software update. camera calibration later became stuck and resets/recalibration did not restore functionality. tesla service inspected and

Forward Collision Avoidance

Interior camera circuit failed in the main computer as diagnosed by tesla, it disables most safety features of the car, no collision warning or avoidance, no automatic emergency breaking, no lane departure warning or correction, no reverse cam, no cruise control or self driving, and probably more. only tesla can replace it because it's vin matched to the car, for $2400. this part should be more durable

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. They are owner reports and have not been verified.

Crash-test ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2021 Tesla Model 3 4 DR RWD Later Release★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2021 Tesla Model 3 4 DR AWD Later Release★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2021 Tesla Model 3 4 DR AWD Early Release★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
2021 Tesla Model 3 4 DR RWD Early Release★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Source: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP APIs, covering Model 3. Last refreshed 2026-09-29.