2026 Tesla Model 3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2026 Tesla Model 3, and owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2026 Tesla Model 3
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Critical fasteners (seats)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The fasteners attaching the seat back to the seat bottom may have been improperly tightened.
Remedy: Tesla Service Centers will inspect and tighten or replace the seat assembly fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at…
27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2026 Tesla Model 3 have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 9,999 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 27 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Car was in self-driving and struck a piece of concrete. The car was in hands free and was being monitored by me, the driver. This obstruction was in the left side of the lane, about 2" tall, a foot wi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Steering
“The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH with the Autonomous Self-Driving feature enabled, the vehicle was driving in the left-turn lane and jerked over into”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 30, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2026 Tesla Model 3 (Model 3 Performance, Model 3 Performance AWD, Model 3 Premium AWD, Model 3 Premium RWD, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 111–139 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 117–147 / 106–130 |
| Fuel | Electricity |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Transmission | Automatic (A1) |
Compare Tesla Model 3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Tesla Model 3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Tesla Model 3 | 16 | 26 |
| 2018 Tesla Model 3 | 19 | 1,031 |
| 2019 Tesla Model 3 | 22 | 617 |
| 2020 Tesla Model 3 | 21 | 451 |
| 2021 Tesla Model 3 | 22 | 666 |
| 2022 Tesla Model 3 | 18 | 766 |
| 2023 Tesla Model 3 | 12 | 428 |
| 2024 Tesla Model 3 | 5 | 219 |
| 2025 Tesla Model 3 | 3 | 117 |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 | 1 | 27 |
Checking a specific 2026 Tesla Model 3
How do I know if my 2026 Tesla Model 3 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2026 Tesla Model 3; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Tesla dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 25V410000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Tesla models
- Model Y4,222 complaints
- Model S3,402 complaints
- Model X1,549 complaints
- Cybertruck207 complaints
- Semi3 complaints
- Roadster2 complaints
- ROADSTER21 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.