2024 Tesla MODEL 3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
216 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
13,816 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2024 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 216 complaints (32.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 73 | 33.8% |
| Braking behavior | 27 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 0.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 70 |
| Electrical System | 39 |
| Steering | 36 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 31 |
| Exterior Lighting | 26 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 18 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 14 |
Unknown Or Other: 70; Electrical System: 39; Steering: 36; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 31; Exterior Lighting: 26; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 18; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 209 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 96 |
| 2025 | 83 |
| 2026 | 37 |
2024: 96; 2025: 83; 2026: 37
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11579208 · 2024-03-25 (March 25, 2024)
Automatic wipers are unreliable and vehicle does not accurately detect amount of rain. This led to obstructed view of the road during heavy rain. Only option was to choose manual speed wipers but had to keep choosing different speeds through my 3.5 hour drive due to constantly changing rain amount. Having to focus on constantly changing wiper speed takes focus off the road each time which increases risk. Tesla has many complaints against the auto wiper function not working across various models and hopefully this will be addressed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11579208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11582505 · 2024-04-12 (April 12, 2024)
Tesla officially confirmed as I brought my car in a THIRD time that the repeated turn signal failure I was/am experiencing is now a known software issue. They looked at the timestamps and video I shared and saw that I had indeed applied pressure to the turn signal buttons to no avail/effect. Out of the three times I took the car in and shared timestamps for when this issue occurred this is the only time they identified the issue in the logs, which leads me to believe they never even looked at the logs the previous two times I had brought the …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11582505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11583050 · 2024-04-15 (April 15, 2024)
The rear tail light on the driver side of the vehicle is filling with water. Additionally, the brake light is occasionally not working, presenting a potentially serious safety issue. The vehicle is brand new. Tesla has a history of this issue with previous generations of this vehicle, but the problem persists in the new model. I have been waiting for a new tail light to come in for two weeks. A quick internet search reveals other drivers with the same problem. Tesla is doing nothing to expedite the parts needed for the repair, but they sure con…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11583050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11584178 · 2024-04-20 (April 20, 2024)
Right turn signal gets stuck and doesn't allow me to press it. It is very dangerous when it happens out on the road. First attempt to fix it was April 5th 2024. According to Tesla service invoice the steering wheel was replaced and software was updated. As of April 19 2024 the problem has returned. As I attempted to make a right turn and couldn't signal. I also have videos showing the issue I am having. After reviewing online forums it seems this is a common problem for 2024 Tesla Model 3 which is extremely dangerous.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11584178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11586463 · 2024-05-01 (May 1, 2024)
I have my phone mounted to the back of the computer screen, and I also have the phone power cord running from the center console 12V plug up to my phone. I have found that if the power cord comes in contact with the computer screen, it can inadvertently put the car in Neutral (it acts like a finger touch). This could be extremely dangerous if, for example, the car is making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic and the car unexpectedly goes into Neutral. I think consumers should be aware that a phone power cord can cause changes on the co…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11586463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11588361 · 2024-05-13 (May 13, 2024)
The left and right turn signal indicator buttons gets stuck sometimes. But I noticed on my vehicle it is the left turn indicator button is the one gets stuck most. When it is stuck I cannot make left turn signal. Before I asked Tesla to fix it the issue happens every time on my 8 mile trip. After Tesla attempted to fix it it happens a lot less now but this could mean it can go worse as the component wears out. This can put me and others at risk as sometimes I get panicked and depending on the situation.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11588361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11589309 · 2024-05-17 (May 17, 2024)
Two issues regarding vehicle turn signals not working as intended: Issue #1: Sometimes, vehicle turn signal turns on for the opposite direction than intended. Narrowly missed a few accidents because of this issue, and I have been honked at and flipped off by drivers thinking I'm a careless driver. This issue can be replicated on demand. Issue #2: The turn signal buttons on the steering wheel lock up and no matter how hard I press, does not turn on. Creates a safety hazard when trying to change lanes, merge, or exit where I cannot communicate…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11589309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11593034 · 2024-06-07 (June 7, 2024)
The turn signal indicator buttons fail to work consistently. About 30% of the time when I try to indicate a turn or lane change the button does not respond. It is sort of stuck in place. Not being able to show an intent to turn is a serious safety issue in heavy traffic.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11593034 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
24V284000 · Air Bags:Side/Window:Thorax
Reported: 2024-04-19 (April 19, 2024)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling one 2024 Model 3 vehicle. The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment.
Consequence: Without a deflector, the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla service replaced the side air bag, free of charge. The affected vehicle was repaired April 12, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-13-001.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V554000 · Electrical System:Software | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 2024-07-24 (July 24, 2024)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
Consequence: An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V935000 · Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
Reported: 2024-12-17 (December 17, 2024)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V002000 · Back Over Prevention:Software | Electrical System
Reported: 2025-01-06 (January 6, 2025)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V445000 · Air Bags:Knee Bolster | Structure:Body:Bumpers
Reported: 2026-07-07 (July 7, 2026)
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
Consequence: A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 5, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or resolutions@tesla.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
NHTSA campaign record ↗