Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
109–137 MPGecombined; city 113–145, highway 104–128; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$3,380–$4,240U.S. average; Ohio $3,600–$4,520 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA electricity prices for Jul 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Model 3. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Unknown or other
37
6
0
4
Forward collision avoidance
30
8
0
2
Steering
26
7
0
2
Electrical system
22
6
0
0
Lane departure
18
6
0
2
Vehicle speed control
14
3
0
2
Service brakes
12
6
0
1
Exterior lighting
6
0
0
0
Structure
6
2
0
2
Back over prevention
5
3
0
1
Suspension
5
0
0
0
Engine
4
0
0
0
9 more parts
Wheels
4
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
3
1
0
0
Air bags
2
2
0
2
Power train
2
1
0
0
Seat belts
2
1
0
2
Seats
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2025 Model 3 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles. The battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will replace the battery pack contactors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-16-005.
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."
Risk: 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.
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."
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2025 Model 3, the latest on Jun 4, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: seats (2), suspension (1), wheels (1).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA26002 FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive
192 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 363 miles of range
145 / 128 / 137 MPGe
Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive
85 and 88 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 346 miles of range
133 / 122 / 128 MPGe
Model 3 Long Range RWD-I (19in wheels) Rear-Wheel Drive
192, 213 and 225 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 346 miles of range
140 / 123 / 131 MPGe
Model 3 Performance All-Wheel Drive
85 and 191 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 298 miles of range
113 / 104 / 109 MPGe
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data