Total Complaints
2 filings
TESLA MODEL 3 · model year
2026 TESLA MODEL 3
2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 1 recall campaign listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2026TESLAMODEL 3 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2026 MODEL 3 is structure:body with 1 filings, followed by forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 1 NHTSA recall campaign listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2026 MODEL 3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
2
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 1 |
Recalls (1)
25V41000018/06/2025
SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
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.
Recent Complaints
20260116CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY
The vehicle's FSD system malfunctioned and initiated an unintended reverse toward a closing garage door. To prevent a total-loss event (the door crushing the glass roof and trunk), I was forced to perform an emergency manual takeover. Due to the vehicle's position caused by the malfunction, I had to maneuver through a confined space, resulting in the side-scrape. I am filing this as a malfunction claim because the damage was a direct consequence of the car's autonomous failure
20260116CrashFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The vehicle's FSD system malfunctioned and initiated an unintended reverse toward a closing garage door. To prevent a total-loss event (the door crushing the glass roof and trunk), I was forced to perform an emergency manual takeover. Due to the vehicle's position caused by the malfunction, I had to maneuver through a confined space, resulting in the side-scrape. I am filing this as a malfunction claim because the damage was a direct consequence of the car's autonomous failure
Compare 2026TESLAMODEL 3 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
DP25002Defect PetitionClosed
Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable.
EA24001Engineering AnalysisClosed
Loss of steering control
PE23014Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of steering control
PE22002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unexpected Brake Activation
PE21023Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Tesla Passenger Play
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2026 TESLA MODEL 3 have?▼
The 2026 TESLA MODEL 3 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2026 TESLA MODEL 3?▼
Yes, the 2026 TESLA MODEL 3 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2026 TESLA MODEL 3?▼
The most-complained component for the 2026 TESLA MODEL 3 is STRUCTURE:BODY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.
Is the 2026 TESLA MODEL 3 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2026 TESLA MODEL 3; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.