KnownCarProblems2025 Tesla Model 3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Tesla Model 3, most often about the driver assistance (32% of complaints). It is 8th of 10 Model 3 model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2025 Tesla Model 3 problems
Driver assistance
39 complaints · 32%Parts named most often: adaptive cruise control, assist, automatic emergency braking, warning.
Other or unspecified
37 complaints · 31%Steering
26 complaints · 22%Parts named most often: steering wheel/handle bar.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while in reverse (r) and backing up at approximately 5 MPH down a slight incline, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently. The contact stated that she turned the steering wheel to the right to get on the road. The contact had taken her foot off the…
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the vehicle was vibrating while driving at 60 MPH, and the vibration was going to the contact's head. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local Tesla service center, where it was diagnosed with needing the four tires…
Electrical
22 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 12,500 miles. Parts named most often: adas, wiring, software.
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while coming to a stop at a traffic light, the vehicleâs autopilot system became inoperable, and the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated up to approximately 13 MPH without any warning lights illuminated. The contact attempted to regain control of the…
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions with full self-driving (fsd) mode engaged, the vehicle stopped abruptly while approaching a yellow traffic light, nearly causing the head of the driver to strike the windshield on one occasion. The contact stated that the…
Speed control
14 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while in reverse (r) and backing up at approximately 5 MPH down a slight incline, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently. The contact stated that she turned the steering wheel to the right to get on the road. The contact had taken her foot off the…
Brakes
12 complaints · 10%Lights
6 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: turn signal.
Body and structure
6 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2025 Tesla Model 3 recalls
Electrical: fuses, relays, contacts, and shunts
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Backup camera: software
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Wheels and tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fsd collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) is opening this engineering analysis to evaluate teslaâs full self driving beta and full self driving (supervised) (collectively, fsd) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the systemâs ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient time to respond. Odi will evaluate the performance of fsd in degraded roadway conditions and the updates or modifications by tesla to the degradation detection system, including the timing, purpose, and capabilities of the updates, and teslaâs assessment of their safety impact. Teslaâs fsd is an
Traffic safety violations while full self driving ("fsd") is engaged
Summary
The office of defects investigation (âodiâ) is opening this preliminary evaluation (pe) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of fsd executing driving maneuvers that constitute traï¬c safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of fsd that tesla has labeled as "fsd (supervised)" and "fsd (beta)." tesla characterizes fsd as an sae level 2 partial automation system requiring a fully attentive driver who is engaged in the driving task at all times. Level 2 partial automation systems are designed to support and assist the driver in performing certain aspects of the driving task, requiring a driver to supervise and intervene as necessary.â the driver r
Compliance with standing general order 2021-01 reporting requirements
Summary
The office of defects investigation (âodiâ) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by tesla, inc. (âteslaâ) in response to standing general order 2021-01 (the âsgoâ), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the standing general order in place at the time required a report to be submitted within one or five days of tesla receiving notice of the crash. When the reports were submitted, tesla submitted them in one of two ways. Many of the reports were submitted as part of a single batch, while others were submitted on a rolling basis. Preliminary engagement betwe
Actually smart summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.
Summary
On january 6, 2025, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened preliminary evaluation 24003 (pe24033) to investigate actually smart summon (summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to tesla, summon is a short-distance sae level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private property. Odi analyzed complaint data provided by tesla as well as complaints submitted to odi from consumers to identify summon incidents resulting in crashes. Odi's analysis indicates that almost all summon reported crashes involved minor property damage claims with no reported incidents involving a vu
Questions about the 2025 Tesla Model 3
- What are the most common problems with the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: driver assistance (39 complaints); other or unspecified (37 complaints); steering (26 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2025 Tesla Model 3 have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 10, 2025 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2025 a bad year for the Tesla Model 3?
- It is 8th of 10 Model 3 model years by number of complaints, with 121 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.