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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 is associated with 656 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 22 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Forward Collision Avoidance, accounting for 200 reports (30% of total complaints). EPA records certify all-electric efficiency of 113 to 142 MPGe with an estimated driving range of 263–353 miles across 3 certified vehicle configurations.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 656 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 22 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Forward Collision Avoidance (200 / 30%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 45 crash / 5 fire / 16 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 113 MPGe across 3 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Tesla Model 3?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD 100% Electric Electric Motor Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) 150 MPGe 133 MPGe 142 MPGe 263 mi $550 / yr
Model 3 Long Range AWD 100% Electric Electric Motor All-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) 141 MPGe 127 MPGe 134 MPGe 353 mi $550 / yr
Model 3 Performance AWD 100% Electric Electric Motor All-Wheel Drive Automatic (A1) 118 MPGe 107 MPGe 113 MPGe 315 mi $650 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2021 Tesla Model 3 provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 353 miles on a single battery charge.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Tesla Model 3?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4 DR AWD Later Release 6.6000000000000005%
4 DR AWD Early Release 6.6000000000000005%
4 DR RWD Later Release 6.6000000000000005%
4 DR RWD Early Release 6.6000000000000005%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as No and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Tesla Model 3 models.
View complete 2021 Tesla Model 3 crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Tesla Model 3?

Summary of 656 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
656
Crash Reports
45
Fire Reports
5
Complaints w/ Injury
16
Total Injuries
19

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Forward Collision Avoidance 200 complaints (4 crashes)
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 57 complaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 53 complaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 33 complaints (1 crash)
Electrical System 21 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Tesla Model 3 problems & component breakdown (104 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Tesla Model 3?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #26V507000 Active Recall
Affected Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Defect Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. The headlight low beams may be too bright and exceed the maximum light output. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 15, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-003.
NHTSA Campaign #26V283000 Active Recall
Affected Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Defect Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
NHTSA Campaign #24V935000 Active Recall
Affected Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

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."

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2021 Tesla Model 3 recalls & campaign history (22 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Tesla Model 3

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Tesla Model 3

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 have?

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 is associated with 22 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 22 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Tesla Model 3?

NHTSA records list 656 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Tesla Model 3. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Forward Collision Avoidance, appearing in 200 filings (30% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Tesla Model 3 defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Tesla Model 3?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2021 Tesla Model 3 earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 4 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What is the electric driving range of the 2021 Tesla Model 3?

The all-electric 2021 Tesla Model 3 is EPA-certified for an estimated driving range of 263 to 353 miles per full charge across certified configurations.

Official EPA combined efficiency ratings reach up to 142 MPGe based on standardized dynamometer laboratory testing.

View EPA range, MPGe and energy cost metrics →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.