What are the most common problems with the 2019 Tesla Model 3?

Forward collision avoidance has the most complaints at 170, followed by electrical system at 92 and air bags at 88. These are unverified owner reports.

Does the 2019 Tesla Model 3 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 22 recalls for this model year. The newest, for headlights that may be too bright, has no remedy available yet.

How far can a 2019 Tesla Model 3 go on a charge?

EPA rates it from 220 to 310 miles depending on version.

Is the 2019 Tesla Model 3 safe?

NHTSA gives the AWD and RWD versions 5 stars overall. Recalls and complaints still matter, so check the VIN for open recalls.

Which Model 3 year has the most complaints?

2018, with 1,032 complaints on file. 2019 is fourth with 619.

2019 Tesla Model 3 Problems, Recalls and Range

Owners of the 2019 Model 3 filed 619 complaints with NHTSA, led by forward collision avoidance^[1]^[2]. The model year also has 22 recalls^[3].

619owner complaints^[1]

22recalls^[3]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 619 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Model 3^[1]. Of those, 60 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 30 injuries and 4 deaths^[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several parts of the car. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

The largest group is forward collision avoidance, with 170 complaints, 11 crashes and 4 injuries^[2]. The median mileage at failure was 27,019^[2]. The other large groups are:

Electrical system: 92 complaints^[5]
Air bags: 88 complaints^[6]
Suspension: 82 complaints^[7]
Unknown or other: 78 complaints^[8]
Speed control: 71 complaints^[9]
Lane departure: 70 complaints^[10]
Brakes: 63 complaints^[11]

Speed control has the most crashes among these groups, at 19^[9]. Air bags have the most injuries, at 8^[6].

We also read a small sample of complaint texts for four groups. It is not a measure of how common anything is.

Forward collision avoidance. Some owners describe the car braking hard with nothing in the road. Others describe driver assistance missing an object or a red light^[2].
Electrical system. Owners describe power loss, shutdowns and warnings such as reduced power while driving. Others report less range than they expected, or screen and backup camera glitches^[5].
Air bags. Some writers say the air bags did not open in a crash. Some describe a sudden burst of speed before a crash. One says the air bags went off with no impact^[6].
Suspension. Most of the texts we read describe..., or: The texts we read are mostly about broken front suspension parts on cars pictured in salvage listings, not the writers' own cars^[7].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 22 recalls for the 2019 Model 3^[3]. Newest first:

Remedy pending
Headlights too bright (26V507). Dated 2026-08-04^[12]. The low beams may exceed the legal light output and can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers. Tesla Service will replace the headlights, but the remedy is not yet available. Owners get another notice when the repair is ready^[12].
Tire pressure light (24V935). The warning light may not stay on between drives, so a low tire could go unnoticed. Tesla released a software update over the air^[13].
Seat belt warning (24V376). The warning light and chime may not work for an unbelted driver. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air software update^[14].
Pedestrian warning sounds (24V153). A factory reset muted the sounds that warn people nearby. Tesla released an over-the-air update^[15].
Brake warning light font (24V051). The Brake, Park and ABS warning lights showed text in the wrong size. Tesla began releasing an over-the-air update^[16].
Autosteer controls (23V838). The controls may not do enough to stop drivers from misusing the driver-assist feature. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[17].
Suspension lateral link, expanded (23V235). The front lateral link fasteners may loosen, which could shift wheel alignment and cause instability. Tesla Service will tighten or replace them^[18].
Full Self-Driving Beta (23V085). The system may act unsafely at intersections. This applies to cars with that software or pending installation. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[19].
Rear seat belt anchor (22V798). A rear belt buckle and anchor may have been put back together wrongly during service. Tesla Service will inspect and reassemble them^[20].
Window auto-reverse (22V702). A closing window may press hard on a person before it retracts. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[21].
Speedometer unit (22V263). In Track Mode on Performance versions, the mph or km/h unit may not show. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[22].
Boombox sounds (22V235). Sounds played outside the car while moving may drown out pedestrian warning sounds. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[23].
Rearview image delay (22V169). The camera image may not appear right away in reverse on cars with certain computer and firmware versions. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[24].
Boombox sounds, earlier recall (22V063). Same kind of problem as 22V235, with the same risk to pedestrians. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[25].
Seat belt chime (22V045). The chime may not sound at start-up when the driver is unbuckled. Tesla's fix is an over-the-air update^[26].
Rolling stop (22V037). A Full Self-Driving Beta feature could roll through an all-way stop. Tesla's fix is an update that turns the feature off^[27].
Rearview camera cable (21V00D). The trunk lid can damage the camera cable harness, so the image may not show^[28]. Tesla Service will inspect the car and install a guide protector and new harness as needed^[28].
False collision warning (21V846). A communication error may trigger a false warning or an unexpected automatic braking event on cars running one software version. Tesla released an over-the-air update^[29].
Suspension lateral link (21V835). The same loose fastener problem as 23V235. Tesla Service will tighten or replace the fasteners^[30].
Brake caliper bolts (21V387). Loose bolts could let a caliper separate and touch the wheel rim, which may cause a loss of tire pressure. Tesla Service will inspect and tighten or replace the bolts^[31].
Front seat belt fasteners (21V389). The fasteners holding the shoulder belt may not be attached properly. Tesla Service will inspect and repair them^[32].
Visor air bag label (19V719). The driver-side sun visor may lack the required air bag warning. Tesla Service will check the visor and swap it if needed^[33]..

Fuel economy and range

This is an electric car, so EPA rates it in MPGe and miles of range. The ratings differ by version^[34]^[35]^[36]^[37]^[38]^[39].

Version	MPGe combined	Range
Standard Range^[38]	131	220 miles
Standard Range Plus^[39]	133	240 miles
Mid Range^[34]	123	264 miles
Long Range^[35]	130	310 miles
Long Range AWD^[36]	116	310 miles
Long Range AWD Performance^[37]	116	310 miles

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the AWD version 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in the frontal, side and rollover tests^[4]. Rollover risk is 6.6%^[4]. The RWD version has the same ratings^[40].

Engine and size

The electric motor is rated at 282 hp^[41]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications, so US cars can differ slightly^[42].

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
Standard^[43]	185 in	73 in	57 in	113 in	3,627 lb
Mid Range^[44]	185 in	73 in	57 in	113 in	3,686 lb
Long Range RWD^[45]	185 in	73 in	57 in	113 in	3,805 lb
Long Range AWD^[42]	185 in	73 in	57 in	113 in	4,072 lb

How 2019 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Model 3 model year. The 2019 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2017	27	16
2018	1,032	19
2019	619	22
2020	452	21
2021	671	22
2022	770	18
2023	428	12
2024	221	5
2025	121	3
2026	29	1

Among Model 3 model years, 2019 has the fourth most complaints at 619^[3]. Only 2018 (1,032), 2022 (770) and 2021 (671) have more^[3]. Its 22 recalls tie 2021 for the most of any year listed^[3]. 2020 has 21, 2018 has 19 and 2022 has 18^[3]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat the comparison as rough.

Should you buy a used 2019 Model 3?

The record shows 619 owner complaints, the largest group naming forward collision avoidance, and 22 recalls^[1]^[2]^[3]. Some recalls were fixed with over-the-air updates, such as the tire pressure light (24V935)^[13] and pedestrian sounds (24V153)^[15], and others with Tesla Service repairs, such as the suspension fasteners (23V235)^[18] and brake caliper bolts (21V387)^[31]. Before buying, check for open recalls, especially the headlight recall, which has no repair available yet^[12]. The safety ratings are strong, at 5 stars overall^[4]. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so use them as a checklist for a test drive, not as a verdict.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Tesla Model 3?: Forward collision avoidance has the most complaints at 170, followed by electrical system at 92 and air bags at 88^[2]^[5]^[6]. These are unverified owner reports.
Does the 2019 Tesla Model 3 have recalls?: NHTSA lists 22 recalls for this model year^[3]. The newest, for headlights that may be too bright, has no remedy available yet^[12].
How far can a 2019 Tesla Model 3 go on a charge?: EPA rates it from 220 to 310 miles depending on version^[38]^[35].
Is the 2019 Tesla Model 3 safe?: NHTSA gives the AWD and RWD versions 5 stars overall^[4]^[40]. Recalls and complaints still matter, so check the VIN for open recalls.
Which Model 3 year has the most complaints?: 2018, with 1,032 complaints on file^[3]. 2019 is fourth with 619^[3].

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 619 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Tesla Model 3 (60 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 30 injuries, 4 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
170 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (11 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,019). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Tesla Model 3 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 6.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
92 complaints name the electrical system component group (4 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 14,419). NHTSA vehicle records
88 complaints name the air bags component group (11 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 8,571). NHTSA vehicle records
82 complaints name the suspension component group (6 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,000). NHTSA vehicle records
78 complaints name the unknown or other component group (12 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 7,502). NHTSA vehicle records
71 complaints name the speed control component group (19 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 5,300). NHTSA vehicle records
70 complaints name the lane departure component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
63 complaints name the brakes component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,110). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 26V507, filed August 4, 2026: Exterior Lighting › Headlights. NHTSA recall database
Recall 24V935, filed December 17, 2024: Tires › Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems. NHTSA recall database
Recall 24V376, filed May 28, 2024: Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light / Devices. NHTSA recall database
Recall 24V153, filed February 27, 2024: Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings › External / Pedestrian Alert. NHTSA recall database
Recall 24V051, filed January 30, 2024: Electrical System › Instrument Cluster / Panel. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V838, filed December 12, 2023: Electrical System › Adas › Driver Monitoring › Software. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V235, filed March 31, 2023: Suspension › Critical Fasteners. NHTSA recall database
Recall 23V085, filed February 15, 2023: Steering › Automated / Adaptive Steering. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V798, filed October 21, 2022: Seat Belts › Rear / Other › Anchorage. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V702, filed September 19, 2022: Visibility › Power Window Devices And Controls. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V263, filed April 18, 2022: Electrical System › Instrument Cluster / Panel. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V235, filed April 12, 2022: Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings › External / Pedestrian Alert. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V169, filed March 18, 2022: Back Over Prevention › Display Function. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V063, filed February 4, 2022: Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings › External / Pedestrian Alert. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V045, filed February 1, 2022: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
Recall 22V037, filed January 27, 2022: Steering › Automated / Adaptive Steering. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V00D, filed December 21, 2021: Visibility › Rearview Mirrors / Devices › Interior. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V846, filed October 29, 2021: Forward Collision Avoidance › Sensing System › Camera. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V835, filed October 25, 2021: Suspension › Critical Fasteners. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V387, filed May 25, 2021: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Critical Fasteners. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V389, filed May 25, 2021: Seat Belts › Critical Fasteners. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V719, filed October 10, 2019: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Model 3 Mid Range, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 123 MPGe combined, 264 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Model 3 Long Range, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 130 MPGe combined, 310 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Model 3 Long Range AWD, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 116 MPGe combined, 310 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Model 3 Long Range AWD Performance, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 116 MPGe combined, 310 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Model 3 Standard Range, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 131 MPGe combined, 220 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Model 3 Standard Range Plus, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 133 MPGe combined, 240 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR RWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 6.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2019 Tesla Model 3 with electric motor: rated 282 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MODEL 3 4DR SEDAN LONG RANGE AWD: length 185 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 4,072 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MODEL 3 4DR SEDAN STANDARD: length 185 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 3,627 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MODEL 3 4DR SEDAN MID RANGE: length 185 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 3,686 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MODEL 3 4DR SEDAN LONG RANGE RWD: length 185 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 3,805 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2019 Tesla Model 3: problems, recalls and range