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Home›Tesla›Tesla Model 3› electrical problems
Owner complaints · Electrical System · every model year

Tesla Model 3 electrical problems, 2017–2027

557 of the 4,336 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Tesla Model 3 2017–2027 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2018 (169), 2019 (91), 2021 (79). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 manufacturer bulletins, 11 recall campaigns, 9 NHTSA investigations. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

557 complaints, 11 model years 13% of everything filed about the Model 3 typically at 19k miles

Tesla Model 3 electrical problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model yearComplaints naming the electrical systemShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
20270———the year →
20260——3 investigationsthe year →
20252118%—2 recalls · 4 investigationsthe year →
20244521%—5 TSBs · 1 recall · 6 investigationsthe year →
2023 in depth5112%—6 TSBs · 3 recalls · 7 investigationsthe record →
2022 in depth598%32k3 TSBs · 7 recalls · 8 investigationsthe record →
2021 in depth7912%7k4 TSBs · 7 recalls · 9 investigationsthe record →
2020429%20k15 TSBs · 8 recalls · 9 investigationsthe year →
2019 in depth9115%15k14 TSBs · 8 recalls · 9 investigationsthe record →
2018 in depth16916%24k52 TSBs · 8 recalls · 9 investigationsthe record →
20170——37 TSBs · 6 recalls · 9 investigationsthe year →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
557complaints name the electrical system, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2018: 1 · 2019: 16 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 29 · 2022: 112 · 2023: 96 · 2024: 121 · 2025: 96 · 2026: 63

19kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 125 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 6,000 and 38,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with electronic doors that released the latch when the door handle and/or a button located inside the vehicle's door was activated. The contact stated that the passenger side doors failed to release the latch when prompted.
Electrical System at 98,825 miles Dec 18, 2019 NHTSA owner report
About 6 weeeks ago the horn on my Tesla Model 3 stopped working. I have had one very close call where I almost got in a wreck because the other driver was making a u turn in front of me who did not see me coming. I could not get their attention because my horn did not work.
Electrical System at 20,000 miles Aug 31, 2019 NHTSA owner report
The only display in the car will turn off while driving. This causes a loss of all readout. You lose the speed you are traveling, HVAC, backup camera, safety warnings, etc. this has happened over and over. This has been reported to Tesla and they declined to fix it under warranty when first reported at approx 1500 miles.
Electrical System at 7,000 miles Jun 23, 2020 NHTSA owner report
Immediately prior to downgrade my Tesla Model 3 configuration from standard plus (240 max charge limit) to standard configuration (220 max charge limit), I could charge to 239 charge limit.
Electrical System at 4,000 miles Mar 30, 2020 NHTSA owner report
On January 26th at about 4:30 pm pm on a clear day I was proceeding west at approximately 55mph on US33 between Barboursville and Ruckersville VA on a straight section of the road with a slight downward slope. I was not using cruise control.
Electrical System Feb 4, 2022 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the electrical system, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

The 8 newest of 11; each model year’s page lists its own.

NHTSA investigations

3 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Other systems with a record on the Tesla Model 3

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Tesla Model 3 problems by year →

From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Tesla Model 3 years have the most electrical complaints?

2018, 169; 2019, 91; 2021, 79. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2024 (21%).

Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Tesla Model 3?

Yes — 11 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 25V690000 (2025), 25V002000 (2025), 24V153000 (2022), 24V051000 (2023). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do electrical problems show up on the Tesla Model 3?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 19,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 6,000 and 38,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?

Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.