Hearth Record

2021 Tesla Model 3

Model year 2021: every recall NHTSA’s file names for it, the complaints owners made to NHTSA, and its crash ratings.

NHTSA’s recall lookup, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s recall lookup is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

From NHTSA’s files, copied Oct 28, 2026.

A recall covers the vehicles it names, by build date where NHTSA gives one. Your VIN says which are open on yours.

Is your vehicle in one of these recalls?

No public file says which recalls are still open on one vehicle. NHTSA’s lookup does, from its VIN.

17 letters and numbers, at the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side. VINs never use I, O or Q.

Source:

The VIN goes to NHTSA, never to Hearth Record.

What recalls name it?

22 recalls for the 2021 Tesla Model 3 in NHTSA’s file, newest first. Each covers the vehicles it names; your VIN says if yours is one.

None carries NHTSA’s advice not to drive it or to park outside.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

Aug 4, 2026. Exterior lighting: headlights

NHTSA counts 20,349 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-507

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 4, 2026. Back over prevention: software

NHTSA counts 218,868 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Sep 21, 2020 to Dec 25, 2021.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-283

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Dec 17, 2024. Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems

NHTSA counts 696,281 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 24V-935

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jul 24, 2024. Electrical system: software; latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch

NHTSA counts 1,849,638 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 24V-554

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 28, 2024. Seat belts: front: warning light/devices

NHTSA counts 125,233 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 24V-376

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 27, 2024. Electrical system: software; forward collision avoidance: warnings: external/pedestrian alert

NHTSA counts 6,557 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 24V-153

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jan 30, 2024. Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA counts 2,193,869 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 24V-051

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Dec 12, 2023. Electrical system: adas: driver monitoring: software

NHTSA counts 2,031,220 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 23V-838

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 15, 2023. Steering: automated/adaptive steering

NHTSA counts 362,758 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 23V-085

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 21, 2022. Seat belts: rear/other: anchorage

NHTSA counts 24,064 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-798

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Sep 19, 2022. Visibility: power window devices and controls

NHTSA counts 1,096,762 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-702

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 9, 2022. Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking; electrical system: adas: driver monitoring: camera/sensor; lane departure: lane keep: automatic steering

NHTSA counts 7 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-317

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Apr 18, 2022. Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA counts 48,184 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-263

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Apr 12, 2022. Electrical system: software; forward collision avoidance: warnings: external/pedestrian alert

NHTSA counts 594,894 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-235

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 4, 2022. Forward collision avoidance: warnings: external/pedestrian alert; electrical system: software

NHTSA counts 578,607 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-063

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 2, 2022. Electrical system: software; visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: air handler/chamber, ducts, and valves

NHTSA counts 26,681 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-050

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 1, 2022. Seat belts: front; electrical system: software

NHTSA counts 817,143 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-045

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jan 27, 2022. Steering: automated/adaptive steering

NHTSA counts 53,822 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 22V-037

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 29, 2021. Forward collision avoidance: software; forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking; forward collision avoidance: warnings; forward collision avoidance: sensing system: camera

NHTSA counts 11,728 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 21V-846

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 25, 2021. Air bags: side/window: curtain

NHTSA counts 3 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 21V-834

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 25, 2021. Suspension: front; suspension: critical fasteners

NHTSA counts 2,791 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 21V-835

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 25, 2021. Service brakes, hydraulic: critical fasteners; service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper

NHTSA counts 5,974 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 21V-387

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

What have owners told NHTSA?

674 complaints to NHTSA, received from Dec 28, 2020 to Oct 26, 2026.

  • 46 complaints told of a crash, and 5 complaints of a fire.
  • Together they report 19 people injured and 8 deaths.
  • Complaints are owners’ own reports, not findings: NHTSA reads them to decide what to look into. Only their counts are kept here; no complaint’s words or owner are read.
Source:

NHTSA, Owner complaints flat files. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

How did it do in crash tests?

NHTSA rated 4 versions of the 2021 Tesla Model 3: 5 stars overall, every version.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings, in whole stars. NHTSA’s safety concerns are shown beneath the stars they qualify, as NHTSA asks.

Source:

NHTSA, 5-Star Safety Ratings. Released Aug 7, 2026. Updated monthly.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Tesla Model 3, by the version NHTSA rated
VersionOverallFrontal crashSide crashRollover
Model 3, 4 DR, AWD, release 2 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 5 starsA 6.6% chance of rolling over; no tip
Model 3, 4 DR, AWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 5 starsA 6.6% chance of rolling over; no tip
Model 3, 4 DR, RWD, release 2 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 5 starsA 6.6% chance of rolling over; no tip
Model 3, 4 DR, RWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 5 starsA 6.6% chance of rolling over; no tip

NHTSA lists no safety concern for any version rated here.

Safety technology, as NHTSA lists it for each version

Model 3, AWD

  • Forward collision warning: no.
  • Lane departure warning: standard.
  • Crash imminent braking: no.
  • Dynamic brake support: no.

Model 3, AWD

  • Forward collision warning: standard.
  • Lane departure warning: standard.
  • Crash imminent braking: standard.
  • Dynamic brake support: standard.

Model 3, RWD

  • Forward collision warning: no.
  • Lane departure warning: standard.
  • Crash imminent braking: no.
  • Dynamic brake support: no.

Model 3, RWD

  • Forward collision warning: standard.
  • Lane departure warning: standard.
  • Crash imminent braking: standard.
  • Dynamic brake support: standard.

What the record doesn’t say

  • Which recalls are still open on one vehicle: only NHTSA’s lookup, with its VIN, says that.
  • Ratings are for the versions NHTSA tested. Other cabs, engines and drives can rate differently.
  • How serious each complaint was, or whether it was confirmed: complaints aren’t findings.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Owner complaints flat files.

    Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5-Star Safety Ratings.

    Released Aug 7, 2026 and checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated monthly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.