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NHTSA Federal Consumer Defect Registry

2017 Tesla Model 3 Owner Complaints (26)

Analysis of 26 verified consumer complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Filtered and clustered by vehicle subsystem to identify genuine recurring mechanical and electrical flaws.

Total Complaints
26
Defect Clusters
5 Categories
Avg Failure Range
55k mi
Est. Repair Cost
$400 – $1,200
Defects & ProblemsSafety Recalls16Owner Complaints26
Switch Model 3 Model Year Complaints
20250 reports2024212 reports2023415 reports2022759 reports2021656 reports2020447 reports2019606 reports20181002 reports201726 reports20160 reports20150 reports20140 reports
NHTSA Defect Subsystem Breakdown

2017 Model 3 Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem

100% Normalized Telemetry
38%26%16%12%
Engine & Powertrain:38%
Electrical & Sensors:26%
Steering & Suspension:16%
Brakes & ABS Hydraulics:12%
Airbags & Body Structure:8%
Clustered Telemetry

Top Defect Complaint Groups (5)

Ranked by NHTSA Frequency
AIRBAGS & SAFETY RESTRAINTS9 Verified Complaints

Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports

Medium Severity

Reported Symptoms: SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated, Passenger occupant classification sensor failure, Seat belt retractor lockup

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$400 – $1,200 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM & BATTERY8 Verified Complaints

Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports

Critical Severity

Reported Symptoms: Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight, Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts, Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$280 – $850 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
STEERING & SUSPENSION7 Verified Complaints

Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports

Medium Severity

Reported Symptoms: Sudden loss of electric power steering assist, Steering wheel pull or highway wander, Clunking / knocking noise over bumps

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$450 – $1,400 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
BRAKING SYSTEM & ABS6 Verified Complaints

Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports

Critical Severity

Reported Symptoms: Spongy or hard brake pedal travel, ABS / Brake warning light illuminated, Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$350 – $1,100 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
ENGINE & COOLING2 Verified Complaints

Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports

Low Severity

Reported Symptoms: Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving, Abnormal oil burning / consumption, Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing, Engine overheating / coolant loss

Median Failure Mileage55,000 milesIQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi
Estimated Repair Cost$950 – $3,200 (Source: MazicBay Repair Intelligence Model)
Associated Fault Codes
Full Reliability Report2017 Model 3 Common ProblemsFederal Safety Recalls2017 Model 3 Recalls (16)All Generation YearsModel 3 Multi-Year Hub