Overview

Recalls are issued for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Manufacturers or importers seek to inform the original buyer if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. However, manufacturers or importers may not have the contact details of subsequent owners. Please note that the recalls below are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.

Recalls: Tesla Model 3

2019-20 Tesla Model 3: brake caliper bolts not sufficiently tightened

In August 2021, recall campaign SB-21-33-002 was issued for 2019-20 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. In these vehicles, the brake caliper bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened. This could reduce braking performance and, in turn, the risk of a collision and injury to both vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-001653.

2018-20 Tesla Model 3: front seatbelts may properly secured

In August 2021, recall campaign SB-21-20-001 was issued for 2018-20 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front row seatbelt bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened. In the event of a collision, the stabelt may not operate as intended if it was not secured correctly – this could increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-001654.

2019-21 Tesla Model 3: front suspension lateral link bolts not tightened sufficiently

In December 2021, recall campaign SB-21-31-003 was issued for 2019-21 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front suspension lateral link bolts may not have been tightened sufficiently and could become loose or separate from the sub-frame. This could result in a loss of vehicle control. A loss of vehicle control increased the risk of a collision, increasing the risk of injury for both vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005008.

2017-20 Tesla Model 3: rear-view camera cable may be damaged by using boot

In January 2022, recall campaign SB-21-17-008 was issued for 2017-20 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. Due to the routing of the rear-view camera cable through the boot lid, it could be damaged by repeated opening of the boot lid. As a result, the rear-view camera display may not appear on the centre console. A loss of the rear-view camera display increased the risk of a collision when the driver was reversing. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005040.

2018-22 Tesla Model 3: unit of speed doesn’t display in Track Mode

In May 2022, recall campaign SB-22-00-008 was issued for 2018-22 Tesla Model 3 vehicles, specifically the E3DP and E5LDP variants. Due to a software issue, the unit of speed (i.e. km/h) would not be displayed correctly when operated in Track Mode. As a result, the driver may not be able to adequately determine the speed of tehe vehicle, which could increase the risk of a collision and injury to both vehicle occupants and other road users. For this recall, owners were to receive a notification on their vehicles that an over-the-air update – which would provide a measurement of speed whilst in Track Mode – could be downloaded and installed. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005422.

2021-22 Tesla Model 3: centre screen display may lag or appear blank

In May 2022, recall campaign SB-22-00-009 was issued for 2021-22 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. Due to a software issue, fast-charging the vehicle may result in the infotainment central processing unit (CPU) overheating. If the CPU overheated, the centre screen display may lag or appear blank. If this occurred, drive mode selection (i.e. drive, neutral or reverse), rear-view camera display, window wiper control settings and warning lights would be unavailable. This condition could therefore increase the risk of a collision and injury to both vehicle occupants and other road users. To fix, Tesla implemented an over-the-air update that would reduce the temperature of the infotainment system whilst fast-charging. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005441.

2017-22 Tesla Model 3: rear seatbelt may not operate properly

In November 2022, recall campaign SB-22-20-004 was issued for 2017-22 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. Due to the vehicle design, servicing certain components required disassembly of the second row left seatbelt buckle and centre seatbelt anchor, both of which were fastened with the same bolt. During servicing, it was possible that the seatbelt buckle and anchor may have been re-assembled to the fastening bolt incorrectly. As a result, the seatbelt may not operate as intended, increasing the risk of injury if a collision occurred. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005550.

2022 Tesla Model 3: tail lamps may not illuminate

In November 2022, recall campaign SB-22-00-016 was issued for 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. Due to a softwar error, the tail lamps on one or both sides may not illuminate as intended. If this occurred uring dark conditions, the following vehicles may have reduced visibility and may not be able to identify the vehicle. However, brake lamps, reverse lamps and turn signals were not affected by this condition and would continue to operate as intended. Nonetheless, if following traffic was unable to identify the vehicle, it could increase the risk of a collision and injury to both vehicle occupants and other road users. This recall was addressed by updating the vehicle’s software, which did not require the customer to schedule a service appointment. If the vehicle was running software version 2022.40.100 or 2022.40.1 or later, the vehicle was not subject to this issue. Owners could confirm their vehicle’s software version by tapping ‘Controls’, then ‘Software’ on the touchscreen. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005571.

2022-23 Tesla Model 3: notchy steering wheel in cold temperatures

In January 2024, recall campaign SB-24-32-001 was issued for 2022-23 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. Due to a software issue, the steering wheel may feel notchy when operating the vehicle in cold temperatures. There was no safety hazard and the defect would not otherwise affect the performance of the vehicle. However, the vehicle may not be compliant with Australian Design Rule (ADR) 90/00 – Steering System 2018. Owners of affected vehicles were advised to contact Tesla to make an appointment to have the vehicle software version inspected and updated to version 2023.38 or later, or update their vehicle software using the touchscreen. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005875.

2023 Tesla Model 3: top-restraint anchorage point for centre rear seat not accessible

In January 2024, recall campaign SB-24-15-001 was issued for 2023 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. In these vehicles, the centre rear seat position did not have an accessible top-restraint anchorage point as required by Australian Design Rule 34/03. As a result, an infant or child car esat restraint could not be securely attached to it. To fix, Tesla was to replace a part to provide access to the centre rear seat top-tether restraint anchorage. Until this was completed, owners were not to secure an infant or child car seat on the centre rear seat or otherwise attach an infant or child care seat restraint to the top-tether anchorage. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-005879.

2019-20 Tesla Model 3: seatbelt occupancy warnings may not illuminate

In July 2024, recall campaign SB-24-00-008 was issued for 2019-20 Tesla Model 3 vehicles, specifically the E6LRB, E5LDB, E5LDP and E3LDP variants. Due to an issue with the driver’s seat occupancy switch, the instrument cluster may fail to illuminate the visual and audible seatbelt warnings in certain conditions, as required by the Australian Design Rule 04/06 – Seatbelts. If the driver was not aware of an unfastened seatbelt, there was an increased risk of injury if a collision occurred. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-006022.

2020-24 Tesla Model 3: driver may not be warned of unlatched bonnet

In August 2024, recall campaign SB-24-00-012 was issued for 2020-24 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect, the bonnet latch assembly may not detect when it was opened and may therefore fail to warn the driver of an “open bonnet”. If the vehicle was driven with an unlatched bonnet, it could open abruptly and obstruct the driver’s view – this would increase the risk of a collision and injury to both vehicle occupants and other road users. To fix, an over-the-air software update (OTA) was to be installed on all affected vehicles. If the vehicle was running on software version 2024.20.3 or later, the vehicle was not subject to this issue. Owners could confirm their vehicle’s software version by tapping ‘Controls’, then ‘Software’ on the touchscreen. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-006042.

Problems and faults: Tesla Model 3

Overview

This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.

To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.

Problems and faults: Tesla Model 3

No troubleshooting information is currently available for the Tesla Model 3.