VehicleVerdict

2020 Tesla Model 3 airbags problems

The 2020 Tesla Model 3 has 30 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 4% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

30

Airbags complaints

4%

Share of year

9

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Model 3 airbags complaints by model year135 complaints2017: 6 complaints2018: 135 complaints2019: 76 complaints2020: 30 complaints2021: 8 complaints2022: 11 complaints2023: 20 complaints2024: 7 complaints2025: 2 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Model 3 airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

21V834000AirbagsOctober 25, 2021 · 3 units

Defect

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021, 2023 Model 3 vehicles. The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Consequence

A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-006.

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2020 Tesla Model 3 have?

NHTSA has 30 complaints about the 2020 Tesla Model 3 airbags — 4% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2020 Tesla Model 3 airbags?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 21V834000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.