2021 Tesla Model 3 brakes problems

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 has 125 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

125

Brakes complaints

10%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Model 3 brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

21V387000BrakesMay 25, 2021 · 5,974 units

Defect

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model 3 and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.

Consequence

Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-33-002.

What owners report

“I drove into my neighborâs driveway to drop her off. As I slowed down and applied the brakes to stop, the car failed to respond. It continued forward, running over the flower and plant pots at the edge of the driveway, crossing the backyard, and finally colliding with the trees and bushes at the…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 20, 2025 · fire

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 have?

NHTSA has 125 complaints about the 2021 Tesla Model 3 brakes — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2021 Tesla Model 3 brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 21V387000.

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

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.