Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 3.
The 2020 Tesla 3 Electric is an all‑electric vehicle whose powertrain is solely electric. Owner feedback for this model year tallied 434 total complaints, with the Forward Collision Avoidance system being the most frequently reported issue, and the car was subject to 20 recalls. Those figures position the 2020 model year as a relatively high‑complaint point in the Tesla 3’s reliability timeline, indicating that owners encountered more problems than in years with lower tallies.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 184.6 in |
| Overall width | 72.8 in |
| Overall height | 56.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4072 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 63 / 62.6 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 48/52 |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
No 2020 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan (Track) Elec | 3.10 sec | 11.60 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan (Track) Elec | 3.20 sec | 11.70 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2019 | Model 3 Dual Motor Long Range Sedan Elec | 4.10 sec | 12.60 sec | — | AWD |
| 2019 | Model 3 Standard Range Plus Sedan Elec | 5.00 sec | 13.50 sec | 283 hp | RWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.20 sec | 11.80 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.30 sec | 11.80 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.30 sec | 11.80 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.50 sec | 12.10 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2020 Tesla 3 top in one area — the forward collision avoidance, 72 of 434 reports (17%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 20 recall campaigns target the forward collision avoidance, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 51 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the forward collision avoidance pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 434 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 20 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may… Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022…
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… 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…
Showing 5 of 112 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB-26-33-001 | 2026-05-08 | Service Brakes | On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which… |
| SB-26-33-001 | 2026-02-11 | Service Brakes | On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which… |
| SB-25-31-004 | 2025-06-24 | Suspension | A firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that… |
| 2024.26.9_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| 2024.38_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 20 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.