2026 Tesla Model 3 Safety Rating
Midsize luxury cars · Current IIHS listing · IIHS data updated 2026-09-04
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 scores 91.7/100, ranking #3 of 5 current midsize luxury cars and #52 of 137 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It does not hold a current IIHS award.
Results below Good: Moderate overlap front (updated test) rated Acceptable, Headlights rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Good; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (54 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Seat belt reminders
Child seat anchors
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How the score is built
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 23 per million registered vehicle-years | Midsize luxury cars as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
| Tesla Model 3 2WD (2019-20) driver death rate | 15 (95% CI 0–33) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 24.8. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
| Tesla Model 3 4WD (2019-20) driver death rate | 52 (95% CI 9–96) | Earlier model years of this nameplate; class average for that study 24.8. Reflects who bought and drove those cars as well as the car. |
| Theft claim frequency (Tesla Model 3 electric 4dr 4WD) | 1 (100 = average) | HLDI whole-vehicle theft, 2022–24 model years: 1% of average. See the theft ranking. |
| Theft claim frequency (Tesla Model 3 electric 4dr) | 2 (100 = average) | HLDI whole-vehicle theft, 2022–24 model years: 2% of average. See the theft ranking. |
Compared with other midsize luxury cars
Closest-scoring current midsize luxury cars with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every midsize luxury car ranked →
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Audi A5 | #1 of 5 | TSP+ | $50,200 | 94.7 | |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz C Class | #1 of 5 | TSP | $49,650 | 94.7 | |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 (this page) | #3 of 5 | — | $36,990 | 91.7 | |
| 2026 Audi A3 | #4 of 5 | — | $40,100 | 79.7 | |
| 2026 BMW 3 Series | #5 of 5 | — | $47,500 | 76.7 |
Other model years of the Tesla Model 3
| Model year | Status | IIHS award | Primary tests reported | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Tesla Model 3 | Archived | TSP+ | 4/4 | Not ranked |
Each model year keeps its own record. Ratings from one year are never copied to another unless IIHS states the test applies.
Our analysis
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 belongs to the Midsize luxury cars class. This class has a below-average driver death rate compared with the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Tesla Model 3 has no IIHS Top Safety Pick award for 2026. That can mean a result below the award threshold in one test, or tests IIHS has not completed. Absence of an award is not evidence that the vehicle is unsafe.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Tesla Model 3 earned 2 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Tesla or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Tesla death rates vs. crash tests. Tesla scores well in crash tests but has above-average brand-level driver death rates. We separate the evidence and the four possible explanations.
International crash-test results
International results are supporting context only; market versions differ in structure and equipment, so they are not converted into the U.S. score.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Tesla Model 3
No recalls on record. NHTSA lists this model year and currently shows no recall campaigns against it.
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Questions about the 2026 Tesla Model 3
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Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.