Tesla Model 3 in California Crash Records

At a glance: Between January 2018 and November 2026, the Tesla Model 3 appeared in 30,136 reported California crash records, representing 30,389 vehicle party rows. This profile describes reported crash involvement from public sources, not an official vehicle safety rating. View the metrics breakdown below or read the limitations.
Your car in the records

Tesla Model 3

California records from 2018-01-20 through 2026-11-09. This describes reported crash involvement, not how safe the car is.

Permanent profile
Crash records
30,136
30,389 party rows
Fault field recorded
29.8%
9,054 rows recorded fault status, 21,335 did not
Typical crash size
2.24
Reported parties per crash
Injury-linked rows
15,874
1.41 documented people when present
The quick read
Most recorded color
White
Most common violation
Unsafe speed
Most common movement
Proceeding Straight
Most common named counterpart
Toyota Camry
Most common crash type
Rear End
Busiest hour
5 PM
Fault status, visualized
All rows
28.1% / 1.7% / 70.2%
Recorded rows only
94.3% at fault / 5.7% not at fault
At faultNot at faultUnknown
Top bar: all rows. Bottom bar: only rows where fault was recorded. 70.2% of rows were left unknown.

Color mix

White10,404
Gray7,037
Black5,934
Blue3,062
Red2,469
Silver551

Vehicles on the other side

Toyota Camry1,510
Honda Civic1,461
Honda Accord1,389
Toyota Corolla1,184
Toyota Prius872
Chevrolet Silverado690

Movement before impact

Proceeding Straight13,023
Stopped5,890
Slowing/Stopping3,824
Changing Lanes1,546
Parked1,501
Other1,219

Recorded violations

Unsafe Speed10,335
Unsafe Turn Or Lane Movement3,426
Unsafe Lane Use3,098
Vehicle Code 22350unsafespeedforprevailingconditions1,379
Vehicle Code 22350unsafespeedprevailcond1,279
Driving Under The Influence1,270

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Tesla Model 3 have good safety ratings in crash records?

Public crash records only track reported crash involvement (the count of times a vehicle appears in police reports), which is not a safety rating. To check official safety ratings, structural crashworthiness, and crash test results for the Tesla Model 3, consult the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Why is crash involvement not the same as a safety rating?

A vehicle might appear frequently in crash records simply because it is extremely popular and there are millions of them driven on the road (high exposure), or because it is favored by high-mileage drivers (such as commuters or rideshare operators). A true safety rating requires dividing crash counts by the total number of registered vehicles and vehicle miles traveled, alongside controlled laboratory crash testing.

“At fault” reflects the officer-coded field in the crash record, not a legal finding. That is why this page separates fault coverage from fault split: 8,537 rows were reported at fault, 517 were reported not at fault, and 21,335 were left without a recorded fault status. “People” refers to injury, passenger, or witness rows linked to the selected vehicle, not every occupant. Registration exposure and miles driven are not controlled.
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Cite or reuse this profile

This is independent analysis of public records. Keep the reporting window, source, and methodology attached when reusing a figure.

Evidence for Zero. "Tesla Model 3 in California Crash Records." Updated November 12, 2026. https://crashes.meruai.co/vehicles/tesla/model-3. Analysis of California Crash Reporting System public records.
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