2021 Tesla Model 3 Brake Fastener Recall (21V387)
Tesla, Inc. · 5,974 vehicles · Reported May 25, 2021
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 5,974 2021 Tesla Model 3; 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim. Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V387 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V387000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-21-33-002 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 25, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Tesla Model 3; 2021 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 5,974 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Tesla Model 3 in recall 21V387?
The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Model 3 with recall 21V387?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model 3 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V387?
Recall 21V387 covers 5,974 vehicles: 2021 Tesla Model 3; 2021 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 5,974 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2021 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model 3 brake fastener recall?
Yes. Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 21V387 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 21V387 to NHTSA on May 25, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 23, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 25, 2021 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V387000. |
| July 23, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 65 months ago. If your Model 3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model 3 is part of recall 21V387?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V387 is open on your Model 3, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V387000 is open on your Model 3, it will be listed there, along with Tesla recall number SB-21-33-002. You can also ask any Tesla dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Model 3 owners do about recall 21V387?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V387000 applies to your Model 3.
- Call a Tesla dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Model 3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,743 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 306 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 21V387 was reported on May 25, 2021, owners have filed 299 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 52 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after May 25, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,743 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 306 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Tesla Model Y: 1,079 complaints in total, 181 about the brakes
- 2021 Tesla Model 3: 664 complaints in total, 125 about the brakes
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
After a snowstorm, I shoveled my driveway in front of the car which was facing toward the road (the driveway is on an incline, not steep), cleared the snow off the car and then pulled the car forward/put it in park so that I could shovel the rest of the snow.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11637766, filed January 22, 2025
Alerts regarding vehicle steering, stability, emergency braking, lane control traction, received all at once and the Tesla AI advisor indicated others were reporting the same. No other vehicles in lanes around us showed up on the vehicle LCD screen as normally they do too.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11643673, filed February 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH and depressing the brake pedal; however, the vehicle accelerated independently and failed to brake without warning. The contact assured there were no distractions that could have caused the crash.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11646831, filed March 6, 2025
Can recall 21V387 make my Model 3 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Brake defects are safety defects. California's lemon law presumption can apply after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, when the manufacturer has been notified directly.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Tesla Model 3 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Model 3 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model 3 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V387
Did the recall 21V387 fix work?
Since recall 21V387 was reported on May 25, 2021, owners have filed 299 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 52 of them (17%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 23, 2021.
Is the 21V387000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model 3 is part of recall 21V387000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V387000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Tesla. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.