The 2024 Tesla Model 3 is the Highland redesign: new lights and nose, a quieter cabin with ventilated front seats and a rear screen, and no steering-column stalks. It went on sale in the US on January 10, 2024 in two trims and ended the year with four, rated from 272 to 363 miles by the EPA.
What the Highland redesign changed
Compared with the 2023 Model 3, almost everything you see and touch is new:
- Outside: slimmer headlights, a smoother nose and new taillights.
- Cabin: better sound insulation, ventilated front seats, an 8-inch screen for rear passengers, an ambient light strip around the cabin, and two wireless phone chargers.
- Controls: the turn-signal and gear-selector stalks are gone. Signals are buttons on the steering wheel and you select drive or reverse on the touchscreen.
- Performance trim: when it returned in April, it brought 510 hp, a 2.9-second 0 to 60 time and adaptive damping.
Under the skin, the refreshed car moved to Tesla's newer HW4 driver-assistance computer, and keeps the heat pump, camera-only Tesla Vision and camera-based Park Assist of the late original cars.
One thing did not survive: the federal tax credit. Tesla said the Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range lost eligibility for the $7,500 new-car credit from January 1, 2024 because of where their battery parts came from, which is part of why the lineup kept shifting.
Four trims, three launch dates
At launch you could buy only the Rear-Wheel Drive ($38,990, 272 miles, 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds) and the Long Range AWD ($45,990, 4.2 seconds). The Performance arrived on April 23 at $52,990, and the Long Range RWD on July 12 at $42,490. Those prices are before destination; Tesla adjusted them during the year.
| Trim | EPA range | Efficiency | Home AC max | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Wheel Drive | 272 mi | 26 kWh/100 mi | 7.7 kW | $38,990 |
| Long Range AWD | 342 mi | 26 kWh/100 mi | 11.5 kW | $45,990 |
| Long Range RWD | 363 mi | 25 kWh/100 mi | 11.5 kW | $42,490 |
| Performance AWD | 303 mi | 30 kWh/100 mi | 11.5 kW | $52,990 |
A few details the table can't show:
- Long Range AWD has two EPA entries: 342 miles at 130 MPGe and a "Long Range AWD-E" at 341 miles and 128 MPGe. Tesla quoted 341.
- Performance: Tesla quoted 296 miles at launch; the EPA rating is 303 at 112 MPGe.
- Long Range RWD is the range and efficiency leader at 363 miles and 137 MPGe, about 25 kWh per 100 miles.
- Battery chemistry is not confirmed in our data for any 2024 trim. The car's charge screen tells you which daily limit Tesla recommends: 100% means LFP, around 80% means a nickel-based pack.
Battery sizes are estimates, about 57.5 kWh for the base car and about 79 kWh for the others, since Tesla does not publish usable capacity.
Five recalls, including a buyback
A first-year redesign often collects recalls. The 2024 has five, against 12 for the 2023.
- 24V284000 (April 2024): some driver-seat side airbags were built without a gas-flow deflector and may deploy improperly. Service visit, free.
- 25V002000 (January 2025): a short on the computer circuit board can kill the rearview camera image. Tesla pushed an update and replaces the computer where it finds damage or board stress.
- 26V445000 (July 2026): cars built for a foreign market, without knee airbags and not meeting some US interior and bumper standards, ended up registered in the US. Tesla is repurchasing them. Run every used 2024 through NHTSA's VIN lookup before you pay.
- 24V554000 and 24V935000: hood-latch detection and the tire-pressure warning light, both fixed over the air.
- 24V284000April 19, 2024Air bags, side/window, thoraxService visit
Driver seat side airbag built without a gas-flow deflector may deploy improperly - 24V554000July 24, 2024Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchSoftware update
Hood latch may fail to detect an unlatched hood after it was opened - 24V935000December 17, 2024Tires, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsSoftware update
TPMS warning light may not stay on between drive cycles - 25V002000January 7, 2025Back over prevention, softwareSoftware update
Computer circuit board short can cause loss of the rearview camera image; OTA update plus computer replacement where damage is found (API OTA flag: false) - 26V445000July 7, 2026Structure, body, bumpersrepurchase
Cars built for a foreign market lack knee airbags and may not meet certain US interior and bumper standards; Tesla repurchases affected US-registered cars
Source: NHTSA recalls API. A recall only applies if your VIN is listed.
No crash-test stars yet
NHTSA has not published star ratings for the 2024 Model 3; its database lists the car as not rated. That is not evidence of a weak structure, only that the agency had not tested this version. The 2023 car and the later 2026 RWD and AWD both have five-star overall scores.
Owners have filed 216 complaints with NHTSA. Forward collision avoidance tops the list, followed by electrical, steering and airbag reports.
216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2024 Model 3. Most frequent areas (approximate order): forward collision avoidance; unknown or other; electrical system; steering; air bags; lane departure. Source: NHTSA complaints database.
Home charging: base RWD versus everything else
The split is simple. The base Rear-Wheel Drive accepts 32 A (7.7 kW). The Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD and Performance accept 48 A (11.5 kW). Here is what that means for a driver who covers 120 miles in a day and plugs in at night:
| Trim | Home setup | Range added per hour | Time to put back 120 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-Wheel Drive | Wall Connector on 40 A, or NEMA 14-50 | about 30 mi | about 4 hours |
| Long Range or Performance | Wall Connector on 60 A | up to 44 mi | about 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Long Range or Performance | NEMA 14-50 with Mobile Connector | about 30 mi | about 4 hours |
Every row fits easily inside a night. A Long Range owner who rarely drives long days can live with a 14-50 outlet instead of a Wall Connector; one who regularly arrives home low and leaves early gets real value from 48 A. From empty, a full charge takes about 7.6 hours for the roughly 79 kWh pack at 48 A and about 8.3 hours for the base car at 32 A. Our charging time by charger guide has the full table, and our install cost guide covers what an electrician will quote.
| How you charge | Speed |
|---|---|
| Wall Connector at 48 A (11.5 kW, 60 A breaker) | up to 44 mi of range per hour |
| Wall Connector at 32 A (7.7 kW, 40 A breaker) | up to 29 mi of range per hour |
| NEMA 14-50 outlet, Mobile Connector at 32 A | about 30 mi per hour |
| Regular 120 V outlet | 2 to 3 mi per hour |
| Empty to full, largest pack (about 79 kWh) | about 7.5 hours at 11.5 kW |
Rates scale Tesla's published Wall Connector table for this model; older cars and cold batteries charge slower. Times are estimates.
Which 2024 Tesla Model 3 to buy
- Most buyers: the Long Range RWD. It has the most range, accepts 48 A, and was the cheapest Long Range when new. It only exists from July 2024 builds.
- Snow or wet climates: Long Range AWD, giving up 21 rated miles for traction.
- Lowest price: the base Rear-Wheel Drive. 272 miles is enough for most commutes, and a 40 A circuit covers its home charging.
- Speed: the Performance, if you accept 303 miles and higher tire costs.
- You want stalks: look at the 2023 or the 2026 Tesla Model 3.
The 2025 Model 3 is the same car with the base trim dropped. Compare all of them on our Model 3 year-by-year page.
2024 Model 3 questions, answered
What changed on the 2024 Tesla Model 3?
It was the Highland redesign, the first big update since the car launched. It brought new front and rear lights, a reshaped nose, a quieter cabin, ventilated front seats, an 8-inch rear screen, an ambient light strip and two wireless phone pads. Tesla also removed the turn-signal and gear stalks, moving those controls to steering-wheel buttons and the touchscreen.
Does the 2024 Model 3 have turn-signal stalks?
No. Every 2024 Model 3 uses buttons on the steering wheel for the turn signals and the touchscreen for drive, reverse and park. Some owners adapt in a few days and others never like it, especially in roundabouts. Tesla brought a conventional turn-signal stalk back for the 2026 model year, so test drive a 2024 before you decide.
Does the 2024 Model 3 have an NHTSA crash rating?
Not as of October 2026. NHTSA's database lists the 2024 Model 3 as not rated, while the 2023 and the later 2026 RWD and AWD cars earned five stars overall. The lack of a rating reflects which cars NHTSA chose to test, not a known crash weakness, but insurers and some buyers look for it.
Which 2024 Model 3 trim has the most range?
The Long Range RWD, added in July 2024, is rated at 363 miles by the EPA and is the most efficient at 137 MPGe. The Long Range AWD is rated at 342 miles, the Performance at 303 and the base Rear-Wheel Drive at 272. All but the base car accept 48 A at home.
What home charger does a 2024 Model 3 need?
The base Rear-Wheel Drive accepts 32 A, so a 40 A circuit or a NEMA 14-50 outlet with the Mobile Connector gives it full speed, about 30 miles per hour. Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD and Performance accept 48 A and reach up to 44 miles per hour on a Wall Connector with a 60 A breaker.
Sources
- NHTSA recalls API, 2024 Model 3 (queried 2026-10-13), api.nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA safety ratings API, 2024 Model 3, api.nhtsa.gov
- TechCrunch: Tesla refreshed Model 3 on sale in US (2024-01-10), techcrunch.com
- Green Car Reports: 2024 Tesla Model 3 Highland update arrives in the US, greencarreports.com
- TechCrunch: Tesla Model 3 Performance launched (2024-04-23), techcrunch.com
- Electrek: Tesla relaunches Model 3 Long Range RWD, 363 miles, $42,490 (2024-07-12), electrek.co
- Notebookcheck: Cheapest Model 3 trims to lose tax credit in 2024 (2023-12-13), notebookcheck.net
- fueleconomy.gov: 2024 Tesla Model 3, fueleconomy.gov
- Tesla support: Wall Connector charging speeds by breaker, tesla.com
- Tesla support: onboard charger, tesla.com
Independent site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla, Inc. Tesla, Wall Connector and Supercharger are trademarks of Tesla, Inc.