You’ve seen the videos. A bright orange glow on the side of a highway, firefighters standing back, and a caption that screams about another "exploding" electric car. It's high-drama stuff. It gets the clicks. But honestly, if you're trying to figure out how many Teslas have caught fire this year, the reality is way more boring than the headlines—and that’s actually a good thing.
As of early 2026, the data is trickling in, but it's painting a very specific picture. According to tracking from groups like Tesla Fire and global safety researchers at EV FireSafe, there isn't a "fire epidemic." In fact, by the middle of January 2026, confirmed cases of Tesla fires globally for the new year are still in the single digits.
Last year, in 2025, the trend was similar. While Tesla sold millions of cars, the actual fire rate stayed remarkably low. Think about it this way: Tesla’s own safety reports, which they’ve been pretty transparent about, suggest that between 2012 and 2024, there was about one Tesla fire for every 135 million miles driven. Compare that to the U.S. national average for all cars—mostly gas-powered—which sits at one fire every 17 million miles. Basically, you’re looking at a car that’s nearly eight to ten times less likely to ignite than the one sitting in your neighbor's driveway.
The Fire Math Nobody Talks About
We need to talk about the "per 100,000" problem. People love to share a photo of a burning Model 3, but they rarely share the data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
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If you look at the stats from the last couple of years, hybrid vehicles actually hold the crown for being the most "flammable." Hybrids saw roughly 3,475 fires per 100,000 vehicles sold. Gasoline cars followed at about 1,530. And electric vehicles? They were at the bottom of the list with just 25 fires per 100,000.
Why the gap?
Gas cars are basically giant tanks of flammable liquid sitting next to a series of controlled explosions (the engine). One leaky hose or a cracked gasket, and you've got a problem. Teslas don't have that. They have battery packs.
But here is the catch. When a Tesla does catch fire, it’s a whole different beast. It’s not just a quick "spray and walk away" situation.
Why Tesla Fires Make the News (Even When They're Rare)
The reason you hear about how many Teslas have caught fire this year more than you hear about the thousands of Ford F-150s or Chevy Silverados that caught fire is simple: Thermal Runaway.
When a lithium-ion battery gets damaged—usually from a massive high-speed collision or a rare manufacturing defect—it can enter a self-heating cycle. One cell gets hot, then the next, then the next. It’s a chemical fire that creates its own oxygen. You can’t just "smother" it.
I’ve talked to firefighters who have spent 30,000 gallons of water on a single Tesla. For a gas car? They might only need 500 to 1,000 gallons. That’s why these incidents stay in the news cycle. A car that burns for four hours and requires a hazmat team is a story. A gas car that’s extinguished in ten minutes isn't.
Real-World Incidents and Recalls
Look at the late 2025 recall. Tesla had to pull back about 12,963 vehicles—specifically some 2025 Model 3s and 2026 Model Ys—because of a faulty battery contactor.
- The Risk: A loss of propulsion power.
- The Reality: While the recall was issued to prevent potential issues, it highlights that the company is watching these battery systems like a hawk.
- The Context: Most of these fixes are now handled via Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates, but when it’s hardware-level, they don't mess around.
The "Scare" vs. The Science
There’s a weird phenomenon where people think Teslas just "spontaneously" combust while sitting in a garage. Does it happen? Sure, there have been a handful of cases globally. But usually, there’s a precursor.
- Flood Damage: Saltwater is the enemy. If a Tesla is submerged in salt water (like during a hurricane), the salt can create bridges between the battery cells, leading to a short.
- High-Speed Impacts: We’re talking about the kind of crashes that would be fatal in almost any vehicle. If the battery casing is pierced, all bets are off.
- Third-Party Charging: Using "cheap" or non-certified charging equipment can occasionally stress the internal Battery Management System (BMS).
Honestly, the U.S. Fire Administration is actually changing how they track this stuff. Starting in 2026, they are moving to a new system called NERIS. This is going to give us way better data on exactly which cars are catching fire and why. Until then, we’re relying on a mix of media reports and voluntary disclosures.
Is the Risk Increasing?
Technically, the number of fires will go up as more Teslas hit the road. That's just how math works. If you have 10 million Teslas on the road instead of 1 million, you'll see more incidents. But the rate of fires—the likelihood of it happening to you—is actually trending down.
Tesla’s newer "structural battery packs" and the shift toward Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries in the standard range models are making a huge difference. LFP batteries are significantly more stable and much harder to ignite than the Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum (NCA) chemistries used in older or long-range models.
Practical Steps for Tesla Owners
If you're worried about how many Teslas have caught fire this year, there are a few things you can actually do to stay on the safe side of the statistics.
First, if you live in a coastal area and your car gets submerged in salt water—do not park it in your garage. Ever. Call a tow truck and have it inspected immediately. Second, stick to the software update schedule. Tesla’s BMS is constantly being tweaked to detect "limp" cells or voltage drops that could indicate a future problem.
Lastly, don't let the headlines freak you out. Statistically, you're much more likely to have a fire in a traditional internal combustion engine car. The technology is evolving, and the 2026 models are arguably the safest vehicles ever put on a highway.
To stay informed, you should regularly check the NHTSA Recall Database using your specific VIN. It's also worth following the NFPA’s quarterly reports on alternative fuel vehicle safety, as they provide the most unbiased look at how EV safety compares to traditional vehicles. Knowing the difference between a "sensationalized" news clip and a verified safety trend is the best way to be a responsible owner.