2018 Tesla Model 3

1,028 complaints on file, page 1 of 52.

1. Filed Sep 30, 2026Failure Sep 10, 2026Rocklin, CASuspension

   My suspension is the issue that was under recall 23V-235. Suspension could completely fail at any time. Currently I hear creaking when turning. Tesla has confirmed the problem but said my car is out of recall which is very narrow and should include my car

   NHTSA complaint 11768084
2. Filed Sep 30, 2026Failure Sep 14, 2026Broomfield, COAir bags, Seats

   The passenger seat back Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor (Part #1920673-01-A) failed 3 times in under 22 months (Dec 2024, Dec 2025, Sep 2026), disabling the front passenger safety restraint system and airbag deployment logic

   NHTSA complaint 11768020
3. Filed Sep 28, 2026Failure Sep 7, 2026jacksonville, FLSuspension

   While operating 2018 Tesla Model 3(Odometer: ~174,489 miles)the vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure when the front suspension lateral link detached/separated from the subframe. The collapse of the right upper/lower suspension immediately rendered the vehicle non-drivable and non-rolling, Tesla quoted $4803 in customer-pay repairs, specifying complete replacement of the front subframe structure, front compliance links and front lateral links. Prior Service & Warning Symptoms Presented to Tesla:On XXX (Invoice #XXX; Odometer: 89,939 miles), I brought this exact vehicle to the Tesla Service Center in [XXX], specifically complaining of a front-end steering issue (Clicking noise when steering wheel turns right)Tesla technicians noted could not duplicate and performed no diagnostic torque checks or structural inspections of the lateral link fasteners Correlation to Known Safety Defect / Recall 23V-235 (SB-23-31-001) Safety Recall 23V-235 (Tesla Bulletin SB-23-31-001)Tesla acknowledges that front suspension lateral link fasteners on 2018–2019 Model 3s can loosen and back out over time, leading to lateral link separation from the subframe while driving. Crucially, Tesla’s defect report explicitly highlights that "abnormal noise from the front suspension when steering" is the primary early warning indicator of loosening fasteners before total separation occurs Defect Summary & Remedy Denial:We previously brought the vehicle to Tesla Service reporting the exact warning symptom front-end steering noise associated with loosening lateral link fasteners The issue was left uncorrected, directly resulting in eventual fastener detachment lateral link separation and severe consequential damage to the front subframe structure Tesla Service management refused recall remedy or goodwill coverage on the grounds that this specific VIN was excluded from the narrow VIN list for Recall 23V-235 despite the vehicle exhibiting the identical defect INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U

   NHTSA complaint 11767500
4. Filed Sep 25, 2026Failure Aug 3, 2026Mountain View, CARearview system braking, Body

   Possible ineffective recall remedy – NHTSA Recall 21V-00D / Tesla SB-21-17-008. My Model 3 received the trunk harness recall remedy in 2023. Tesla inspected the original harness, determined it was within specification, left it installed, and added the guide protector. Tesla’s recall documentation states the guide is intended to prevent further wear caused by trunk movement; if wear is beyond specification, the harness is replaced. In 2026, my rearview camera began intermittently failing. I found that I can reproduce the failure by operating the trunk and provided Tesla video evidence. Tesla has now diagnosed an internal fault in the same original trunk harness and says the harness requires replacement. This appears consistent with the safety condition addressed by 21V-00D: repeated trunk movement can damage the harness/coaxial cable and cause loss of the rearview camera. I repeatedly asked Tesla what diagnostic evidence shows this is a different failure mechanism. Tesla has not identified one. Instead, Tesla has repeatedly stated that it considers this separate because approximately 3 years have passed since the recall remedy. I asked whether this three-year distinction comes from a NHTSA requirement or written Tesla policy; Tesla could not identify one. My concern is that vehicles considered successfully remedied by retaining the original harness and installing the guide may remain susceptible to the recalled failure after additional trunk-use cycles. Original harness retained → recall guide installed → continued trunk use → internal harness fault → rearview-camera failure. I am reporting this so NHTSA can evaluate whether this represents a potential durability/effectiveness issue with the 21V-00D guide-protector remedy and whether similar post-remedy failures are occurring in other affected vehicles. Tesla correspondence and service documentation are attached.

   NHTSA complaint 11767060
5. Filed Sep 22, 2026Failure Sep 22, 2026San Mateo, CAAir bags, Seat belts

   - When I start my car, I see the following error message appear: Front Left Safety Restraint System Fault. Also, the air bag disabled alert is displayed. Since the air bag is disabled, it puts me at grave risk if I were to get into an accident. - Many other Tesla owners have reported the same exact issue (RCM_a021 Front Left Safety Restraint System Fault). - Today, I took the car into the Tesla Service Center, they had to replace the entire harness. - No other symptoms were apparent...just all of a sudden the alert appeared.

   NHTSA complaint 11766272
6. Filed Sep 21, 2026Failure May 1, 2026Union, KYSuspension

   Clunking noise when in reverse and turning.

   NHTSA complaint 11765961
7. Filed Sep 20, 2026Failure Sep 15, 2026Petaluma, CASuspension

   AMENDMENT / SUPPLEMENT TO VOQ #11763975 regarding PE26006. Following my initial report of a catastrophic lower lateral link detachment, Tesla Service Center Santa Rosa has provided a highly sanitized and misleading repair report. The official invoice completely omits the physical structural detachment and missing subframe nut, recharacterizing a severe mechanical failure as a simple 'steering alignment adjustment.' Furthermore, the technician took misleading photographs (omitting the damaged side of the vehicle or using obscuring angles). I possess dated photographic evidence of the complete link separation prior to tow-in on a flatbed, which directly contradicts Tesla's service records. This is submitted to alert investigators that field incidents for PE26006 are actively being mislabeled and obscured in Tesla's internal repair databases.

   NHTSA complaint 11765657
8. Filed Sep 19, 2026Failure Aug 6, 2026San Diego, CASuspension

   On August 6, 2026, my spouse was driving our 2018 Model 3 at low speed while making a U-turn out of The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch when she heard a clunk from the front of the car and the car felt as though it had dropped down. Steering was not affected. The car began to slow, and she drove it at low speed into a nearby parking lot, where it stopped and would not move forward even with the accelerator pressed. It had to be towed. She did not strike a curb, pothole, debris, or any other object, and there was no impact of any kind. Inspection at the scene showed that the driver's side front lower lateral link had separated at its inboard, subframe end. The link was hanging down and resting on the pavement, still attached at the wheel end. A close-up photo shows the bushing inner core with two bolt ears and empty bolt holes: no fastener present and no broken fastener remnant. The link is not bent, gouged, or scraped. The left front wheel was pushed rearward in the wheel arch and was pressed against the rear edge of the fender, which damaged the fender and a brake line. The tire and wheel have no curb rash or impact marks. The vehicle was not included in recall 23V-235, and Tesla's VIN recall lookup shows all recalls issued for it as completed. Mileage at the time was approximately 108,043 miles. The vehicle was declared a total loss and has since gone to salvage. This failure appears to match Preliminary Evaluation PE26006.

   NHTSA complaint 11765550
9. Filed Sep 16, 2026Failure Sep 12, 202682,678 milesDowney, CAStructure

   The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while reversing approximately 5 MPH, there was a loud screeching sound coming from the vehicle without warning. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that a bolt had detached from the subframe. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The approximate failure mileage was 82,678.

   NHTSA complaint 11764800
10. Filed Sep 16, 2026Failure Sep 10, 2026Green Valley, AZAir bags, Seat belts, Seats

    Vehicle Information: Year/Make/Model: 2018 Tesla Model 3 Mileage at Incident: 45,000 miles Description of Safety Defect: A sudden and persistent "Safety Restraint System Fault" / "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault" warning illuminated on the vehicle's primary touchscreen interface, indicating a complete compromise of the supplemental restraint and airbag system. Upon inspection by Tesla Service, the root cause was identified as physically broken/severed internal copper wiring within the first-row passenger seat harness assemblies. This breakage occurred purely due to the mechanical wear-and-tear of normal fore-and-aft seat tracking (including the standard vehicle "Easy Entry" setting). Because the electrical line cleanly severed, communication to the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor was totally cut off, preventing the vehicle from accurately detecting passenger occupancy or correctly configuring front passenger airbag deployment logic in a collision. Tesla has addressed this known design vulnerability internally via Service Bulletin SB-23-20-002, replacing the weak early-production parts with ruggedized components. However, because the vehicle was past its calendar warranty period despite having only 45,000 miles, I was forced to pay $1,322.00 out of pocket to restore critical safety systems. Because a severed seat harness disables essential airbag safety constraints through normal everyday use, this represents a systemic manufacturing defect that should be escalated from a Technical Service Bulletin to a mandatory Safety Recall to protect all owners. Specific Component Part Numbers Replaced: First Row Seat Harness Assemblies: P/N 1489060-02-G & 1489060-03-G Passenger Airbag Assembly Module: P/N 1077323-00-G Seat Position / Occupancy Sensor Module: P/N 1099592-00-F

    NHTSA complaint 11764720
11. Filed Sep 15, 2026Failure Sep 14, 202681,000 milesSignal Hill, CASteering

    The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving 4 MPH, the front sway bar detached from the vehicle, and the contact lost steering control. The vehicle was towed, and a service center was contacted but informed the contact that the repair was not covered because the VIN was not included in a recall associated with the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11764522
12. Filed Sep 15, 2026Failure Aug 29, 2026Morganville, NJUnknown or other

    Vehicle: 2018 Tesla Model 3 Safety Issue: The rearview camera display has failed and shows a black screen when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. This reduces rearward visibility and creates a safety concern while backing up. Recall History: My vehicle was previously repaired under the Tesla Model 3 trunk lid harness recall on March 31, 2023. The recall addressed wear and damage to the trunk harness wiring that could result in loss of the rearview camera display. Tesla installed recall retrofit components during that repair. The current failure presents the same symptom that the recall was intended to correct: loss of the backup camera image. Current Problem: In September 2026, the rearview camera again began displaying a black screen. Tesla Service has diagnosed the vehicle and quoted approximately $439 for repair. Tesla advised that the recall was completed in 2023 and that the repair warranty has expired, therefore the current repair is not covered. Reason for Complaint: I believe this may be a recurrence of the same safety-related defect addressed by the original recall. Although the recall repair was completed, the same safety condition has reoccurred. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether the recall remedy adequately resolved the defect and whether owners should be responsible for subsequent repairs involving the same failure mode.

    NHTSA complaint 11764371
13. Filed Sep 14, 2026Failure Aug 21, 2026Petaluma, CASuspension

    My 2018 Tesla Model 3 suffered a catastrophic detachment of the right front lower lateral link from the subframe, while merging on the freeway, causing an immediate risk of a collision or injury. My VIN is not listed under the Recall 23V235000, but this failure matches the exact safety risk currently being investigated by the Office of Defects Investigation under Active Investigation PE26006. The manufacturer must extend the recall coverage to this VIN block.

    NHTSA complaint 11763975
14. Filed Sep 12, 2026Failure Aug 1, 2026Dublin, CAAir bags, Seat belts, Unknown or other

    Driving tghe 2018 Model 3 with around 75K miles, the warning "FRONT LEFT SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM ISSUE" keeps popping up and staying on the center console. Tesla said car is out of warranty and have to pay upto $2000 to fix it.

    NHTSA complaint 11763805
15. Filed Sep 10, 2026Failure Sep 5, 2026Baltimore, MDUnknown or otherCrash

    Tesla Full Self Driving (FSD) failed us, resulting in a side swipe with a tractor trailer and the likely total loss of our Model 3. We were under FSD for much of our trip from [XXX] to [XXX]. We were in [XXX], traveling north on [XXX] in the right lane with a tractor trailer in the center lane. The car made a sudden, violent turn to the right. The startled driver grabbed the wheel to bring the car back to the lane center, which resulted in a major grinding noise. The driver then brought the car to a safe stop on the shoulder. It became clear the left side of our vehicle had contacted the trucks right front wheel. The truck left the scene. I believe the truck either came close to its lane right line or actually was changing lanes. The car took evasive action. However, the car failed to communicate the situation to the driver, which is the reason for filing this report. It is possible that had FSD activated the horn, both driers would have acted more appropriately and the loss of our car might have been avoided. Other possibilities are for FSD to have some method to communicate what was happening or had refused to permit the driver to bring the car into contact with the truck. It may be beneficial for NHTSA to request a copy of the car’s data before it is deleted after the car is declared a total loss; especially since there isn’t any Dash Cam video of the incident. The dash cam’s most recent video was several weeks previous and includes GB of video taken in our garage. But nothing from the trip. I believe Tesla will record this as driver fault rather than FSD’s fault. Technically, at the time of contact, the driver was in control because, from the drivers point of view, FSD acted randomly. The real cause, in my opinion, was a failure of communication and poor handoff of control. There is a Pennsylvanian State Police report and we have filed with our insurance company, but I don’t expect either to investigate FSDing’s role in this incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOI

    NHTSA complaint 11763503
16. Filed Sep 9, 2026Failure Jun 1, 2023Vancouver, WABody1 injured

    The exterior door handles are made of a thin metal top cover over a plastic door handle. The exterior door handle metal begins to peel, and does so in a manner that isn't clear to see. This has resulted in me cutting my hand on the door handle. I had to remove the metal from the door handles to prevent my family from also being injured. I asked Tesla to fix it, and they quoted $1,275 to fix the issue on all four doors.

    NHTSA complaint 11763160
17. Filed Sep 8, 2026Failure Sep 8, 2026San Jose, CASuspension

    During a routine inspection by an independent mechanic, it was discovered that the front lower compliance link (control arm) bushings are severely cracked on both the left and right sides of my 2018 Tesla Model 3. Both the compliance links and the lateral links require immediate replacement to prevent a catastrophic structural failure. Tesla Service has provided a repair estimate of $2,012.00 to fix the issue, which they are refusing to cover under warranty or past recalls. Safety Consequence: Cracked and failing compliance link bushings compromise the structural integrity of the front suspension. If these suspension links completely separate or fail while driving at highway speeds, it could cause an immediate loss of steering control, severe wheel misalignment, or a wheel detachment, creating an extreme risk of a high-speed crash. Relevance to Active Investigations: I am filing this complaint specifically to be included in the NHTSA's active Preliminary Evaluation (PE26006) regarding front lower suspension link detachments on 2018–2020 Model 3 vehicles. The failure of my vehicle's compliance links demonstrates that the front suspension components on early Model 3 production units are experiencing premature structural degradation and wear that goes well beyond the scope of Tesla's previously limited lateral link recalls (23V-235 and 21V-835).

    NHTSA complaint 11762903
18. Filed Sep 6, 2026Failure Jul 20, 2026Oneonta, ALElectrical system, Power train, Vehicle speed control

    While my wife was driving, the high-voltage battery failed and the car went into reduced power/limp mode. Tesla later determined that coolant had gotten into the high-voltage battery and caused it to fail. My main concern is that we had no warning that there was a coolant leak or that coolant was getting into the battery. There was no low-coolant warning or anything telling my wife that there was a serious problem developing. By the time the car started giving high-voltage and reduced-power warnings, the damage had already occurred and Tesla said the battery needed to be replaced. What concerns me even more was what happened after Tesla received the car. Tesla removed the battery and quarantined it in the parking lot. They told us in writing that it was removed because of coolant ingress as a safety precaution and that a specialized technician had to determine whether the battery was safe to discharge. During a phone call, a Tesla employee also told me they quarantined it because there was a possibility the battery could explode and they did not want anyone injured or anything damaged if that happened. That was alarming because my wife had just been driving this car, and afterward it sat in our driveway while we waited for it to be taken to Tesla. At no point were we told that the battery could be dangerous or that the vehicle should be kept away from people or property. We had no idea Tesla would consider the condition serious enough to quarantine the battery once they received it. Tesla later confirmed in writing that coolant ingress was the root cause of the battery failure. I would like NHTSA to look into why this condition was able to get this far without warning the driver and whether other vehicles could have the same issue.

    NHTSA complaint 11762441
19. Filed Sep 3, 2026Failure Aug 25, 2026Pittsford, NYService brakes

    The break line ruptured causing loss of hydraulic pressure. The root cause was corrosion of the break line. This caused a major safety risk as I was unable to stop/slow the car down and had to coast to a stop. This is a known problem as addressed in Tesla's service bulletin SB-26-33-001. Tesla chose not to do a recall nor inform it's customers to get it inspected. The cost to replace the break line with corrosion resistant parts (as should have been done in the original design given that these cars as sold in the north east) is significant.

    NHTSA complaint 11761910
20. Filed Aug 31, 2026Failure Jan 12, 2026San Diego, CASteering, Suspension

    This is a follow-up to a previously submitted complaint regarding the same issue. I am submitting this update to reference NHTSA's recently opened investigation into 2018-2019 Tesla Model 3 suspension failures. Previous complaint ID is 11732882.

    NHTSA complaint 11761140