Complaint volume
972 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Tesla Model 3 Complaints
972 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, grouped by component category.
972 Total complaints
100 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
34 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are suspension, unknown or other, forward collision avoidance. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 100 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 34 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 217 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 25,279 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to suspension, unknown or other, forward collision avoidance?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Tesla Model 3?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Tesla Model 3
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Tesla Model 3 complaints?
100 Crash
4 Fire
34 Injury
0 Fatality
63 Towed
19 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Tesla Model 3 complaint categories?
SUSPENSION 114
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 82
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 73
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 49
AIR BAGS 41
SEAT BELTS 37
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 34
STRUCTURE 27
STEERING 26
AIR BAGS,SEATS 20
972 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | It showed message that emergency brakes not available. It was related to wire hardness inside the trunk lid. I had to get it replaced. Tesla did not cover it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STRUCTURE | The door handles have a defect. The chrome peels off unexpectedly, outside of normal wear and tear, and may cause a deep cut to a person’s finger. It cut my son’s finger, causing bleeding. After researching, I found online that that this has happened to many other people. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STEERING | After an over the air software update this past week 2026.14.6 my Tesla Model 3 power steering has failed. EPAS shows ACTICE in service mode, calibration was successfully completed and there are no active EPAS/rack faults. Power steering assists at higher speeds but fails below 20mph. Tesla has a history of steering related software problems and needs to take ownership of the problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | SUSPENSION | Tesla model 3 2018 long range 86k miles. While driving 50mph on freeway the lower control arm link separated from the frame. No impact, no damage, and no pothole/bump. Lost steering and was able to get to side of road. When I got out and look at vehicle the control arm was disconnected from the frame. The frame showed no damage and the control arm showed no damage. The mounting holes for each here intact and no damage. Appears that bolt fell out or sheared off and the control arm disconnected. This is a safety failure and was scary. I towed to Tesla and they claim that failure was form worn parts and tolerances. I stated how could this be worn parts when mounting holes are in excellent condition. They are refusing to help with cost of repair and quoted me $2800. They are not taking responsibility and I believe that others should know of this failure. I believe I am being wronged and would like to report. Thanks. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Potential safety defect: high-voltage battery and battery management system (BMS) appear to overestimate available energy and remaining range, creating risk of unexpected 0% state of charge or loss of motive power without warning. Across 20 documented charge/discharge cycles between January and May 2026, the vehicle has consistently delivered approximately 135-150 miles of real-world range against an EPA-rated 310 miles, under routine driving conditions. The vehicle's own energy display shows observed usable energy averaging approximately 49.93 kWh -- approximately 66.6% of the rated 75 kWh pack. Tesla/BMS diagnostics report approximately 79-80% pack retention, implying approximately 58-59 kWh available -- approximately 8-9 kWh more than the vehicle's own consumption display reflects. No BMS fault code, low-power alert, or driver warning has been generated despite this persistent discrepancy. On April 22, 2026, after a drive, the vehicle was parked showing approximately 3% SOC and 7 miles remaining. Approximately five hours later, while parked and not being driven, the vehicle displayed 0% SOC and 0 miles. No fault or warning was triggered. Supporting photographs document the same low-SOC discharge cycle: vehicle at 27%/65 miles on April 20 and at 0%/0 miles on April 22. A driver relying on 3%/7 miles as a margin to reach a charging location could become unexpectedly stranded. If a similar BMS recalculation occurred while driving at low SOC, the result could be sudden unexpected loss of motive power -- a potential roadway safety hazard before the driver receives adequate warning. On May 14, 2026, Tesla Service performed a battery health review (Invoice 3000S0016915237) documenting 79% pack retention, no faults found, no further action. Test name, methodology, and whether the review evaluated BMS calibration accuracy or low-SOC energy availability were not disclosed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | The control arms on all make and models of tesla have a horrible design that all water off of the car flows down the sides of the front hood and down onto the control arm bushing. This could be a simple fix for tesla to out a boot on it to cover the bushing. The control arms start to fail at any given time. This is costing owners thousands of dollars. I have had to had them replace once under warranty and now they want me to pay 2000 since I am out of warranty. Owners with newer vehicles sometimes start to have problems within the first year. This part design needs to be recalled and all persons have free repairs. According to sources, driving with severely worn control arm bushings can lead to a fatal accident. While bushings often start as a minor nuisance, complete failure compromises the structural integrity of your vehicle's suspension. Don't wait till deaths start happening. Protect the customer and others and send a recall on this. Yiu can Google tesla control arm issues and and see over and over in videos and forums that this is a major issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STEERING,AIR BAGS | Within the last 7 days, my 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD began displaying active alerts for two separate safety system failures: (1) alert code UI_a020 / GTW_w075 — Steering Assist Reduced, stating steering may require increased effort, and (2) alert code RCM_a056 — Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Issue, requiring service. The steering alert appeared intermittently, firing at consistent times of day suggesting a possible electrical or sensor fault rather than mechanical failure. On one occasion during startup, the steering system briefly locked up before resuming normal function. No noticeable change in ongoing steering feel has been observed while driving. The passenger restraint system alert indicates the front passenger airbag and Occupant Classification System (OCS) may not function properly in the event of a collision, directly endangering any front passenger. Both issues have been confirmed by the manufacturer via remote diagnostic review, and two separate service estimates totaling approximately $4,784 have been issued recommending replacement of the steering rack, front passenger airbag, occupant classification sensor, seat harness assembly, and seat cushion assembly. Notably, the manufacturer has not physically inspected the vehicle — both estimates were generated solely based on alert codes read remotely and "AI" according to a representative. The manufacturer's own customer support system indicated these repairs may qualify for goodwill coverage, yet no formal commitment has been made. The passenger airbag and restraint system failure is of particular concern as it represents a potential inability of a primary safety system to deploy correctly in a crash event. The component is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Warning alerts remain active and ongoing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Safety Issue: Defective interior cabin camera causes Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) to disengage abruptly and without adequate warning at freeway speeds. I am a [XXX] driver. I purchased FSD capability with this vehicle in December 2018. In October 2025, I had the FSD hardware upgrade (HW2.5 to HW3) installed at Tesla's Encinitas, CA service center (B.A.R. License [XXX] ). Within days, FSD would became completely unusable due to a recurring "Cabin camera unavailable — schedule service" alert that instantly disengages the system. The disengagement occurs on the freeway at highway speed, without meaningful advance warning. As a [XXX] driver, the sudden loud alarm and loss of assisted driving is genuinely alarming — it is not immediately clear in the moment whether the vehicle has lost power or experienced a critical failure. This is exactly the kind of dangerous situation driver assistance systems should prevent, not cause. Tesla's own diagnostic confirmed the defect (Diagnostic Invoice No. XXX, November 27, 2025, Encinitas service center): "Cabin camera unavailable" alert verified Intermittent stream exit faults detected in the selfie/cabin camera Low-voltage circuit and wiring checks were normal — ruling out wiring Conclusion: fault is within the camera module itself; technician recommended replacement The defect is FSD-specific. The cabin camera works correctly for Sentry Mode, live security viewing, and all normal driving. It fails exclusively when FSD is engaged and demands sustained driver monitoring. The camera housing also becomes extremely hot to the touch during FSD use, consistent with reports from other 2018 Model 3 owners describing identical symptoms after their HW3 retrofits. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | LANE DEPARTURE | When using FSD in "chill" mode the car attempted to cross over into oncoming lane on a two lane highway. There were no oncoming cars and I overrode the car almost immediately. The car has not been inspected by anybody. No warning light, messages or other symptoms. I have a video of the incident for a Viofo dashcam installed in the car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE | The front lateral links, compliance links, and stabilizer bar link on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range failed and required replacement in January 2026. Prior to failure, abnormal creaking and clunking noise from the front suspension began appearing weeks before the repair — no warning lights illuminated at any point. The failed components were replaced by a Tesla-certified Service Center and are no longer available for inspection. The failure was confirmed and repaired solely by the Tesla Service Center; no police, insurance representatives, or other parties inspected the vehicle. I was charged out of pocket for this repair. The lateral link separation risk directly endangers vehicle safety — if a fastener loosens sufficiently, the lateral link can detach from the subframe, causing sudden wheel misalignment and loss of steering control, which could result in a crash at any speed. Tesla issued recall 23V-235 (NHTSA campaign 23V235000) in March 2023 for this exact condition on 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. My vehicle's VIN was not included in the recall population, yet experienced the identical failure mode. I am requesting this complaint be considered for recall expansion under 23V-235 and seeking reimbursement for out-of-pocket repair costs for a defect Tesla has already acknowledged in identical vehicles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Following a professional suspension repair at a Tesla Service Center, critical underbody fasteners (bolts) became loose, causing the aero shield to sag and creating a potential road hazard. Upon inspection, the service technician confirmed the bolts were unsecured. The failure of these fasteners on a safety-critical system poses a risk of parts detaching while in motion or loss of vehicle control. The service center refused to acknowledge this as a workmanship failure under the 12-month repair warranty, despite the fasteners being last serviced by their technicians. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Pantom braking happening frequently after latest software update. FSD version 12.6.4 Software version 2026.8.6 Happening on single lane road. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS | The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while opening the doors of the vehicle, the driver's side seat back unintendedly reclined and pressed down on the rear seat, causing the cushion to become deformed. The contact manually used the seat controls to return the seat to an upright position. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent and only occurred while the doors were opened. A Tesla service center was contacted; however, an appointment was not scheduled for diagnostic test. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 95,000 |
| Apr 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that there was a feature in the vehicle that allowed the front driver’s seat to automatically adjust according to the saved driver's profile. The contact stated that the driver’s seat back and forth movement to adjust to each driver's profile might have caused loose wire connection, resulting in error code: RCM_a021 (Front Left Safety Restraint System Fault) being displayed. The contact stated that the error message had been displayed intermittently. Upon investigating the failure online, the contact related the failure to the seat adjustment feature. The failure was reported to the manufacturer through the Tesla App; however, the contact had not yet received a response. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 55,000 |
| Apr 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I am submitting this report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding a recurring safety issue with my 2018 Tesla Model 3 involving unintended “phantom braking.” On multiple occasions, my vehicle has abruptly decelerated without any apparent obstacle or hazard present. These incidents have primarily occurred while using driver assistance features such as Autopilot and Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on highways and well-marked roads under normal driving conditions (clear weather, dry pavement, consistent traffic flow). The braking events are sudden and significant, creating a serious safety risk—particularly when other vehicles are following closely. In several instances, the deceleration was forceful enough that I believed a rear-end collision was likely. There were no visible triggers such as overpasses, shadows, vehicles merging, or roadside objects that would reasonably justify the system’s response. Below are details to assist your investigation: •Driver Assistance Features Active: Just cruise control, not auto pilot on these occasions •Weather/Road Conditions: Clear and dry •Frequency of Occurrence: This is an ongoing problem that has occurred dozens of times in the past few years. The March 30th incidents were only the most recent ones. •Any Warning Messages or Alerts: No This behavior appears unpredictable and difficult to anticipate or mitigate, increasing the risk of a crash. Given the potential safety implications, I respectfully request that NHTSA review this issue to determine whether it reflects a broader defect affecting other vehicles. Thank you for your attention to this matter. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES | My hard brake lines were corroded and had to be replaced on a 7 year old model 3 with 70k miles on it. The cost was over $4000 as battery has to come out and it's very labor intensive. Tesla offered no help with paying for this. They tried to say the car probably was in a very corrosive environment before I bought the car (I purchased it about a year ago). However, I've seen little to no corrosion anywhere on the car. I've decided to report this issue after talking with several lifelong mechanics who have said they have never heard of hard brake lines failing on a car with age and mileage that mine has. Also after searching owner groups I've heard from other owners that have had this same issue and it seems like a growing number especially in early model 3 cars. I was giving a warning about low brake fluid and advised not to drive the vehicle before getting it inspected. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE | The chrome trim on exterior door handle on driver side failed, peeling back to create a sharp, blade-like edge. When i tried opening the door, it sliced my finger causing bleeding and a trip to urgent care. Aparently many other consumers are facing the same problem. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving with Full Self Driving active on Sunday morning and my car came to a complete stop at a red light. Once the traffic cleared the car drove right through the red light and I was given a traffic citation by a police officer. The car did wait until there were no other cars present so I don't believe I was in any real danger but the fact that the car went through a red light while on full self driving violates the rules of the road which as we know is illegal. I have a video from my dash cam but this form doesn't appear to allow for video uploads. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS | Error code RCM_a021 front left safety restraint system fault. An issue that arises purely due to poor seat design. It is the fault of the seat pinching a wire from moving back and forth. This safety issue is an inevitability and not a one off chance. This issue is publicly noted on forms throughout all the years of this car’s production. This error results in airbags not being properly deployed in the event of an accident and the car not properly reading the passenger occupancy. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | The front lower lateral link (rearward lower control arm) fastener/bolt completely backed out and fell off the vehicle while in motion, causing the lateral link to separate entirely from the subframe. This is the exact mechanical failure described in Tesla Recall Campaign 23V-235 (Service Bulletin SB-23-31-001), however, my specific VIN was not included in that recall. The vehicle and components are currently at an independent EV repair facility and are available for inspection upon request. Photographic evidence of the missing bolt and separated control arm has been retained. The separation of the lower lateral link caused an immediate and violent collapse of the front passenger-side suspension geometry. The affected wheel was no longer anchored to the vehicle frame, causing it to fold backward and grind heavily against the wheel well. To keep the vehicle moving straight, the steering wheel had to be turned to an extreme 45-degree angle. This resulted in a near-total loss of steering control. Had this fastener failed while traveling at highway speeds instead of low speeds, it would have resulted in an uncontrollable, catastrophic collision. Yes. The problem was physically confirmed and documented by an independent, EV-certified repair facility (EVFixMe/Shocker Motors in Costa Mesa, CA) once the vehicle was placed on a lift. The vehicle was physically inspected by an independent service center. The manufacturer (Tesla) was contacted via the Tesla App; however, they refused to perform a physical diagnosis without pre-authorization of a 2,600 comprehensive suspension replacement estimate and stated the vehicle was out of warranty with no open recalls. There were no dashboard warning lamps, digital alerts, or error messages from the vehicle's computer system prior to the failure. The failure presented suddenly as a loud, painful metal-on-metal grinding noise accompanied by immediate, severe steering misalignment. Currently waiting on invoice from indy shop. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | There is no checkbox for Full Self Driving (Supervised): 3 times in the last 4 weeks, my Tesla has become impatient at long red lights and lurches out into the intersection. I am very concerned because one of those times (first time) it did not creep forward, but just took off thru the red light. I had to accelerate thru to get ahead of those cars that still had the green light. Fortunately, nothing untoward happened, except scaring me! The other two times, I recognized what was happening and put on the brakes and removed from FSD mode. I have complained to Tesla and am asking for them to verify my FSD is up to date and this issue will be fixed. Needless to say, I have stopped using the FSD (Supervised) until this is all addressed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Description of the Defect: While driving with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged, the vehicle's primary computer shuts down and reboots, causing a sudden loss of all safety features, including Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, and the driving visualization. The cameras go black while the vehicle is in motion. The Trigger: The failure is triggered by high electrical load. If the Cabin Heater (HVAC) and Seat Heaters are active while FSD is fully computing, the 12V power supply to the computer drops below critical voltage, causing a "Turbo A" processor lockup and system crash. Evidence of Defect: Service Center diagnostics confirmed the specific error code APS_w169_TurboA_SCS_LKUP (Computer Crash) occurred at the exact same timestamp as VCLEFT_a302_blowerGeneralFault (HVAC Blower Failure). This proves a common-mode voltage drop affecting multiple critical systems simultaneously. Manufacturer Response: The manufacturer (Tesla) acknowledged the logs but refused to inspect the wiring harness or ground connections, instead recommending a replacement of the computer unit. However, the failure can be mitigated by unplugging external cameras to reduce load, proving the root cause is an insufficient power delivery design (Wiring/Grounding) rather than a component failure. The computer is running at full load with the newest FSD software and it can no longer keep up with additional loads. Safety Risk: This defect causes a sudden, uncommanded loss of driver assistance and situational awareness tools (cameras/visualization) while the vehicle is maneuvering in traffic. The vehicle’s power distribution system appears insufficient to support the electrical load of the software (FSD) and the hardware (HVAC) simultaneously. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STRUCTURE | The rear doors are not equipped with manual door releases. In the event of a crash or fire the rear seat passengers would be trapped and would only be able to exit over the front seats and front seat passengers. If the front doors were damaged or front passengers incapacitated the egress for the back seat passengers would be severely impacted. If a fire would occur the situation would be exacerbated. Tesla corrected this condition in later models by installing cable releases for the rear doors. Tesla has not responded with any positive response to our request to provide an upgrade and manual rear door releases. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | SUSPENSION | 2018 Tesla model 3 front chassis subframe welded nut to the chassis is come off now left side control arm keep getting loose | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | SUSPENSION | My 2018 Tesla Model 3 started squeaking at 36k miles at the end of 2023 (5 year old) I took to the Tesla service center where they quoted me $570. The squeaky control arm issue in Tesla is well known on the internet with may forums complaining about it. Not sure if there is a safety issue but wanted to report this incase there is a pending case regarding this issue. I was happy to pay for parts but the $570 seem excessive for a 5 year car that had 36k miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |