2018 Tesla Model 3 Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 11/01/2026

139Air Bags complaints

13.4%Of all 1,037 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION192 · 18.5%

Unspecified / other175 · 16.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM160 · 15.4%

AIR BAGS139 · 13.4%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL132 · 12.7%

Share of the 1,037 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Tesla Model 3 overview page.

What owners report

“FREQUENT ERROR STATING "FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT", WITH A RED INDICATOR FOR THE AIRBAG ON DISPLAY. ERROR OCCURS AT ANY TIME, STATIONARY, IN…”NHTSA complaint 11231086 — filed 07/11/2019

“TESLA MODEL 3 (2018) PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE WHILE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION CAUSING UNCONTROLLABLE MANEUVER AND VEHICLE CONTROL LOSS. THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 11154132 — filed 11/26/2018

“DRIVER FELT SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING THE CAR. THE ACCELERATION HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING 90% AT…”NHTSA complaint 11097159 — filed 05/22/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Tesla Model 3 have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Tesla Model 3: 139 of 1,037 complaints on file (13.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2018 Tesla Model 3 have in total?

1,037 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 11/01/2026. Across all categories, 103 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 44 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 11/01/2026.