2018 Tesla Model 3 Suspension Problems

NHTSA component category: SUSPENSION · data through 11/01/2026

192Suspension complaints

18.5%Of all 1,037 complaints

#1Most-reported category

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

How suspension 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

“THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY ON AUTOPILOT CAUSING THE CAR SKID AND FALL INTO A DITCH OAT 80 MPH IN UTAH. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE…”NHTSA complaint 11300072 — filed 01/17/2020

“HERE IS A TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/60799809/PHOTOS IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION, NO AIR-BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS…”NHTSA complaint 11292206 — filed 12/31/2019

“MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/60870519 BOTH FRONT SUSPENSIONS SNAPPED OFF. NOT IN A CRASH.... WHEELS SIMPLY FELL OFF. LOOKS LIKE THIS ALLEGED "SAFETY FEATURE"…”NHTSA complaint 11291666 — filed 12/27/2019

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

Suspension complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Tesla Model 3 have suspension problems?

Suspension is the most-reported problem area on the 2018 Tesla Model 3: 192 of 1,037 complaints on file (18.5%). 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 suspension category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SUSPENSION 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.