Lemon Law Check › 2018 Tesla Model 3
Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 973 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Tesla Model 3:
| Electrical system | 143 complaints |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 130 complaints |
| Air bags | 112 complaints |
| Unknown or other | 107 complaints |
| Forward collision avoidance | 92 complaints |
| Steering | 76 complaints |
"The nhtsa recently forced tesla to perform a "recall" including an over the air update that made changes to the tesla full self driving features. before the recall i felt very safe driving my tesla on fsd mode. after the update my car feels much less safe with an almost expone…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2023
"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 snapped apart. the cast alloy lower suspension arm has broken in half. this is clear evidence of a casti…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2019
"Front suspension components needed to be replaced, vehicle was out of warranty and had only 43000 miles. these parts should last for much longer the 4 years and 43000 miles. no incident, but car squeaked at all speeds. repair cost was $1600"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2023
| Electrical system:adas:autonomous/self driving:software 27/01/2022 · 22V037000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle… |
|---|---|
| Electrical system:software 01/02/2022 · 22V045000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As su… |
| Seat belts 25/05/2021 · 21V389000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2019-2021 Model Y vehicles. One or both fasteners that secure the front seat shoulder belt to the b-pillar may not be properly attached. |
| Electrical system:wiring: rear compartment/trunk 21/12/2021 · 21V00D000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling all 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles. The rearview camera cable harness may be damaged by the opening and closing of the trunk lid, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying. |
| Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: camera 29/10/2021 · 21V846000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected act… |
| Electrical system:software 04/02/2022 · 22V063000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure … |
Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.
If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Model 3 has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.
Check My Model 3 — Free →Based on 973 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 are electrical system, suspension, air bags.
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the 2018 Tesla Model 3. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.
A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Model 3 has had electrical system or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.
Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.