Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2018 Tesla Model 3

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

18
Open recalls
968
NHTSA complaints
13
Defect investigations
160
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

968 filed
100
Crashes
4
Fires
41
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Unknown OR Other
    168
  • Suspension
    163
  • Electrical System
    155
  • Forward Collision AVOIDANCE: Adaptive Cruise Control
    128
  • AIR Bags
    126
  • Forward Collision AVOIDANCE: Automatic Emergency Braking
    112
  • Seat Belts
    97
  • Vehicle Speed Control
    89

Recalls

29 campaigns
24V935000·TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS2024-12-17

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

RiskDriving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.

FixTesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.

24V376000·SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES2024-05-28

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

RiskA seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

FixTesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.

24V153000·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE2024-02-27

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

RiskPedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixTesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.

24V153000·FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT2024-02-27

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

RiskPedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixTesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.

24V051000·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL2024-01-30

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

RiskWarning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixTesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.

23V838000·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING:SOFTWARE2023-12-12

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

RiskIn certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

FixTesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.

23V235000·SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS2023-03-31

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.

RiskA lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.

FixTesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-835.

23V235000·SUSPENSION:FRONT2023-03-31

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.

RiskA lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.

FixTesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-835.

+ 21 more recalls. Pagination is on the roadmap.

NHTSA investigations

68 actions
EA26002·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS2026-03-18

FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

PE25012·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS2025-10-07

Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged

AQ25002·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS2025-08-20

Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

PE24033·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING2025-01-06 → 2026-04-03

Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.

PE24031·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS2024-10-17 → 2026-03-18

FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

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