2018 Tesla Model 3 Suspension Problems

NHTSA component category: SUSPENSION · data through 07/14/2026

166Suspension complaints

16.9%Of all 983 complaints

#2Most-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

Unspecified / other171 · 17.4%

SUSPENSION166 · 16.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM158 · 16.1%

AIR BAGS130 · 13.2%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL129 · 13.1%

Share of the 983 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 #2 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Tesla Model 3: 166 of 983 complaints on file (16.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

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

983 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 100 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 42 reported injuries, and none 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 07/14/2026.