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Buying a used 2018 Tesla Model 3? Check these 19 recalls first

19 NHTSA recalls · 1,015 owner complaints on file

This year carries a long recall list, with the heavier items being seat belts poorly attached, front suspension bolts that can come loose, unexpected automatic braking, and Full Self-Driving Beta behavior. Lighter campaigns cover the trunk cable disabling the backup camera, speedometer display and Autosteer controls. NHTSA holds 1,015 unverified owner complaints — the highest volume here — with 102 crashes, 4 fires and 44 injuries, dominated by forward collision avoidance and suspension.

Before you buy

1. Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
2. Get service records showing the seat belt attachment and front suspension bolt recalls were completed.
3. Tug-test rear seat belts and ask whether the rear seats were ever removed, given the reassembly recall.
4. Ask whether the car has braked on its own without cause, the largest unverified complaint area for this year.
5. Open recalls are repaired free at any Tesla dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.

Recalls covering the 2018 Tesla Model 3

What owners have reported to NHTSA

1,015 complaints filed for this model year, including 102 mentioning a crash, 4 a fire and 44 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.

Other model years

• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• All Model 3 recalls