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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

The 2018 Model 3 has 19 recalls covering seat belts, rearview cameras, suspension fasteners, driver-assistance behavior, pedestrian sounds, lighting, windows, and instrument warnings. Reviewing hardware repairs alongside software-related remedies is central to understanding this vehicle's record. NHTSA lists 1015 unverified owner complaints, including 202 in forward collision avoidance, 182 in suspension, and 168 in electrical systems. The record includes 102 crashes, 4 fires, and 44 injuries; these reports do not establish that recalled defects caused those outcomes.

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. Obtain VIN-specific completion records for all 19 recalls.
3. Verify seat-belt, suspension-fastener, and camera-cable recall repairs.
4. Ask about unexpected braking, suspension trouble, and electrical faults.
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.

When the complaints were filed

Complaints by the year they reached NHTSA. The current year is incomplete, and counts usually fall as fewer of these cars stay on the road.

Other model years

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