Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Tesla Model 3
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Tesla Model 3 has 19 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,036 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V507000 Low Beam Headlights May Be Too Bright/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V935000 TPMS Light May Not Remain Illuminated/FMVSS 138 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V376000 Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V153000 Muted Pedestrian Warning Sound/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V051000 Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V838000 Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V235000 Front Suspension Lateral Link May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V085000 Full Self-Driving Software May Cause Crash NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V798000 Seat Belt Buckle, Anchor Incorrectly Reassembled NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V702000 Power Windows May Pinch/FMVSS 118 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V263000 Unit of Speed May Fail to Display/FMVSS 101 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V235000 Pedestrian Warning Sound May Be Obscured/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V169000 Initial Delay In Rearview Image Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V063000 Pedestrian Warning Sound May Be Obscured/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V045000 Seat Belt Chime May Not Activate/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V037000 Vehicle May Fail to Stop at Stop Sign NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V00D000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V846000 Unexpected Activation of Automatic Emergency Brake NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V389000 Front Seat Belts Not Securely Attached To B-Pillar NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 204 complaints
- Suspension 193 complaints
- Unknown or Other 175 complaints
- Electrical System 168 complaints
- Air Bags 143 complaints
- Seat Belts 104 complaints
Of the 1,036 complaints on file, 103 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 1,036 complaints, owners report 44 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $18,000–$30,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Tesla Model 3 has moderate complaints and a high number of recalls. Key issues involve the forward collision avoidance, suspension, and electrical systems. The numerous recalls suggest concerns over vehicle compliance and software reliability. While recalls have been extensive, some issues might have been mitigated through updates. The overall reliability outlook is average, with owners needing to be aware of potential software and component concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision system | Unknown | $500–$2,000 | very common |
| Suspension system | 50,000–100,000 miles | $800–$3,000 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,500 | common |
| Airbags | Unknown | $600–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Cabin air filter replacement annually
- Battery coolant system check
- Check and adjust wheel alignment yearly
- Software updates as needed
- Inspect suspension components regularly
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Malfunctioning forward collision alerts
- Unusual suspension noises
- Frequent electrical resets
- Airbag warning lights
- Unresponsive touch screen
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.