2018 Tesla Model 3 Airbags Problems
The 2018 Tesla Model 3 has 142 airbag-related complaints to NHTSA, 14% of its 1,024 total complaints for the year. These complaints involve 15 crashes and 9 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 19,500 miles, and no related recalls are listed.
- Airbags complaints
- 142
- 14% of 1,024
- Crashes reported
- 15
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 9
- Median mileage
- 19,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy during frontal or side-impact crashes despite significant vehicle damage.
- Several complaints describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking or maneuvering at low speed, followed by a crash and no airbag deployment.
- Some owners report the vehicle failing to slow down when brakes were applied, leading to a collision where airbags did not activate.
- One complaint describes the touchscreen showing an "airbag deployed" message after a rear-end collision, raising confusion about whether the airbags actually fired.
- A complaint describes injury from impact with the steering wheel after being rear-ended, with airbags apparently not deploying to cushion the impact.
When 2018 Tesla Model 3 airbag complaints were filed
First complaint May 22, 2018, latest Sep 22, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model 3
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Airbags complaints by Model 3 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
- NHTSA lists 142 airbag-related complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, which is 14% of the 1,024 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for airbag problems on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
- No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the airbag problem area on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
- Have airbag complaints led to injuries or crashes on the 2018 Model 3?
- Yes. NHTSA records show 15 crashes and 9 injuries tied to airbag complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, with no fires reported.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2018 Model 3?
- The median mileage at failure among airbag complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 is 19,500 miles.
- Is the 2018 Model 3 worse than other years for airbag complaints?
- The 2018 model's airbag complaints make up 14% of its total complaints, the same share as 2019, but higher than 2020 through 2025, which range from 1% to 7%.