YearToAvoid

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.

2018 Tesla Model 3 airbags complaints: complaints filed per quarter172018 Q22019 Q22020 Q42021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
142 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (17).

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.

  1. 20177 (27%)
  2. 2018142 (14%)
  3. 201984 (14%)
  4. 202030 (7%)
  5. 20218 (1%)
  6. 202212 (2%)
  7. 202318 (4%)
  8. 20248 (4%)
  9. 20252 (2%)

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%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.