2018 Tesla Model 3 Engine Problems
Owners filed 100 Engine complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, 10% of that year's 1,024 total complaints. NHTSA lists 31 crashes and 8 injuries tied to this area, with a median mileage at failure of 10,499.5 miles. No related recalls are listed.
- Engine complaints
- 100
- 10% of 1,024
- Crashes reported
- 31
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 8
- Median mileage
- 10,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Vehicle suddenly accelerates on its own while the driver is trying to park at low speed, often striking curbs, poles, fences, or other vehicles.
- Brake pedal is depressed but the vehicle continues to move or accelerate, with owners describing the brakes as feeling inoperative.
- Sudden unintended acceleration occurs while turning into a parking space, resulting in frontal collision damage.
- Airbags fail to deploy during these sudden-acceleration crashes despite significant impact.
- Autopilot is engaged in some incidents and reportedly fails to slow or deactivate before a collision.
- Some owners report the sudden movement happens repeatedly in a familiar parking spot with no clear driver input.
When 2018 Tesla Model 3 engine complaints were filed
First complaint May 4, 2018, latest Sep 6, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model 3
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine 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 engine-related complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
- NHTSA lists 100 Engine complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, which is 10% of the 1,024 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Are there crashes or injuries linked to these engine complaints?
- Yes. NHTSA data shows 31 crashes and 8 injuries associated with the Engine complaint area for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, though no fires are recorded.
- At what mileage do owners typically report engine problems?
- The median mileage at failure for Engine complaints on the 2018 Tesla Model 3 is 10,499.5 miles.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 engine complaints?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this complaint area on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
- How does the 2018 Model 3 compare to other years for this issue?
- The 2018 Model 3 had 100 Engine complaints (10% share), while later years like 2021 (127 complaints, 19% share) and 2022 (178 complaints, 23% share) show higher complaint shares in this same area.