YearToAvoid

2018 Tesla Model 3 Structure & Body Problems

The 2018 Tesla Model 3 has 136 Structure & Body complaints, 13% of that year's 1,024 total complaints. These involve 16 crashes and 1 fire, with a median failure mileage of 21,000 miles, and there are no related recalls filed under this component.

Structure & Body complaints
136
13% of 1,024
Crashes reported
16
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
10
Median mileage
21,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Autopilot or autopark fails to detect obstacles or other vehicles, leading to low-speed collisions with walls, pillars, or parked cars.
  • Sudden unintended acceleration or forward lunge while parking, resulting in impacts with structures or other vehicles.
  • Autopilot fails to slow or stop behind slow-moving or stopped vehicles at low speeds, causing rear-end crashes.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly shifts out of park or neutral on its own, rolling into nearby objects.
  • A parked vehicle caught fire without being plugged in or recently driven, damaging windows and surrounding area.

When 2018 Tesla Model 3 body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 18, 2018, latest Sep 16, 2026.

2018 Tesla Model 3 structure & body complaints: complaints filed per quarter162018 Q22019 Q22020 Q32021 Q32022 Q42023 Q42024 Q42025 Q4
136 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q2 (16).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model 3

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Model 3 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20176 (23%)
  2. 2018136 (13%)
  3. 201970 (11%)
  4. 202046 (10%)
  5. 202129 (4%)
  6. 202222 (3%)
  7. 202333 (8%)
  8. 20247 (3%)
  9. 20258 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2018 Tesla Model 3 have?
NHTSA lists 136 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, which is 13% of the 1,024 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for Structure & Body issues on the 2018 Tesla Model 3?
No. NHTSA records show no related recalls tied to Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
At what mileage do these Structure & Body problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure among reported Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3 is 21,000 miles.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to these complaints?
Yes. Owners reported 16 crashes, 1 fire, and 10 injuries connected to Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
How does the 2018 Model 3 compare to other years for this problem area?
The 2018 Model 3's Structure & Body share is 13% of its complaints, higher than the 2020 (10%), 2021 (4%), 2022 (3%), and 2024 (3%) model years, though lower than 2017's 23% share.

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.