YearToAvoid

2019 Tesla Model 3 Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 70 Structure & Body complaints for the 2019 Tesla Model 3, 11% of all complaints that year, with 7 crashes, 1 fire, and 6 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure was 5,752 miles. No related recalls are on file for this component.

Structure & Body complaints
70
11% of 614
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
5,752 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration in low-speed situations such as parking lots and driveways, leading to collisions with walls, fences, or other vehicles.
  • Several complaints describe front collision warning and automatic braking failing to detect parked vehicles or react in time, resulting in impact.
  • One owner reported a fire that started on the rear passenger floor and destroyed the vehicle after an alarm alert from the app.
  • Some owners describe body panels and trim, including the frunk shield panel fastener and the mid aero shield, breaking or being damaged by rain water.
  • One owner described the door handle mechanism catching skin and nail when opening the passenger door.
  • Another owner described the undercarriage composite tray absorbing water, becoming heavy, tearing loose, and dragging on the street with sparks.

When 2019 Tesla Model 3 body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 22, 2019, latest Sep 10, 2026.

2019 Tesla Model 3 structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month6Jun 2019Apr 2020Jul 2022Oct 2023Jul 2024Mar 2025Apr 2026
70 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2024 (6).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2019 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 2019 Tesla Model 3 have?
NHTSA lists 70 Structure & Body complaints for the 2019 Tesla Model 3, which is 11% of all 614 complaints filed for that model year.
Are there any recalls for the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Structure & Body issues?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this component on the 2019 Tesla Model 3.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure among reported cases is 5,752 miles.
Did the 2019 Tesla Model 3 have crashes or injuries linked to this component?
NHTSA data tied to Structure & Body complaints for the 2019 Model 3 include 7 crashes, 1 fire, and 6 injuries.
Is the 2019 Model 3 worse than other years for this problem?
The 11% share for 2019 is lower than the 2017 model year's 23% and the 2018 model year's 13%, but higher than most years from 2020 onward.

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.