YearToAvoid

2018 Tesla Model S Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems

NHTSA lists 21 Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model S, 13% of its 168 total complaints. Median mileage at failure was 15,500 miles, with 3 crashes and 1 fire reported. No related recalls are listed.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
21
13% of 168
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
15,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical suspension symptoms owners report

  • Rear suspension links and lower arms reportedly snapped or cracked apart without prior impact damage, causing the wheel to detach.
  • Cast alloy steering knuckles reportedly cracked or snapped in half, in some cases suspected to be a casting flaw.
  • Owners describe a "whompy wheel" condition where the front or rear wheel wobbles, scrapes the wheel arch, or makes abnormal noise before failing.
  • A rear suspension design issue was reported to cause uneven inside tire wear that can go undetected and lead to tire blowouts.
  • One owner reported the front suspension fractured while driving on Autopilot, causing the vehicle to pull left and strike a center divider.

When 2018 Tesla Model S suspension complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 10, 2019, latest Aug 26, 2023.

2018 Tesla Model S suspension, wheels & tires complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2019Nov 2019Mar 2020Sep 2020Dec 2020Apr 2023
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Aug 2023; peak Oct 2019 (2).

Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model S

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by Model S model year

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

  1. 20129 (15%)
  2. 201398 (21%)
  3. 201493 (25%)
  4. 2015150 (22%)
  5. 2016215 (33%)
  6. 2017111 (26%)
  7. 201821 (13%)
  8. 201910 (23%)
  9. 202018 (23%)
  10. 202132 (18%)
  11. 202221 (15%)
  12. 20238 (7%)
  13. 20242 (5%)
  14. 20252 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are suspension problems on the 2018 Tesla Model S?
NHTSA recorded 21 Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2018 Model S, which is 13% of the 168 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2018 Tesla Model S suspension issues?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2018 Model S.
At what mileage do these suspension failures typically happen?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 15,500 miles for suspension, wheel, and tire complaints on the 2018 Model S.
Have suspension failures on the 2018 Model S caused crashes?
NHTSA data lists 3 crashes and 1 fire among the 21 suspension, wheels & tire complaints for the 2018 Model S; no injuries were reported.
How does the 2018 Model S compare to other years for this problem?
The 2018 Model S had a 13% share of complaints in this area, lower than the 2016 model year's 33% share, based on NHTSA complaint data across model years.

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.