2018 Tesla Model 3 air bags problems
Owners reported air bags problems in 146 complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, 8% of the complaints on file.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 146 8% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 20,000 miles 20 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 15 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 9 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When air bags problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 20 air bags complaints that report mileage, the median is about 20,000 miles, and 80% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 15 crashes, 9 injuries.
What owners wrote
I was at a stop at a red light and was rear-ended christmas eve night, causing my car to be pushed into the vehicle in front of me at the red light. I remember my abdomen hitting the steering wheel and complaining of stomach discomfort immediately following the accident (I've since gotten x-rays and will need 12+ months of chiropractor therapy). I noticed a burning smell inside the cabin, similar to the smell after firing a pistol. I figured it was the airbag, however, there was no deployment of an airbag.
I was driving on auto pilot mode when I was going to make a right hand turn when in order to slow down at the traffic ahead of me, I applied the brakes but there was no brake action whatsoever. This was not a panic situation, it was just normal braking. When the brakes failed to actuate and the vehicle accordingly wasn't slowing down, in order to avoid hitting pedestrians or the vehicle in front of me, I swerved to the right and ended up hitting a tree.
Other problems reported for the 2018 Tesla Model 3
- Forward collision avoidance 287 complaints
- Suspension 190 complaints
- Electrical system 169 complaints
- Seat belts 105 complaints
- Cruise control 91 complaints
- Brakes 90 complaints
- Steering 82 complaints
- Seats 74 complaints