Vehicle Data Hub

2018 Tesla Model 3 forward collision avoidance problems

Owners reported forward collision avoidance problems in 287 complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model 3, 17% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
287 17% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
27,000 miles 13 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
43 and 0
Injuries and deaths
15 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When forward collision avoidance problems show up

Forward collision avoidance complaints by mileage, 2018 Tesla Model 3 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 27,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 5 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 3 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 0 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 2 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 27,000 miles
Based on 13 complaints that include mileage. 85% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles5
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles3
60k to 80k miles0
80k to 100k miles2
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 13 forward collision avoidance complaints that report mileage, the median is about 27,000 miles, and 85% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 43 crashes, 15 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

While driving, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own and began operating without my control. Despite my attempts to steer away from surrounding traffic, the vehicle continued to self‑propel, crossed the median, and entered oncoming lanes, resulting in a head‑on collision with another car.

October 2026 CrashDeath

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at various highway speeds with the Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking, causing the vehicle to stop abruptly in the middle of the highway. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on four separate occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided.

Reported at 27,000 miles, February 2022

Other problems reported for the 2018 Tesla Model 3

Forward collision avoidance problems in other years

Forward collision avoidance problems across all Tesla models