2019 Tesla Model 3 problems
Owners have filed 1,075 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Tesla Model 3. Forward collision avoidance is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. After that come electrical system (9%) and lane departure (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,075 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Forward collision avoidance 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 104 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 45 and 10
- Typical mileage
- 10,000 miles 205 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 144 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 31 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 7 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 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
Among the 205 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 10,000 miles. For forward collision avoidance specifically, the median reported mileage is about 27,000 miles (17 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 104 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 45 injuries reported; 10 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2019 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Tesla Model 3 with enough data (908 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 22 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Please note that I have used the VIN of another 2019 model 3 to submit this complaint since the VIN of the badly mangled car which is the subject of this complaint is indecipherable. Here is mangled model 3 in the junkyard: [link removed] from the condition of the wreck and the bio-hazard markings it is a certainty that occupants have been severely injured or killed. The attached photograph shows that the upper ball joint has popped apart.
On 10/17/2021 my son was killed along with his passenger in this Tesla. The car was thought to be going over 100 miles an hour on a city road Coconut Point Road in Estero Florida. The car was thought to have hit a tree with the rear tire and was sent flying through the air and hit another tree and split in half. My son knew this road well as it was close to his home and drove it on his way home from work. I feel strongly that this was an acceleration issue!! He has driven this car for 2 years, so knew the car well.
Do to a large back windshield (entire vehicle roof is made out of class) I believe that the heat makes the windshield crack. I posted a video on youtube explaining how my vehicle windshield broke down by the intense heat, a person replied with the same problem.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00D000 (Electrical System, Visibility, Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the rearview camera was inoperable.