Tesla Model 3 Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 316 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Tesla Model 3 across 10 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (143). The words owners use most often: “safety restraint” (50% of reports).
- 316air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 63mention a crash
- 36mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Safety restraint: mentioned in 157 of 316 complaints (50%)
- Front passenger: mentioned in 138 of 316 complaints (44%)
- Occupant classification: mentioned in 41 of 316 complaints (13%)
- Rcm A056: mentioned in 30 of 316 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the Tesla Model 3 at $1,500, and half of them between $1,300 and $1,950.
Based on 20 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2023–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 38 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 316 complaints, 63 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 36 an injury.
Tesla Model 3 air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model 3 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2025 Model 3 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2024 Model 3 | 8 | 4% | 14,591 |
| 2023 Model 3 | 18 | 4% | 10,447 |
| 2022 Model 3 | 13 | 2% | 38,000 |
| 2021 Model 3 | 8 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Model 3 | 30 | 7% | 38,500 |
| 2019 Model 3 | 86 | 14% | 8,572 |
| 2018 Model 3 | 143 | 14% | 19,500 |
| 2017 Model 3 | 7 | 27% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Air bags:knee bolster; structure:body:bumpers
Model years: 2024
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
Risk: A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 5, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or [email protected]. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
Air bags:side/window:thorax
Model years: 2024
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling one 2024 Model 3 vehicle. The driver seat side air bag module was assembled without a deflector that directs gas flow during deployment.
Risk: Without a deflector, the air bag may deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Tesla service replaced the side air bag, free of charge. The affected vehicle was repaired April 12, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-13-001.
Air bags:side/window:curtain
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2023
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021, 2023 Model 3 vehicles. The left and/or right side curtain air bag may have been improperly secured to the roof rail, which could result in a twisted air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Risk: A twisted side curtain air bag may improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury or occupant ejection during a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service will inspect and realign the left and right side curtain air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-006.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2019 Tesla Model 3 (approx. 95,000 miles) displays a persistent 'Front passenger safety restraint system' alert. The car drives normally and there has been no crash, fire, or injury. Tesla Service's estimate lists $631.60 for the alert diagnosis, $458.50 to replace the front passenger seat…
"Subject vehicle (2022 Tesla Model 3, VIN: [XXX]) was deployed for commercial rideshare passenger transportation by fleet operator Hertz/Uber with active catastrophic life-safety system failures. Onboard Tesla Service Mode telemetry confirmed: (1) Restraints Control Module (RCM) is powered OFF with…
The passenger seat back Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor (Part #1920673-01-A) failed 3 times in under 22 months (Dec 2024, Dec 2025, Sep 2026), disabling the front passenger safety restraint system and airbag deployment logic
On September 22, 2026, my 2019 Tesla Model 3 was involved in a very low-speed front collision. The Tesla Vehicle Data Report records the front collision event at approximately 23:21:26.933 and shows vehicle speed of approximately 2â3 mph at the time of the recorded collision. Despite the…
- When I start my car, I see the following error message appear: Front Left Safety Restraint System Fault. Also, the air bag disabled alert is displayed. Since the air bag is disabled, it puts me at grave risk if I were to get into an accident. - Many other Tesla owners have reported the same exact…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model 3s have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 316 owner complaints about air bags for the Tesla Model 3. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Tesla Model 3 air bags?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the Tesla Model 3?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,500 (half paid between $1,300 and $1,950), from 20 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Tesla Model 3?
The most frequent phrase is “safety restraint”, in 157 of 316 complaints, followed by “front passenger” (138).
Other Tesla Model 3 problems
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (1,741)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (633)
- Electrical System problems (562)
- Service Brakes problems (561)
- Steering problems (402)
- Suspension problems (376)
- Lane Departure problems (303)
- Seat Belts problems (228)
See all Tesla Model 3 problems.