Tesla Model 3 Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 376 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Tesla Model 3 across 10 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (189). The words owners use most often: “control arm” (26% of reports).
- 376suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 24mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 22%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.
- Control arm: mentioned in 98 of 376 complaints (26%)
- Front suspension: mentioned in 90 of 376 complaints (24%)
- Https www: mentioned in 60 of 376 complaints (16%)
- Lateral link: mentioned in 58 of 376 complaints (15%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the Tesla Model 3 at $1,900, and half of them between $1,300 and $2,400.
Based on 34 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2026), 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 suspension problems happen?
Based on 106 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 376 complaints, 24 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 6 an injury.
Tesla Model 3 suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model 3 | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2025 Model 3 | 5 | 4% | 8,434 |
| 2024 Model 3 | 7 | 3% | — |
| 2023 Model 3 | 19 | 4% | — |
| 2022 Model 3 | 10 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Model 3 | 15 | 2% | 51,543 |
| 2020 Model 3 | 46 | 10% | 2,000 |
| 2019 Model 3 | 82 | 13% | 10,000 |
| 2018 Model 3 | 189 | 18% | 20,000 |
| 2017 Model 3 | 1 | 4% | 50,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Suspension:critical fasteners; suspension:front
Model years: 2018, 2019
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.
Risk: A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-835.
Suspension:front; suspension:critical fasteners
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021
Problem: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Model Y and 2019-2021 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.
Risk: A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-003.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The owner reported a grinding noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla Service Center in [XXX], where it was diagnosed on XXX, at 47,821 miles. Diagnosis found the front suspension required replacement of the front lower lateral links (left and right), the…
Component Affected: SUSPENSION: FRONT: LOWER ARM: LATERAL LINK / COMPLIANCE LINK Description of Defect and Incident: I am reporting an issue regarding my Tesla Model 3's front lower suspension components, specifically the front lower lateral link and the compliance link. The vehicle experienced an…
There was a clicking noise that was heard as my wife (along with our [XXX] son) was driving on the freeway. She reached her destination and once she parked and tried to move out of the parking lot, she could not turn the wheel. The suspension control arm (specifically, the inner mounting eyelet and…
My suspension is the issue that was under recall 23V-235. Suspension could completely fail at any time. Currently I hear creaking when turning. Tesla has confirmed the problem but said my car is out of recall which is very narrow and should include my car
The front suspension became loose and produced a clunk while driving. The vehicle was taken in the same day. Two independent shops examined it and neither could perform the repair. One reported that a nut for the lower suspension link fasteners was still loose inside the vehicle structure and could…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Tesla Model 3s have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 376 owner complaints about suspension 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 suspension?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the Tesla Model 3?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,900 (half paid between $1,300 and $2,400), from 34 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Tesla Model 3?
The most frequent phrase is “control arm”, in 98 of 376 complaints, followed by “front suspension” (90).
Other Tesla Model 3 problems
- Forward Collision Avoidance problems (1,741)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (633)
- Service Brakes problems (561)
- Electrical System problems (560)
- Steering problems (401)
- Air Bags problems (316)
- Lane Departure problems (303)
- Seat Belts problems (228)
See all Tesla Model 3 problems.