2018 Tesla Model 3 forward collision avoidance problems
200 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the forward collision avoidance on the 2018 Tesla Model 3 — 20% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“It showed message that emergency brakes not available. It was related to wire hardness inside the trunk lid. I had to get it replaced. Tesla did not cover it.”
filed May 29, 2026
“Safety Issue: Defective interior cabin camera causes Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) to disengage abruptly and without adequate warning at freeway speeds. I am a [XXX] driver. I purchased FSD capability with this vehicle in December 2018. In October 2025, I had the FSD hardware upgrade (HW2.5 to HW3)…”
filed May 3, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) soundsCampaign 24V153000 · Feb 27, 2024
- Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle…Campaign 22V235000 · Apr 12, 2022
- Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle…Campaign 22V063000 · Feb 4, 2022
- A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected…Campaign 21V846000 · Oct 29, 2021
Forward Collision Avoidance problems in other Model 3 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Model 3 | 28 | 25% |
| 2024 Model 3 | 43 | 21% |
| 2023 Model 3 | 171 | 41% |
| 2022 Model 3 | 528 | 70% |
| 2021 Model 3 | 405 | 62% |
| 2020 Model 3 | 156 | 35% |
| 2019 Model 3 | 169 | 28% |
| 2017 Model 3 | 8 | 31% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2018 Tesla Model 3
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.