2018 Tesla Model 3 seats problems
71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the seats on the 2018 Tesla Model 3 — 7% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Component/system: The front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) in my 2018 Tesla Model 3. The vehicle is available for inspection on request. Description of the failure: The vehicle intermittently displays "Front passenger safety restraint system fault — service required]" on the center…”
filed Jul 26, 2026
“The front passenger safety restraint system is triggering an on-screen warning error that says service is required. This puts my front passenger at risk of death in the event of an accident. I have sent the manufacturer (Tesla) a request for service and received a confirmation of the errors with a…”
filed Jun 2, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Seats problems in other Model 3 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Model 3 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 Model 3 | 2 | 1% |
| 2023 Model 3 | 9 | 2% |
| 2022 Model 3 | 9 | 1% |
| 2021 Model 3 | 6 | 1% |
| 2020 Model 3 | 23 | 5% |
| 2019 Model 3 | 44 | 7% |
| 2017 Model 3 | 6 | 23% |
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.