2019 Tesla Model 3 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 88about this part
- Share
- 14%of 620 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 8,572miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 88 complaints about the air bags of the 2019 Tesla Model 3, 14% of the 620 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,572 miles. 11 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I am female safe driver with clean driving records, my Tesla was third car stopped at traffic light on dec 19th in the city street, and all of sudden, I strongly believe that it triggered unintended spontaneous acceleration that resulted in accident with two cars ahead of me, damaged all 3 vehicles including mine, I pushed the brake immediately & parked before all airbags in my car deployed. …”
NHTSA complaint #11300156, filed 2020-01, 4,361 miles“My car was five weeks old. While I was driving home on my commute I realize the screen had froze, and then suddenly blacked out. I thought it was a software update as I am a family that owns Tesla, but it wasn't because suddenly the ability to steer and break or compromised and the car had sped without any indication as to why. I reported it to Tesla and the earliest they could set for an appointment with several weeks later. …”
NHTSA complaint #11241215, filed 2019-08, 3,500 miles“My wife was trying to park the car in our garage when the car suddenly sped up and hit our inner garage wall. It then reversed back and hit the wall a second time. Then it automatically reversed and parked on the neighbor's driveway. Both the sterling air bag and airbag near the feet deployed. The car's front was smashed. Our garage wall and door are also badly damaged. I have asked Tesla to investigate if it was because of the autopilot taking over but have not received a response from them yet after more than a week.”
NHTSA complaint #11267131, filed 2019-10, 7,143 miles“At approximately 1800 hours on june 3 2020 the vehicle was traveling under the speed limit on a residential street. At a cross street, an SUV failed to make a stop at a posted stop sign and struck the vehicle on the right passenger rear quarter, spinning it 270 degrees and propelling it into a wall across the street from the lane of impact. The driver, the only occupant was not injured. The driver of the SUV fled the scene of the accident. Police were called and responded to the scene. A police report was filed. The car was evaluated as a total loss by the insurance appraiser. …”
NHTSA complaint #11329040, filed 2020-06, 7,000 miles“There is an error with my car's Occupant Classification System (OCS) which is giving me an alarm of Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault . Tesla only fix is to replace the OCS with what seems to be a newer version. You can tell it is a new version because they are also telling me I need to replace my airbag as my current airbag is not compatible with the new OCS.”
NHTSA complaint #11682155, filed 2025-08Related service bulletins
- 10253654Mar 22, 2024When certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles receive a different Occupant Classification System (OCS) in their front passenger seats during vehicle servicing, they may require…
- 10247400Oct 26, 2023On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat electrical harness, causing the…
- 10245515Oct 26, 2023On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat electrical harness, causing the…
- 10243084Aug 8, 2023When certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles receive a different Occupant Classification System (OCS) in their front passenger seats during vehicle servicing, they may require…
- 10234057Mar 27, 2023Certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles may need a different Occupant Classification System (OCS) installed in the front passenger seat before servicing its subcomponents.
- 10234053Mar 15, 2023Certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles may need a different Occupant Classification System (OCS) installed in the front passenger seat before servicing its subcomponents.
- 10234050Mar 10, 2023When certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles receive a different Occupant Classification System (OCS) in their front passenger seats during vehicle servicing, they may require…
- 10181263Sep 21, 2020On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat harness, causing the airbag…
- 10174931Apr 28, 2020On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat harness, causing the airbag…
- 10169819Dec 30, 2019On some Model 3 vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) signal might be affected by electrical interference in the seat harness, causing the airbag indicator to…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 2 | 2% |
| 2024 | 8 | 4% |
| 2023 | 18 | 4% |
| 2022 | 13 | 2% |
| 2021 | 8 | 1% |
| 2020 | 30 | 7% |
| 2019 | 88 | 14% |
| 2018 | 143 | 14% |
| 2017 | 7 | 26% |
Other parts of the 2019 Tesla Model 3
170 complaintsElectrical system
92 complaintsSuspension
82 complaintsOther or unknown
81 complaintsVehicle speed control
71 complaintsLane departure
70 complaintsBrakes
63 complaintsSeat belts
57 complaintsSteering
54 complaintsSeats
47 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
34 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2019 Tesla Model 3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology