2020 Tesla Model 3 Suspension Problems
- Complaints
- 46about this part
- Share
- 10%of 452 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 2,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 46 complaints about the suspension of the 2020 Tesla Model 3, 10% of the 452 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 2,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Both front door at the bottom has sharp edge that slice my leg when I work out of the car. At 65 MPH on freway with minor rough surface, vehicle zig zag sway back and forth. Only on minor rough road freeway surface”
NHTSA complaint #11363371, filed 2020-10, 16 miles“Friday june 26th, 6:00 p.m. Public roads. Sunny, dry. Something snapped while driving 5 MPH at the moment I started a slow left turn. The car lurched to a halt. The right front wheel was angled left at about a 35 degrees, while the left wheel pointed straight. Tesla sent a flat bed. The truck technician reported by phone that the wheel was separated from the suspension and a Tesla bolt was available for him to temporarily hold alignment for safe loading. I understand he left a note and the bolt inside the car. I believe the bolt was part of the broken suspension. The car had 3,300 miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #11337132, filed 2020-07, 3,300 miles“Model 3 makes a very high pitch noise when turning the steering wheel left or right. It does happen when you put the vehicle in drive and stand still on hold. It doesn't happen while driving nor while in park.”
NHTSA complaint #11363279, filed 2020-10, 2,000 miles“The front suspension is failing. I have already replaced the upper control arms. Now I need to replace the bushings on compliance and lateral linksare tearing. There have been recalls for this model and year, for this issue. My VIN, is not included in the recall. I was notified of the aditional needed repairs when I had the upper control arms replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #11656828, filed 2025-04“This was not an incident. Instead I’d like to report it as a design flaw. I discovered low speed noise and got it fixed at Tesla service center. Upper control arms and lower control links have both been replaced at ~70k miles and the cost to repair was over $2k at Tesla service center in Feb 2026. Later in May 2026 Tesla published a service bulletin acknowledging this is a design flaw”
NHTSA complaint #11743946, filed 2026-06Related recalls
- 21V835000Oct 25, 2021Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Model Y and 2019-2021 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing…Covers: Tesla Model 3 2019–2021, Model Y 2020–2021
Related service bulletins
- 11020192Jun 24, 2025A firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that monitors wheel alignment over time. This feature detects changes in wheel alignment that may…
- 10203342Jul 2, 2021On certain Model 3, Model Y, and Model X vehicles, there may be a water ingress path to both front upper control arm ball joints that, over time, could possibly lead to surface…
- 10203341Jul 1, 2021On certain Model 3, Model Y, and Model X vehicles, there may be a water ingress path to both front upper control arm ball joints that, over time, could possibly lead to surface…
- 10179542Aug 14, 2020Certain Model 3 vehicles were manufactured with LH front damper assemblies that do not meet internal specifications, which may result in elevated NVH (Noise, Vibration, and…
- 10179541Aug 3, 2020Certain Model 3 vehicles were manufactured with RH front damper assemblies that do not meet internal specifications, which may result in elevated NVH (Noise, Vibration, and…
- 10173428Mar 10, 2020On some Model 3 vehicles, the LH and/or RH rear damper top mount bolts were not fastened according to internal specifications and may create noise, vibration, and harshness.
Suspension: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 7% |
| 2025 | 5 | 4% |
| 2024 | 7 | 3% |
| 2023 | 19 | 4% |
| 2022 | 10 | 1% |
| 2021 | 16 | 2% |
| 2020 | 46 | 10% |
| 2019 | 82 | 13% |
| 2018 | 192 | 19% |
| 2017 | 2 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2020 Tesla Model 3
157 complaintsOther or unknown
81 complaintsVehicle speed control
69 complaintsBrakes
48 complaintsSteering
47 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsLane departure
35 complaintsAir bags
30 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsSeats
23 complaintsSeat belts
19 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Tesla Model 3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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