general problems of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 - part 2

The car started making a strange high pitched creak sound whenever I would turn the steering wheel, or go over bumps in the road. I brought the car to Tesla and they informed me that the following parts needed to be replaced. 1. Front lower compliance links (left and right) 2. Front lower lateral link (left and right) I was notified that the failure of those components was a potentially serious safety issue, and that the parts needed to be replaced as soon as possible. I had Tesla replace the parts, so the issue cannot be inspected. The problem was verified by the Tesla service center, and was not seen by any other professionals. There were no real warnings, other than the annoying squeak sound whenever the sterring wheel was turned. The sound first appeared in November of 2024.

Control arm issue and linkage cable.

The suspension on this car developed a persistent noise that worsened over time, prompting me to schedule a service appointment at the Tesla dealership. Although my car has less than 40,000 miles and has been driven primarily on well-paved city roads, both front suspensions were found to require extensive repairs, a final bill of approximately $2,100. Safety concerns: frequent suspension issues in Teslas: online research and data from the NHTSA indicate a disproportionately high number of suspension and steering complaints for Tesla vehicles. In 2023, Tesla owners filed over 260 complaints, significantly higher proportionally than Toyota, despite Tesla's much smaller sales volume. Such trends suggest potential systemic quality issues in Tesla’s manufacturing process. Simultaneous suspension failure: the need to replace multiple components in both front suspensions at just 30,000+ miles raises serious questions about the reliability and safety. A single suspension failure could be a bad luck, but simultaneous failures point to broader design or manufacturing problems. Risk of accidents: suspension failure compromises vehicle control, increasing the risk of accidents that endanger drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Transparency issues in the repair process: the initial repair estimate of $200 excluded labor costs and was revised to $400 without prior clarity. After inspection, the cost escalated to $2,100, leaving me no option but to approve the repairs without the ability to verify their necessity. Lack of transparency in repair recommendations, coupled with Tesla’s track record of suspension complaints, undermines customer trust and raises concerns about the integrity of the repair process. In conclusion, my experience highlights potential safety risks and quality control issues with Tesla vehicles. Suspension defects not only burden customers with significant costs but also pose a serious hazard on the road.

Control arm of the left front suspension system detached with no warning other than an occasional noise that started about 2 weeks before the incident, usually when turning the front wheels at slow speed. This was a potentially dangerous situation for the driver, passengers, and any other vehicles on the road as the tire could have come off at any time. Fortunately the car was being parked (0-1 mph) in a non-congested area when the control arm detached. The vehicle (total mileage approximately 42k) was towed to a Tesla service center 2 days later where the problem--first diagnosed by the tow truck driver--was confirmed by a Tesla service representative. There was no warning of any problem other than the occasional noise mentioned previously. If this parts failure had occurred at high speed on an interstate highway, it would likely have been deadly!.

Front suspension lateral link fasteners loosened, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame. I have a 2018 Model 3 and this seems to be the exact same issue that led to a recent recall with the help of the NHTSA. Recall no. 23v235000 sb-23-31-001 an expansion of previous recall number 21v-835. I noticed for months something was slightly off in the front right area of the car. I brought it into the Tesla service center, they drove it and didn't notice anything. About a month later the lateral link separated from the subframe rendering the car undriveable. I had it towed immediately.

Under-torqued lateral link bolt these bolts are known to fall out or cause damage to bushings from being installed improperly failure of the suspension would result in the suspension collapsing and the car becoming uncontrollable, with serious risks at higher speeds out of pocket repair has been made by Tesla component has been inspected and tightened to spec no warning sings, other than loud, clunking noises at 40k miles on smooth roads, this is not a driver issue, but a manufacturer assembly issue. They already have a recall for other vins in other years, but I believe this should be expanded to more vins and years, as this appears to be a common issue.

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while making a right turn he observed a loud bang and the vehicle came to a stop. The contact stated that he observed bolt left lateral link of the suspension was hanging with boldt detached an the second bolt completely missing. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the left lateral link suspension subframe, steering rack, and left finder needed to be replaced. The vehicle wa not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v235000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,976.

I was called told suspension issue unrelated to accident. Sounds like a recall from the same year and same model. Could it be under this recall? suspension: front recall date 2023-03-30 recall no. 23v235000 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. Recall consequence a lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash. Recall action 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 (tel:1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is sb-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous re call number 21v-835.

On [xxx], I started driving to work when I heard an click from my front wheel. The car was driving without any problem. After a while when making a u-turn, the car front wheel got completely locked with a "grinding sound" and I lost control of the car. Fortunately, it was at low speed and I just stopped driving, if it was at high speed, it could've been a horrible situation. I had to park my car, call Tesla and tow the car to them as it was not drivable. After initial evaluation, they said the bolts of the right suspension lateral arm were not only loose, but detached and fell off, so there was physical locking between the wheel and the lateral arm. Also the bolt attachment site at the subframe was completely worn out so they needed to change the whole subframe and both lateral arms. Beside a clear recall from Tesla models 3/y made between 2018-2020 about the exact same issue, and this event being for the same exact problem, Tesla keeps not appreciating that and says that recall is gone. Tesla says the loose component will be audible before it completely separates, but it was not in my case. Looking at people's posts in public media, I strongly believe Tesla is ignoring this life-threatening deficit in these cars and models and this can put the lives of many drivers at risk. While I paid out of pocket for repairs, I'm more concerned about the safety of driving my and similar cars at the moment, so I request adequate investigation. Here is some evidence: [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] . [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The front suspension began having grinding noises. This was especially pronounced during turning at low speeds. At 58k miles. Tesla charged for having a tech ride along. They then did a front suspension investigation and said the following parts all were damaged and required replacement. Lower compliance links lower front suspension links lateral links subframe assembly it would be consistent with the following recall on the bolt which attaches the lateral link to the subframe [xxx] the make, model and manufacture time align with the recall. Tesla did not provide the damaged parts. Cost was in 4982. 91 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

1. I had my car for only 6 years, and the main monitor would randomly go black. I have to do multiple hard resets to get it to work again. 2. I'm getting a front left safety restrain system fault, on a car that I had only for 6 years. Compared to my prius that I had more than 10 years, which I had no problems at all, Tesla is junk. 3. Front suspension is squeaking when making turns at slow speeds. Review of youtube indicates that this is a very common problem. Tesla should fix this for free instead of charging $800.

During the first 5 years of ownership and while under warranty I experienced many creaks in the suspension that did not sound normal. I took it to the Tesla service center many times but was often unable to reproduce the sound when needed and told there was nothing they could do. When a technician did finally hear the sound, Tesla resealed the ball joints at no cost. This was a short-term fix and the problem persisted. After doing some research on my own I have found that this is a known defect in my car model along with the control arms often failing which can cause loss of control of the car. I am now over a year past my warranty and the control arm did in fact fail at 46,000 miles. I experienced a loud creak/rubbing sound when driving over any uneven surface. This happened overnight and was not due to any incident. When I brought the car for repairs and inquired about all of this I was told that this is normal wear and tear and that because it is such a heavy car it is not an unusual repair. I pressed the technician sharing the information I had researched and he said that he would not charge me for the labor. Because this is a known defect and I have read about many owners having to replace the control arms multiple times (often at very low mileage), I continued to argue for no cost to me which was finally granted. That being said, Tesla definitely knows it has a defective product and is doing everything it can to make owners responsible for any cost.

Concern: suspension noise - what location is the noise coming from? front. Suspension or steering. What best describes the issue? noise from suspension when driving on uneven roads. Repair notes: inspected front suspension for activity 01 (front suspension noise). Found torn bushings on front lateral links and compliance links. Heavily torn on lh side. Safety concern. Both lh and rh front lower compliance link and lateral links replacement recommended. Wheel alignment required for lateral link replacement.

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle for service, the contact was made aware that the front suspension lateral linkage bolt had detached and that the bolts were damaged. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v235000 (suspension); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

The suspension: the control arms and lateral links suddenly stopped working. No trauma to car. Car only has 25, 000 miles. Very dangerous as car and steering could have stopped working suddenly and cause death and an accident. No warning lights went on at all. Only a sudden grinding and clanking sound. I had to pay over $2000 out of pocket to repair and I had to wait a full month before they were able to diagnose and repair it. It was diagnosed and repaired by a Tesla dealer.

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound underneath the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The front passenger restraint message was displayed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v376000 (seat belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front lower link was tearing. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Front control arms are indicating loud noises suspected to be failure of these components. The vehicle handles poorly at speeds over 35 mph as a result. I contacted Tesla and they were to schedule a service appointment back in may but it hasn't happened. The internet shows this to be a very common issue with selected recalls for these components. I never received a recall notice. My car is out of warranty for both mileage and length of time.

My car began making a loud creaking noise that was palpable in the gas pedal on turns, especially when turning into an incline. I requested service from Tesla who gave me an appointment approximately a month after my request. The noise grew louder and more frequent so I messaged service again to make sure the car was safe to drive and see if an earlier time was available. They replied that yes it was safe and no there was no earlier time. Soon thereafter I pulled into a parking spot and heard a very loud noise from the front left and got out to find the left front wheel bent inward and support components hanging from the bottom of the car in contact with the pavement. Per Tesla service's report, "front suspension damage and driver side front finder damage. . . Left front strut damage, front sub-frame assembly damage, lower lateral links damage, aero shield is damaged, and both front lateral and compliance link brushings torn. " recommend to replace front suspension lower lateral and compliance links, both front upper control arms, left front strut, front sub-frame assembly and perform four wheel alignment. Steering rack feels harder than normal while turning on the lift. Recommend to replace steering rack assembly" the technician stated that this appeared to be due to "collision damage". The car was hit while parked a year ago, but a Tesla-authorized collision repair facility did not identify damage to any of these components at the time of repair. The quote for repair currently is $7374. 47.

The first time was rattling and squeaking from front driver's side wheel. It got progressively worse so I took it in and they replaced the control arms. About 10 months later the rattling is back. This time Tesla says it's a different problem. I need to replace the lateral links, the compliance links and get a wheel alignment.

My car began producing very loud creaking noise at low speed. I brought the car into a Tesla service center and the technician said that this was a well known issue with the upper control arm of the front suspension. He mentioned he performs this repair every day. I was given an estimate of approximately $200 to repair the suspension. I later receive an updated estimate of $1,850. Tesla states there was extensive damage to the front suspension. In addition to the upper control arms; the compliance and lateral links of the front suspension were torn. The technician confirmed that the torn components posed a safety risk. This was shocking as the car only had 33,500 miles on it. I asked about the expected wear life of these components. Tesla was unable to provide me with an answer. Later I was reading discussions of this issue on an owner's forum. Many owners report this issue and have replaced their front suspension two or three times only to have the issue reoccur. It appears that Tesla knowingly sold vehicles with defective components, creating a safety issue; and have placed the burden of repairing and replacing these components on consumers.

I am filing this complaint in direct relation to NHTSA preliminary evaluation pe26006 regarding Tesla front suspension lower lateral link failures. I am the owner of a 2018 Tesla Model 3. On March 29, 2024, at approximately 101,728 miles, my vehicle experienced a severe suspension issue. The vehicle began producing a loud, frequent squeaking and rattling noise originating from the front passenger-side wheel area while driving under 40 mph. Due to the clear mechanical risk and safety concerns associated with a suspension failure, I brought the vehicle to the Tesla service center in bloomington, IL. Tesla technicians diagnosed the problem and confirmed a failure in the front suspension. The repair required the complete removal and replacement of both front lower lateral links (Tesla part number: 1044341-00-e) and accompanying hardware. Because the vehicle was past its standard warranty mileage, I was forced to pay $1,291. 75 out of pocket for the total repair, which included $583. 68 explicitly for the lower lateral link parts and associated labor/alignment. While my lower lateral link did not completely separate while driving at high speed, the component failed prematurely and exhibited the exact structural degradation currently being investigated by the NHTSA office of defects investigation. I have retained the official Tesla service invoice (invoice # 3000s0009697475) to verify this failure, the diagnosis, and the out-of-pocket repair costs.

Suspension bushings failing after 40,000 miles. There is ample evidence online that Tesla's have serious suspension and steering issues, just do a search for Tesla whompy wheels. In china the government cracked down on Tesla and required a physical recall and replacements of defective parts. Why is the us not protecting drivers the same way the government of china is? please issue a recall on Tesla suspension and steering issues. Tesla is quoting us $1,300 to repair a suspension with 40,000 miles on it. The attached invoice does not show their quote, they deleted the quote when we told them no. We cannot afford this repair at this time but this is a serious safety issue on a low mileage car and I am disappointed that NHTSA is not requiring Tesla to fix this obvious defect.

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that on several occasions while making left or right turns, there was a loud clanking noise emanating from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the lower control arm bushings had deteriorated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several months later where it was diagnosed that the bushings and one of the well nuts had sheared off, and the subframe needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Front control arm and ball joints have been replaced twice for the same issue and I have looked into a bunch of message board groups and it's a common issue. Ball joints and control arm wear and rust abnormally and unusually fast. It happens about every 2 to 2. 5 years.

Left and right upper control arms failed, as did both front lower lateral links. . Read more...

The front right lower control arm, sub frame, and bolt(s) failed causing unsafe driving conditions while myself and my kids were in the car. There is a recall on this part for many of the exact same year, make, and model as my car: NHTSA campaign 23v235000. Tesla recall sb-23-31-001 (info pulled from ntsb site). My VIN wasn’t on the recall, but there is clearly an issue, so I was forced to pay for this. Please add my VIN so I can be reimbursed and also get the other side repaired for safety reasons.

Full service history is detailed below. Since purchasing the Model 3 in April 2018, we have had three different instances of issues with control arms/suspension system. The most recent instance occurring this week (February 12, 2024) required the whole suspension system to be replaced with only 63,900 miles on the vehicle. The suspension system should not need replacing on a vehicle with only 63,900 miles on it. ?we have now had to pay Tesla $1,357. 57 to continuously fix the issue with the suspension system on a car that is not even 6 years old with less than 64,000 miles on it. During an interaction with a Tesla technician for the second instance noted below, we were told that Tesla undersized the control arm leading to failures. He commented that they replace control arms on Model 3s on nearly a daily basis. This is clear negligence by Tesla and we would urge the ntsb to take immediate action. I know we are not the only Tesla Model 3 owners that have experienced control arm/suspension issues. Car purchase date: 4/7/2018, ~25 miles on vehicle service visit 1 on 7-23-2021 odometer 42,790 cause for visit: creaking noise when turning or going over bumps items replaced: 1) front upper control arm left parts = $0 (under warranty) labor = $0 (under warranty) service visit 2 on 8-25-2022 odometer 51,321 cause for visit: creaking noise when turning or going over bumps note: was told by service technician that Tesla undersized the control arm leading to failures. Commented that they replace control arms on Model 3's on nearly a daily basis. Items replaced: 1) front upper control arm right parts = $92. 48 labor = $0 service visit 3 on 2-12-2024 odometer 63,898 cause for visit: car violently shudders when turning and felt like the front end side was going to collapse one time on a turn items replaced 1) 2x lower lateral link front - 2) 2x lower compliance link - 3) front upper control arm left parts = $1019. 99 labor = $245. 10.

Car was making clunking sound, so made an appointment with service center. Before appointment, clunking sound stopped. Around the same time the clunking stopped we found a bolt in the driveway. Took into service and was told a bolt was missing from the lower lateral link which sounds quite concerning. I'm told by others had both bolts fallen out the wheel would have tipped inward or outward and damaged the fender and possibly caused an accident. I searched recall notices and I found recalls and/or bulletins with the same problem in similar but not the same VIN range as our vehicle and have read of others with similar problems not covered by recalls. There had been no previous work done on the front suspension.

Clunk and popping sound while driving, especially while turning the wheel or going over bumps in road. Maneuverability and control of vehicle felt impacted which could have resulted in an accident, damage to property, and injury and/or death of people. The issue was reproduced at the vehicle's service center and identified as a lose bolt that connects the front suspension lateral links to the subframe. This issue sounds very similar to a previous recall for the same make, model, and year of this vehicle, but the VIN for this particular vehicle was not included in that recall.

When seated in my car, I turned the steering wheel and I heard a clunk noise by the driver side. After trying to turn it back, my car dropped and I checked outside and it looks like something related to the axle or arms caused the issue. My axle seems to have separated and fell off and a bolt came off. This is a safety issue and I could’ve died if I was driving at higher speeds like on a highway.

This vehicle has had steering squeaks for a really long time. I've had ball joints sealed, control arms replaced and now lateral links replaced for damaged bushings. This has cost me a significant amount of money and the bushings show tears that could have resulted in loss of control.

My steering wheel on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 long range, began to groan louder and vibrate periodically when the steering wheel was turned, especially at lower speeds. At speeds roughly under 50 mph, the front wheel fender area would vibrate frequently, and more often when I encountered speed bumps or dips in the pavement surface. I contacted Tesla early 2024 through my Tesla app, explained what I was experiencing. Tesla determined I may set a mechanical appointment for 01/14/2024 with a "repair estimate" that was approximately $175. 00. Upon preview by the service-intake representative (I do not remember name), he pushed down on my front fender area, heard the "groan" and informed me that my vehicle's issue was "very common and easily correctable, that should not cost me more than $200” in his estimation. A couple hours after dropping off my car, I got a call from another representative from the berkeley Tesla service center, informing me that the damage was more extensive and would be approximately $2100 (labor included), which involved a broken control assembly, replacing front upper control arm assembly, right hand and left hand, front lower compliance link assembly right and left sides, lateral lower front links right and left sides, an alignment, and various bolts & nuts parts. . Or if I choose to not move forward with repair, I can come back to pick up my vehicle without repair costs. On the phone, I brought up that I read the NHTSA and Tesla issued a recall on some vehicles within the same year as my vehicle, however, I was informed over the phone, since I was not notified nor was "on the list," I was not covered. I was very concerned with vehicle operating safely so I paid for these repairs out-of-pocket. If my front suspension failure / safety matter is very similar to over 400 Tesla recalled vehicles whose vehicles experienced the same issues, I am hopeful my vehicle can be included in this matter and be reimbursed for my paid repairs.

This seems to be related to NHTSA campaign number: 23v235000. My front right hand lateral link bolt managed to back itself out and broke off the nut that contains the bolt. This is confirmed by Tesla service center in burbank. This is a huge safety risk as the front end was not properly fastened and at highway speeds could have caused an accident risking injury and death. The only warning of the issue was a knock sound being heard when the car is turned fully at slower speeds. There was also a slight rattle heard while driving over uneven roads. The result was an out of pocket charge of $3000+ to the car owner. The car was never included in the original recall or the subsequent expansion of the recall. Clearly the issue is more wide spread and should be fixed by Tesla.

Front suspension components need to be replaced due to loud creaking noise, vehicle is out of warranty and has only 42687 miles. There are several bulletins on related suspension issues, sb-18-31-005 sb 20-31-006. Testa did replace the controls arms in this car on 09/09/2021 but it seems like the same defective parts were used. They replaced defective parts under warranty with the same type of defective parts but are refusing to warranty the repair since their parts only have a 1 year warranty.

At just over 50,000 miles, my Model 3 experienced a failure of its upper control arm on the drivers front wheel; the suspension was exhibiting loud creaking noises over bumps and road imperfections. While Tesla refers to this issue as "noise, vibration and harshness" and has previously applied a service bulletin to my vehicle where sealant was applied to prevent water ingress into the joint, continued driving on a failing component as critical as the suspension could cause an accident. Furthermore, they consider the repair something the customer has to pay for. My vehicle is currently sitting at Tesla service with no feedback as to the final cost of repair or even when they will complete the repair.