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What 434 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Tesla Model 3 Bev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (434)Crash / fire / injury (57)Driver assistance (154)Speed control (68)Brakes (47)Steering (45)Electrical system (40)Suspension (38)Lane Departure (34)Airbags (29)Visibility & wipers (28)Seats (23)

38 of 434 complaints match · Suspension · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Feb 20, 2021Suspension

HERE IS A 2020 TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/39123018?TENANT=US&ROWNUMBER=1 THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS. THE WHEEL IS DISPLACED BACKWARD SO THAT THE TIRE IS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME AND THE BATTERY. THE TREAD ON THAT TIRE IS WORN AWAY WHICH IS AN INDICATION THAT IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING AND BEFORE THE WHOLE SHEMOZZLE TURNED TO FECULENCE. THIS IS NOT GOOD. THIS IS NOT GOOD AT ALL. IF IT IS NOT TOO MUCH BOTHER FOR YOU WOULD YOU MAKE INQUIRIES INTO WHY TESLA CHOOSES TO MAKE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OUT OF CHEESE. THANK YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11397146

Feb 9, 2021SteeringSuspensionCrash

HERE IS A TERDSLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/38998703?ROWNUMBER=0 THE FRONT WHEEL AND SUSPENSION HAVE SNAPPED OFF. BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE UPPER STEERING KNUCKLE BALL JOINT HAVE SIMPLY POPPED APART. IT IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS TO BE THE RESULT OF CRASH DAMAGE.. THE WHEEL AND TIRE ARE UNDAMAGED. TESLA BALL JOINTS ARE A LOAD OF OLD BALLS. GOOD HEAVENS TO BETSY WHY WON'T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? YOURS IN DISGUST. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11395456

Jan 28, 2021SteeringSuspension

HERE IS A TERDSLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/38868112?ROWNUMBER=3 THE FRONT LEFT HAND SUSPENSION HAS FALLEN TO BITS. THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM (MADE FROM CAST MONKEY METAL) HAS SNAPPED LIKE A PRETZEL. THIS IS NOT COLLISION DAMAGE. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE BODYWORK AND NO AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. THIS IS SIMPLY BAD MANUFACTURING. TESLAS ARE UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11390525

Dec 23, 2020Suspension

THIS IS MIND BOGGLING! HERE IS A 2020 MODEL 3 TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37712955?ROWNUMBER=3 IT HAS NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION, NO AIR-BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT TO THE BODYWORK. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS SIMPLY FALLEN TO BITS. ALL THE BALL-JOINTS HAVE POPPED APART AND EVEN THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED IN HALF. AND MUSK CLAIMS THAT THIS IS THE SAFEST CAR IN THE WORLD! PIGS BOTTOM! HAVE A GREAT DAY AND BE SURE TO BAN THESE JUNKHEAPS FROM THE HIGHWAYS. THANKS KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11384742

Dec 1, 2020SteeringSuspension

TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.AUTOAUCTIONMALL.COM/USED-CARS-FOR-SALE/2020-TESLA-MODEL-3-CO51960570 FRONT WHEELS AND SUSPENSION FALLEN TO BITS. TOP BALL JOINT POPPED APART.. LOWER BALL JOINTS BOTH SNAPPED. STEERING ARM AND LOWER FORE-LINK BUSTED. BAD DAY AT THE TENT FACTORY? PLEASE GET THESE LETHAL CONTRAPTIONS OFF THE ROADS. THANK YOU. CITIZEN KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11377242

Oct 24, 2020SteeringSuspension

HERE IS A 2020 TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37237764?ROWNUMBER=40 THE FRONT WHEEL HAS GONE WHOMPY. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE POPPED OUT BUT WORSE STILL THE STEERING ARM HAS SNAPPED OFF FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE. LOOKS LIKE THE USUAL FRACTURE OF A LOW QUALITY ALLOY CASTING. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL CRASH. ELON MUSK BLAMES CHINESE DRIVERS FOR DRIVING IT WRONG. THIS ONE IS IN MIAMI NOT CHINA. PERHAPS ELON WILL BLAME THIS ONE ON A LATINO ALSO DRIVING IT WRONG. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION. I URGE YOU WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE. THANK YOU KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11366213

Oct 16, 2020Suspension

HERE IS A TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/35210670/PHOTOS/2020-TESLA-MODEL-3-NJ-SOMERVILLE IT HAS TRAVELLED JUST 200 MILES SINCE LEAVING THE TESLA TENT. IT IS LISTED AS HAVING SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE FRONT OF THE CAR HAS DROPPED SO FAR THAT THE WHEELS ARE JAMMED UP IN THE WELLS. IT IS INSANE AND LUDICROUS THAT THESE CARS DO NOT HAVE LIMIT STOPS ON THE AIR SUSPENSION SO THAT A SIMPLE AIR-LEAK DOES NOT LEAD TO A DISASTROUS COLLAPSE. IN THIS INSTANCE THERE WAS NOT A MAJOR CRASH BUT THAT IS ENTIRELY DOWN TO LUCK. I HOW MANY DEAD AND MANGLED PEOPLE DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GROUND THESE DEATH-TRAPS? YOURS IN DISGUST KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11364732

Oct 16, 2020Suspension

YET ANOTHER TESLA MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD WITH A POPPED OUT BALL JOINT. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/42415580/PHOTOS/2020-TESLA-MODEL-3-NJ-TRENTON THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS A CLEARLY DEFINED GOUGE AROUND THE FULL CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. THIS PROVES THAT THE SUSPENSION BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING ALONG AND WAS NOT THE RESULT OF A COLLISION. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE CASE OF MASSOUD V TESLA HTTPS://WWW.PLAINSITE.ORG/DOCKETS/3Z2ZFTGN3/SUPERIOR-COURT-OF-CALIFORNIA-COUNTY-OF-LOS-ANGELES/MENA-MASSOUD-V-TESLA-MOTORS-INC-A-DELAWARE-CORPORATION/ THE INSURER PROVED THAT THE CRASH WAS THE RESULT OF SUSPENSION FAILURE. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CRASH SCENE PROVED THAT THE SUSPENSION SNAPPED AND THE BASE OF THE CAR LEFT SKID MARKS ON THE ROAD BEFORE IT FINALLY COLLIDED WITH A GUARD-RAIL. THIS CASE WAS SETTLED OUT OF COURT AND TESLA INSISTED UPON THE USUAL NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT PLEASE DEMAND THAT TESLA RECALL THESE DEADLY CARS. THANK YOU. KEEF.

NHTSA ODI 11364744

Oct 8, 2020SuspensionBody & structure

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 ODI 11363371

Oct 7, 2020SteeringSuspension

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 ODI 11363279

Aug 28, 2020SteeringSuspension

HERE IS A 2020 MODEL 3 IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37237764?ROWNUMBER=6THE FONT SUSPENSION GIBLETS HAVEALL FALLEN TO BITS. BOTH FRONT WHEELS ARE SPLAYED OUT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WHICH WOULD PROBABLY MAKE IT A LITTLE HARD TO STEER. IWOULD YOU PLEASE ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL FOR THESE TENT BUILT DEFECTIVE DEADLY CONTRAPTIONS. THANK YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ODI 11351731

Jul 2, 2020SteeringSuspensionWheels

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. DURING MY OWNERSHIP, I NOTICED A LIGHT CLICKING (OR CLUNKING) WHEN THE CAR PASSED OVER A 3 INCH CHANGE IN ROAD ELEVATION, SUCH AS OCCURS DURING REPAVING WHEN STRIKING A MAN HOLE COVER OR NEW LAYER OF ASPHALT. I TOOK THIS TO BE A PECULIARITY OF THE TESLA SUSPENSION COMBINED WITH THE 18 INCH WHEELS. THE SOUND WAS RARE, AS MOST ROADS ARE QUITE SMOOTH AND I MADE IT A POINT TO DRIVE SLOWLY OVER SUDDEN BUMPS. MORE RECENTLY, AS OUR TOWN IS REPAVING, I HEARD THE CLICK MORE FREQUENTLY. ON FATHER'S DAY, WHILE A FRIEND WAS TEST DRIVING THE CAR, HE BEING A CAR GEEK, HEARD THE CLICK, CALLED IT A "CLUNK," AND TOLD ME TO GET IT LOOKED AT. I HAD NOT YET MADE THE APPOINTMENT WHEN SOMETHING SNAPPED ON JUNE 26TH. OVER THE WEEKEND I LEFT VOICE MAILS AND SENT TO TESLA SERVICE AN EMAIL STATING TESLA SHOULD CONSIDER GIVING ME A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, BUT I WISHED FIRST TO HEAR THEIR REPORT ON WHAT HAD OCCURRED. TESLA SERVICE IN MILFORD IS NOT OPEN ON WEEKENDS. TESLA CALLED ON MONDAY AFTERNOON SEEKING MY INPUT ON WHAT HAD OCCURRED. LATER THAT DAY THEY REPORTED IT APPEARED TO THEM THAT A CRITICAL BOLT HAD NOT BEEN WELDED ONTO THE SUB-FRAME. TESLA SERVICE IN MILFORD ORDERED A NEW SUB-FRAME, PART NUMBER 1044521-00-R, FROM CALIFORNIA. TESLA IS RESEARCHING WHAT OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI 11337132

Dec 18, 2019Suspension

HERE IS A 2020 MODEL 3 TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS?ITEMID=34632816&ROWNUMBER=4&SIMILARVEHICLEITEMID=&ISNEXT=&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE FRONT WHEEL HAS GONE TOTALLY WHOMPY BECAUSE MOST OF THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE SNAPPED. THERE IS HARDLY ANY DAMAGE TO THE CAR EXCEPT FOR THE SUSPENSION HAVING SNAPPED OFF. THERE IS NO SIGN OF AN IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THIS SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE CAR HAS DONE JUST 94 MILES SINCE LEAVING THE FACTORY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE SYSTEMIC FAILURES WITH TESLA SUSPENSIONS. THANK YOU KEEF *JB

NHTSA ODI 11289967

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Working with the data? Download all 434 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2020 Tesla Model 3 Bev verdict →