2019 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 85owner reports
- 39,140median miles
- $1,180median quote
- 11involved a crash
Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
85 of the 615 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 Model 3.
Narrower sheets: Passenger airbag sensor problems (26 reports)
Tick what matches of 85 reports
Airbag on other Model 3 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (45 reports) and the module (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the airbags covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
54 of the 85 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $460 to $1,600.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 10,000 and 60,000 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Our seatbelts and airbags required replacement as Tesla stated safety equipment on a Tesla is only guaranteed until 60,000 miles and after that they often need repairs. It was quite expensive. The seatbelts and airbags total cost was $1296.40 and already the Tesla says the front passenger airbag needs to be replaced again.”
Filed Jun 3, 2026 · 60,000 miles
“I get an intermittent error message: RCM_a021 Front left safety restraint system fault service is required Tesla service charges nearly $360 for this repair. I have understood from owners with the same issue that the connector to the seat belt pretensioner is the issue. Several owners have the same issue.”
Filed Oct 6, 2023
“This is a rampant problem with tesla models. You get a seat restraint safety feature has failed. These are being repaired with a make shift repair and the owners are being charged for it.”
Filed Sep 18, 2023
“I have a warning sign stating my air bag system on the passenger side is not working. Many drivers have reported this as an issue. Due to the fact that the car is no longer under warranty I am concerned if I get I to an accident and the air bags donât deploy, my loved ones are in grave danger if they are in the passenger seat.”
Filed Jul 10, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 11 of 85 reports involved a crash and 8 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 82 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 77 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 77 reports
- Full Self-Driving (FSD) does something unsafe 73 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 64 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 63 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 60 reports