2019 Tesla Model 3 · symptom sheet

Suspension noise, struts or alignment

82owner reports
16,000median miles
$1,259median quote
6involved a crash

Newest report Aug 3, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

82 of the 610 complaints on this car describe suspension. Only airbag is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 82 reports

clunking over bumps

a strut or shock failed

uneven tire wear

the car pulls to one side

a control arm or bushing

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the control arm (36 reports), the ball joint (18 reports) and the bushing (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the suspension system cover the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

23V-235Mar 31, 2023

Suspension:Front

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-835.

21V-835Oct 25, 2021

Suspension:Critical Fasteners

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Model Y and 2019-2021 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-003.

NHTSA investigations into the suspension system on the Model 3

PE26-006opened Jul 29, 2026

Suspension · model years 2018 to 2023

Lower lateral link detachment. Open.

NHTSA summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 156 complaints alleging a suspension failure in model year (MY) 2018-2020 Model 3 and MY 2021-2023 Model Y vehicles. The suspension failure involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link, which potentially causes a loss of vehicle directional control. In most cases, there was no advance warning or indication that the suspension failure would occur. Some cases cite noises occurring prior to failure, but note that the vehicle provides no visual warnings. Once the failure occurs, the vehicle may not be drivable, thus requiring a tow. Tesla has previously recalled vehicles for lateral link detachments through two recalls. Recall 21V-835 addressed 2,791 MY2019-2021 Tesla Model 3 vehicles due to a production issue. Recall 23V-235 addressed 422 2018-2019 Tesla Model 3 vehicles that had experienced similar failures to those recalled under 21V-835. The subject failures for this investigation exceed the scope of these recalls and do not appear to be related to the production issue that prompted those recalls. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to determine the underlying cause, scope, and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

What owners paid

17 of the 82 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $400 to $2,500.

$400$1,259$2,500

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 6,000 and 49,000 miles, from the 38 reports that gave a mileage.

419

1620

821

522

1223

1524

1025

1226

What owners wrote

“Upper control arm unit is defective on most model 3's. This has been reported by thousands of Tesla owners. After 50,000 miles the upper control arm will fail due to being assembled incorrectly, which causes a hard time driving the car and causing a strange sound in the suspension which can cause a risk in driving and increase the likelihood of an accident.”
Filed Oct 19, 2024 · 50,000 miles

“The upper control arms on this vehicle are a known chronic issue where the ball joints fail anywhere from 15,000 miles and up. Tesla is charging for this replacement if vehicle has more than 50,000 miles”
Filed Feb 16, 2024 · 15,000 miles

“I had to replace the Front Upper Control Arm Assemblies (Left and Right). As part of this (I believe) I also had to replace Lower Lateral Links (Left and Right) and the Front Lower Compliance Links (Left and Right). My car had 53,536 miles on it at the time (so just outside the warranty). The total cost was $1,259.63.”
Filed Dec 29, 2023 · 53,536 miles

“The front control arm fails just 58k mile mark this known issue on car. Multiple time brought to there attention no action was taken”
Filed Feb 23, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 6 of 82 reports involved a crash and 3 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.