Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 3.
The 2018 Tesla 3 Electric is a passenger car with an electric engine whose reliability record is anchored by 982 total owner complaints and 18 recalls. Suspension stands out as the top complaint area among that feedback. Within the model's reliability history, those figures position the 2018 variant as a year where suspension-related complaints and recall activity generated substantial owner reporting, making it a critical benchmark for researchers tracking the model's dependability.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 184.6 in |
| Overall width | 72.8 in |
| Overall height | 56.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.4 in |
| Curb weight | 3814 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 63 / 62.6 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 48/52 |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent published road-test results.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.20 sec | 11.80 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.30 sec | 11.80 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.30 sec | 11.80 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Performance Sedan Elec | 3.50 sec | 12.10 sec | 450 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Dual Motor Long Range Sedan Elec 75-kWh | 4.00 sec | 12.50 sec | 346 hp | AWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Long Range Sedan Elec 75-kWh | 4.90 sec | 13.67 sec | 258 hp | RWD |
| 2018 | Model 3 Long Range Sedan Elec 75-kWh | 5.10 sec | 13.80 sec | 258 hp | RWD |
| 2017 | Model 3 Long Range Sedan Elec 75-kWh | 4.80 sec | 13.40 sec | 258 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2018 Tesla 3 top in one area — the suspension, 115 of 982 reports (12%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 18 recall campaigns target the suspension, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 100 of the reports describe a crash and 4 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 982 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 18 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may… Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022…
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts and the driver has not buckled their… Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at…
Showing 5 of 161 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB-26-33-001 | 2026-05-08 | Service Brakes | On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which… |
| SB-26-33-001 | 2026-02-11 | Service Brakes | On certain Model 3 vehicles, brake lines may be corroded beyond acceptable limits, which… |
| SB-25-31-004 | 2025-06-24 | Suspension | A firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that… |
| 2024.26.9_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
| 2024.38_s3xy.pdf | 2024-09-30 | Unknown Or Other | Tesla does not provide physical owner's manual copies. Instead, all available owner’s… |
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.