2019 Tesla Model 3 airbag problems
86 of the 615 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Tesla Model 3 name the airbags (NHTSA’s “Air Bags” heading — airbags, their sensors and warning lights). Filed under the same heading: 11 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the airbags
Source: NHTSA complaint database11 of the 86 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 8 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 28 · 2025: 20 · 2026: 17
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
615 complaints in all about the 2019 Tesla Model 3, 17 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Air Bags” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Tesla Model 3 airbag problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the airbags. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I was coming out of the park and getting on the main road, when the Tesla accelerated without warning in huge burst of speed. I don't use AutoPilot. I had to drive the car out of the road to avoid the incoming traffic and the Tesla hit a tree and a parked car. Then it came to a stop. Then the airbags also failed to deploy.
Frontal head-on collision - I went too fast while making a left turn (at least 50mph) - vehicle drifted and I lost control and it hit a lamp post - damage was pretty severe in front left drivers side of car but airbag never deployed
Constantly beeps and makes me think I’m getting into an accident took to tesla they say sensors are ok. But a car shows on my blind side and sometimes there’s no car there, especially big trucks doesn’t bring up sensor correctly
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that the air bags deployed without impact. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was sent to the manufacturer who was investigating the failure however, no resolution had been made. The vehicle had not been repaired.
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving in auto pilot at 65 MPH in the rain, the vehicle began to drift to the left and then it spun out of control causing the vehicle to crash into a medium guard rail. There was no other vehicle involved in the crash.
What is on file about the airbags
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications11 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Tesla Model 3
Source: the same files- automatic emergency braking problems 231 complaints
- electrical problems 91 complaints
- suspension problems 83 complaints
- cruise control problems 71 complaints
- brake problems 63 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre airbag problems common on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 86 owner complaints naming the airbags on this model year (14% of everything owners filed about it), and 11 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the airbags on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 22 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do airbag problems show up on the 2019 Tesla Model 3?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Air Bags" heading cover?
Airbags, their sensors and warning lights. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.