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Service bulletins for the 2018 Tesla Model 3

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

161 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

By type

By component

Bulletins, newest first
SB-19-40-0012019-02-19. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. On certain Model 3 vehicles, coolant might leak from the rear drive unit inverter 55 degree fluid coupling. This could result in a low coolant alert in the vehicle.
SB-18-44-010 R12019-02-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. On certain Model 3 vehicles, the charge port power terminals have insulator pins that might become dislodged from the terminals, causing the charge handle to not fully connect to the vehicle and therefore preventing the High Voltage (HV) battery from charging.
SB-19-12-0012019-02-19. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. On some Model 3 vehicles, the front and/or mid aero shield panels might be susceptible to damage when driving through standing water. Updated panels are available which have a more robust design than the original panels.
SB-19-16-0012019-02-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. On certain Model 3 vehicles, the inner assembly of the high voltage (HV) battery positive and negative contactors might be in a weakened state and fail unexpectedly. Upon failure of either contactor, the high voltage system shuts down, and the vehicle cannot be charged or driven.
SB-19-16-0042019-02-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. The clamshell graft inside the HV battery was not fastened to Tesla?s internal specifications. This condition might result in a reduction of vehicle driving range.
SB-19-16-0032019-02-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING. On certain Model 3 vehicles with Dual Motor, some wire bonds that connect the cells within the HV battery are not bonded to Tesla?s internal specifications. This condition might result in a reduction of vehicle driving range.
SB-19-16-0022019-02-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. Certain Model 3 vehicles with the Long Range HV battery might have fasteners within the HV battery platter that are not torqued to Tesla?s internal specifications, which might affect HV battery reliability.
SB-19-11-0022019-02-19. Service bulletin. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH. On certain Model 3 vehicles, the hood latch might be out of alignment, causing a possible interference with the underhood storage unit.
SB-18-20-0052018-12-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. On some Model 3 vehicles, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) frequency might be out of range because of electrical interference on the front passenger seat harness, causing the airbag indicator to display on the touchscreen.
SB-18-33-0052018-12-10. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. Some Model 3 vehicles are equipped with rear brake dust shields that can trap road debris between the dust shield and brake rotor, causing loud grinding noises.
SB-18-16-0122018-12-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. On certain Model 3 vehicles with the Long Range HV battery, the Battery Monitor Boards (BMBs) were attached to the battery modules with insufficient adhesive, which might affect HV battery reliability.
SB-18-12-0082018-12-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. On some Model 3 vehicles, customers might be unable to remove the rear license plate mounting screws because the grommet threads might be stripped.
SB18160112018-11-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. For certain Model 3 vehicles, the power conversion system needs replacement.
SB18170122018-11-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Some Model 3 vehicles might have been manufactured with the C-pillar electrical harness(es) routed incorrectly, causing a gap between the upper C-pillar trim and side rail trim.
SB18160102018-11-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. On certain Model 3 vehicles with the Long Range HV battery, some wire bonds that connect the cells within the HV battery are missing. This condition might result in a reduction of vehicle driving range.
SB18160092018-11-19. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. On some Model 3 vehicles, one or two HV battery breather valves might be missing or improperly installed.
SB-18-16-0082018-10-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. On certain Model 3 vehicles, the rear drive unit HV header bolts and the positive contactor bolt within the High Voltage (HV) battery penthouse were insufficiently torqued to internal specifications during manufacturing.
SB-18-16-0072018-10-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; EQUIPMENT. On certain Model 3 vehicles, some bolts within the high voltage (HV) battery penthouse were insufficiently torqued to internal specifications during manufacturing.
SB-18-16-0062018-10-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. On certain Model 3 vehicles, the positive busbar nut under the power conversion system and additional bolts within the High Voltage (HV) battery penthouse were insufficiently torqued during manufacturing.
SB-18-14-0022018-09-10. Service bulletin. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES. On some Model 3 vehicles, the glove box solenoid might have been lubricated with incorrect grease, and might require excessive force to unlatch the glove box.
SB-18-34-0022018-09-10. Service bulletin. WHEELS. Certain Model 3 vehicles were delivered with 18 inch pinwheel caps (aero wheel covers) that have minor discoloration.
SB-18-40-004 R12018-09-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. On certain Model 3 vehicles, an issue in the CAN transceiver internal to the drive unit might result in intermittent communication errors, causing the vehicle to go into limp mode or not start.
SB-18-32-0052018-08-06. Service bulletin. STEERING; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT. On some Model 3 vehicles, the steering column control module connector retaining clip may have been reused following repairs. This clip is one-time-use.
SB-18-14-0012018-07-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. On some Model 3 vehicles, the top surface of the Instrument Panel (IP) carrier is prone to premature outlines or stains, such as an object left on the IP carrier in the sunlight. These outlines or stains can be temporarily removed, but can return, making it difficult to remove permanently. In addition, wiping the surface of the IP carrier might result in scratches.
SB-18-16-004 R12018-07-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. On certain Model 3 vehicles, the one-time use bolts that attach the high voltage controller to the penthouse cover were not torqued to Tesla?s internal specification.

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.