Exterior:

The most common complaint is just appalling build quality with major panel gap inconsistencies and certain panels not lining up at all.

However, this is apparently improving over time and according to many Tesla experts out there, the Chinese made Model 3’s are a massive improvement over the American produced examples.

Rust. This is very much a location based issue, we don’t see much of it here in Australia but roads covered in salt can cause some serious corrosion.

The problem is actually so serious that in 2019 Tesla issued a warning to rinse away road salt from the underside, wheel wells and brakes to prevent corrosion.

There are loads of reports of paint runs, over sprays, fading and flaking all being on the common side and even to the point where some people that have had their cars wrapped, when the wrap is removed, it can peel the paint off with it, obviously requiring a full and very expensive respray.

Condensation can build in the rear lights on early models requiring the entire rear light assembly to be replaced

It is critical to take a good look at the glass roof. If it is scratched or cracked it will need to be replaced and that is extremely expensive. Also, if you’re shopping for a Model 3, make sure the roof is washed as dirt and grime can cover up some tell tale signs.

Make sure to check the windows for any scratches as dirt and sand can make its way into the mechanism and cause damage.

On some early models, there were issues with the under tray. Everything from the tray basically disintegrating when it became wet through to the tray collecting kilos of rocks and dirt and road grime. This should have been sorted but be sure to check that the undertray is the improved version.

There are multiple reports of the door handles failing to work, both inside and out.

Unfortunately (and this might be exclusive to Australia), thanks to a lack of certified repairers, especially outside capital cities, the Model 3 is proving to be quite expensive to repair. Some repairers are honest with the prices they charge although we came across far too many stories of some repairers charging ridiculous amounts for the smallest of bodywork issues.

Interior:

Like the exterior, the interior can also suffer from a vast array of quality control issues and especially on early models.

We’re talking about missing or broken trim pieces, missing bolts, weird squeaks and rattles, unfortunately the list of reported interior issues goes on and on and seems to be ever increasing as the Model 3 ages.

There are also reports that the screen can begin to drop or miss pixels or yellow around the edges.

Be sure to check what version of hardware (in terms of the computer system) the Model 3 has. Newer models with the latest hardware have more processing capabilities but in the same way an old mobile phone can become slow and clunky with new software updates, the same can happen for the car. It’s not a major issue yet and the hardware can be upgraded however this will come at a cost.

Be sure to check every function works like the air conditioning, cameras, infotainment systems, the drive modes. On a test drive, this will take time but it is critical to check as there are plenty of reports of certain functions failing.

Mechanically:

In terms of overall mechanical or electronic reliability, the Model 3 is simply very reliable.

In fact, the percentage of vehicles that have experienced catastrophic motor, driveline or battery failure is less than 5 percent and considering (in Australia) all the model 3’s are still under warranty it’s not something you need to worry about, yet.

Long term, the motors & drivelines just have way fewer moving parts and there is just less to go wrong.

With the batteries, Teslas have a very efficient liquid cooling system to manage battery heat (unlike a Nissan Leaf with air cooling) so even in a hot climate they should be ok.

Another comparison to the Nissan leaf, unlike the Leaf the Model 3 doesn’t have a quick and easy way of checking battery health (specifically the current % of charge or the actual condition of the battery). The Model 3 has drawn out process where you have to be plugged in and go into service mode and takes hours to do a self-assessment. Not something you’ll need to worry about now, but in the future when they are 10 years old and out of battery warranty, it could make it difficult to know what you’re getting.

In terms of servicing, they still have tyres and suspension components that wear like everything else, wipers, cabin filters, the brakes wear less thanks to regenerative braking but overall much cheaper and less often than conventional cars.

Fun fact, apart from the main high voltage battery, they also have a regular small 12V battery just like everything else that’ll need changing every 3 or 4 years.

Recalls:

• 10 August 2021 – Brake caliper bolts may not have been fitted correctly. This affected 99 Model 3 and Model Ys built from 2019 to 2020.
• 11 August 2021 – Bolts on the front row seatbelts may not have been tightened properly. This affected 84 units across the Model 3 and Model Y, built from 2018 to 2020.
• 16 December 2021 – The front suspension lateral link bolts may not have been tightened sufficiently. This affected 106 Model 3s built from 2019 to 2021.
• 16 January 2022 – Due to the routing of the cable for the rear-view camera through the boot lid, the cable can be damaged from repeated opening of the boot. 5,143 Model 3s were affected built from 2017 – 2020.
• 4 May 2022 – When in Track Mode, the vehicle does not display the unit of speed correctly, this was due to a software issue. It affected 2,799 Model 3s built from 2018 to 2022.
•  18 May 2022 – Due to a software issue, while fast-charging, the central processing unit (CPU) for the infotainment could overheat.  This affected 4,287 Model 3s built from 2021 to 2022.
• 2 November 2022 –  Because of the vehicle design, servicing certain components requires disassembly of the second row left seat belt buckle and centre seat belt anchor. This affected 326 Model 3s built from 2017 – 2022.
• 24 November 2022 – Due to a software error, the tail lamps on one or both sides may not illuminate properly. This affected 15,914 units across the Model 3 and Model Y built in 2022.