KNOWN FAULTS · Tesla
Known faults for the Tesla Model 3.
2019–2026 · Electric
Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.
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8 known faults with sources
Engines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: The Tesla bulletin lists model years 2018–2020; the TÜV data cover the Model 3 at its first and second inspection.
Creaking from the front suspension when turning slowly and worn ball joints at the MOT (Model 3 and Model Y)Suspension and steering
- Engine / equipment
- Front upper control arm ball joints: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
- Period mentioned
- 2018–2025
- Symptoms
- Creaking from the front suspension when turning the wheel at low speed under load, for example when parking; auto motor und sport mentions squeaks and creaks after about two or three years. At the German roadworthiness test, ball joints with play are found.
- Possible cause described
- Tesla (bulletin SB-20-31-006, July 2021) acknowledges that water can reach the front upper control arm ball joints and corrode their surface, which causes the creak; according to Tesla it is only a noise and does not make the ball joint fail early. auto motor und sport explains that the windscreen drain ends just above and water collects there. In the 2026 TÜV report published by AUTO BILD, the Model Y suspension fails 2.9 % of first inspections (average: 0.2 %) because of worn ball joints, and the Model 3 suspension more than eight times as often as normal.
- Check for the garage
- If it creaks when turning, ask Tesla service to check the upper control arm ball joints: the bulletin provides for sealing the area around both ball joints with urethane so that water cannot get in. Before the MOT or periodic inspection, and when buying one second-hand, have the front ball joints checked for play.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
Tesla bulletin SB-20-31-006: reseal front upper control arm ball jointsAUTO BILD: the Tesla Model Y in the 2026 TÜV reportAUTO BILD: the Tesla Model 3 in the TÜV reportauto motor und sport: the main problems of used Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
View full entryEngines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: All versions.
Rusty brake discs or a poor contact pattern because the brakes are seldom used (regenerative braking) (Model 3 and Model Y)Brakes
- Engine / equipment
- Brake discs and pads: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
- Period mentioned
- 2019–2025
- Symptoms
- Usually nothing is felt while driving: it shows up at the inspection, with rusty discs or a poor contact pattern. The TÜV warns that braking performance can drop.
- Possible cause described
- With regenerative braking (“one-pedal driving”) the brakes hardly work and surface rust stays on the discs because the pads do not wipe it off (auto motor und sport). In the 2026 TÜV report published by AUTO BILD, the Model Y discs fail 2.8 % of the time because of a poor contact pattern (average: 1.1 %), and on the Model 3 discs with a poor contact pattern top the defect list.
- Check for the garage
- The head of the TÜV association advises using the brake pedal deliberately on a regular basis. Before the MOT or periodic inspection, and when buying one second-hand, have the discs and pads checked.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
AUTO BILD: the Tesla Model Y in the 2026 TÜV reportAUTO BILD: the Tesla Model 3 in the TÜV reportauto motor und sport: the main problems of used Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
View full entryEngines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: Tesla bulletin for North America (Model 3 of 2017–2023); ask Tesla service whether it applies to your car.
Corroded brake lines that may leak fluid (Model 3 of 2017–2023)Brakes
- Engine / equipment
- Metal brake lines: Tesla Model 3
- Period mentioned
- 2017–2023
- Symptoms
- Low brake fluid warning, signs of a brake fluid leak or corroded lines that fail the MOT.
- Possible cause described
- According to Tesla bulletin SB-26-33-001 (February 2026, for North America), on some Model 3 cars the brake lines can corrode beyond acceptable limits and leak fluid; the car warns when the level drops below a set point. Tesla states that, thanks to dual redundancy, corrosion of the lines does not affect safety.
- Check for the garage
- With a low brake fluid warning, a leak or an MOT failure for the lines, have all the brake lines inspected: if any is corroded, the bulletin says to replace them all with corrosion-resistant ones in a single repair. With the brake fluid warning on, do not drive on until it has been checked.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
View full entryEngines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: With a heat pump; model years 2020–2021.
Cabin heating or cooling failing because of the heat pump refrigerant pressure/temperature sensors (Model 3 and Model Y of 2020–2021)Climate control
- Engine / equipment
- Heat pump refrigerant pressure/temperature sensors: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
- Period mentioned
- 2020–2021
- Symptoms
- Cabin heating or cooling does not work properly, with refrigerant sensor alerts (for example VCFRONT_a136 to a139, a279, a280 or a452).
- Possible cause described
- According to Tesla bulletin SB-21-18-001 (February 2021, all markets), some Model 3 and Model Y cars with a heat pump have refrigerant pressure/temperature sensors that can fail over time.
- Check for the garage
- If the climate control fails and one of those alerts appears, ask Tesla service to apply the bulletin: they replace all three refrigerant pressure/temperature sensors.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
View full entryEngines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: With a heat pump and a lead-acid 12 V battery; model years 2020–2022.
Brake and stability control alerts at power-on that clear after restarting the car (Model 3 and Model Y of 2020–2022)Brakes
- Engine / equipment
- Hydraulic brake control unit (HCU) wake-up wire: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
- Period mentioned
- 2020–2022
- Symptoms
- In rare cases, braking and stability control alerts appear on the instrument cluster and screen at power-on; they usually clear and everything works again after switching the car off and on.
- Possible cause described
- According to Tesla bulletins SB-22-33-003 (Model 3 with a heat pump and a lead-acid 12 V battery, model years 2020–2022, built in Fremont and Shanghai) and SB-22-33-006 (Model Y with a lithium-ion low-voltage battery, model years 2021–2022, Fremont and Shanghai), some cars left the factory without the hydraulic control unit (HCU) wake-up wire.
- Check for the garage
- If the brake or stability alerts appear at power-on and clear after a restart, ask Tesla service to check whether the bulletin applies: they retrofit that wire. If a brake warning does not clear, do not drive the car.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
Tesla bulletin SB-22-33-003: retrofit HCU wake-up wire (Model 3)Tesla bulletin SB-22-33-006: retrofit HCU wake-up wire (Model Y)
View full entryEngines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: Model years 2017–2020 in the bulletin’s VIN list.
Restart alert or a car that will not start because of damaged wiring near connectors X950 and X952 (Model 3 of 2017–2020)Electrical and electronic systems
- Engine / equipment
- Electrical circuits near connectors X950 and X952 (reached by removing the rear wheels): Tesla Model 3
- Period mentioned
- 2017–2020
- Symptoms
- An alert appears on the screen asking you to restart the car, or the car will not start.
- Possible cause described
- According to Tesla campaign bulletin SB-20-17-010 (October 2020, all markets), some Model 3 cars have an open circuit or a short to ground near connectors X950 or X952 because of damaged wiring insulation.
- Check for the garage
- Ask Tesla service, with the VIN, to check whether the bulletin applies to your car: they inspect the insulation of those wires and repair them if needed.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
View full entryEngines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: Model 3 built in Fremont (USA), model years 2017–2023; confirm by VIN.
Water inside the boot (and on the Model Y also in the rear or in the passenger footwell) through poorly sealed body areasBodywork
- Engine / equipment
- Body and boot lid sealing: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
- Period mentioned
- 2017–2023
- Symptoms
- Water or damp in the boot; on the Model Y, AUTO BILD also mentions water at the rear seats and in the passenger footwell.
- Possible cause described
- Tesla acknowledges in bulletin SB-23-10-002 (April 2023) that on some Fremont-built Model 3 cars (model years 2017–2023) water gets into the boot through the boot lid; the fix is to reseal it, including around the inner rear lamps. AUTO BILD (2026 TÜV report) mentions poorly sealed body areas on the Model Y through which water gets into the boot, the rear seats and the passenger footwell.
- Check for the garage
- Look under the boot floor and the mats after rain or a car wash. If there is water, ask Tesla service to find where it gets in and seal it.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
Tesla bulletin SB-23-10-002: reseal trunk lid to prevent water ingressAUTO BILD: the Tesla Model Y in the 2026 TÜV report
View full entryEngines: Standard Range / RWD (Electric) · Long Range (Electric) · Performance (Electric)
Applies if: All versions.
Tesla Model 3: headlights, fog lights and rusty sills on early cars according to AUTO BILDKnown weak points
- Engine / equipment
- Tesla Model 3, all versions
- Period mentioned
- 2019–2025
- Symptoms
- Dipped beam out of alignment on cars four or five years old and front lighting faults, especially the fog lights; chipped paint and rust on the sills of early cars.
- Possible cause described
- AUTO BILD (2026 TÜV report, December 2025): the Model 3 has major defects at the German roadworthiness test 13.1 % of the time at 2–3 years (average: 6.5 %) and 21.0 % at 4–5 years (average: 10.0 %). Lighting does badly in every category except the indicators. Early Model 3 cars have mediocre to poor build quality, with chipped paint and rust on the sills; Shanghai-built cars are considered better. The suspension and brake discs have their own sheets.
- Check for the garage
- Before the MOT or periodic inspection, have the headlight aim and all the front lights checked. When buying one second-hand, look under the sills for rust or chipped paint.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
View full entryEngines for this model
- Standard Range / RWDElectric
- Long RangeElectric
- PerformanceElectric