Are Older Tesla Mannequin 3s Ticking Time Bombs for Upkeep?

Join each day information updates from CleanTechnica on e-mail. Or comply with us on Google Information!

I’ll admit it — I’m approaching this subject a bit selfishly. I’ve an “older” Tesla Mannequin 3, and I’m looking out for long-term possession issues. I used to be scanning the Tesla Motors Membership discussion board and the headline “Is my beloved 2018 LR Mannequin 3 turning right into a upkeep $$$$ nightmare?” grabbed my eye. Because the proprietor of a 2019 Mannequin 3, what points do I’ve to be careful for that this 2018 Mannequin 3 proprietor is experiencing? I’ll get to that in a second, however let’s first simply put some context into the age of the Mannequin 3 fleet.

The road graph and bar chart above present that 2018 Tesla Mannequin 3s are a really small proportion of all of the Mannequin 3s bought thus far (round 8% of all Mannequin 3 deliveries). Even including within the 2019 models, we’re at a small proportion of the world’s Mannequin 3s (perhaps about 20%). Being among the oldest variations of the automotive, maintaining a tally of points they develop might assist us predict what points newer Mannequin 3s can have in a yr, in two years, or in 5 years. (Are you able to imagine the mannequin is greater than 5 years outdated?!?)

However, Tesla is continually altering issues and bettering fashions, whether or not they include an enormous named refresh or not. The next chart reveals cumulative Mannequin 3 gross sales over time, however there are all completely different variations of the Mannequin 3 captured in that sea of blue.

So, that’s a part of the problem — one can’t know if widespread points with a 2018 Tesla Mannequin 3 will matter to a 2019 Mannequin 3, or if widespread points with a 2019 Tesla Mannequin 3 will matter to a 2020 Mannequin 3, and so forth. On the similar time, among the points should be warning indicators for newer Mannequin 3 house owners as their vehicles age.

Attending to the thread famous above, the important thing elements of her submit are as follows: “I took supply of my silver mannequin 3 in June of 2018. In the course of the guarantee interval numerous points have been addressed and so they have been all the time points that individuals have been discussing on this discussion board. Tesla cell service took care of all of them effectively and I beloved my mannequin 3. Till just lately it’s one of the best automotive I’ve ever owned and I can’t let you know what number of photographs I’ve taken of it. I even named the rattling factor.

“Quick ahead to a month in the past, and the facility conversion system (PCS) module on the battery goes out and must be changed. Complete invoice was round $2500 for that. I figured properly, if I divide that by the variety of years I’ve owned the automotive, that’s like $500 a yr so not dangerous. Then final night time it throws the RCM_a056 “Entrance passenger security restraint system fault” which I’ve seen others talk about on the boards. On-line estimate for this restore is $1700. (!)”

Concerning that first matter, the PCS, one other commenter famous, “The PCS failures on the 2018 classic vehicles are a identified weak spot sadly. Now that yours is fastened you need to be good to go.” So, evidently is an acute situation for early Tesla Mannequin 3s and people of us who personal newer Teslas shouldn’t fret. (Let’s hope! However excellent news there for now.)

The second matter is an fascinating one. One commenter famous they’d the identical drawback when the home windows have been left cracked and a variety of rain received in. As soon as dried out, the error went away. The unique poster mentioned later that she discovered (after some interrogation) that her husband had spilled water on the seat on the best way house from the fitness center. She dried it out and the error warning is gone. A 3rd commenter posted the next:

I hope your situation was the water spill. Mine can also be a lightweight silver December 2018, and I received that error after about 3yrs, and the error appeared triggered by seat place. If I moved the seat up, it could begin erroring. So, the SC changed the connector harness which might get stretched. Then a yr later, I received the errors once more, and so they put an OCS filter on it, which I believe shields it from electrical interference.

Then a month in the past, it began erroring once more, so I’m scheduled on Wednesday to get the seat sensor changed and the airbag as properly. Underneath guarantee, since I scheduled the service simply earlier than the 5yr SRS guarantee expired, plus, I assume I’ve a historical past of this drawback.

Oh, I forgot so as to add that if I put a 40lb bag of pellets on the seat, I don’t get the error. I don’t know if that’s good or dangerous or no matter; however I discovered the fixed alerts to be annoying. I assumed it wasn’t actually a security situation as a result of I by no means received alerts if somebody sat within the seat, so I put a 40lb bag on it, and no alerts.

So, a problem to look out for? Extra more likely to be a easy sensor situation than a pricey restore? Who is aware of, however attempt to hold your seat dry, and should you do get the error, examine for waterlogging.

Proprietor boards are identified sources for points. Spending a variety of time on any auto discussion board will persuade you the model or automotive the discussion board is devoted to are filled with upkeep and reliability issues. Within the case of Tesla, unbiased analysis has certainly discovered reliability points over time, notably with early mannequin years of a brand new mannequin. So, I believe it’s prudent to maintain an eye fixed out for points. Nevertheless, it’s additionally the case that almost all house owners gained’t have many severe points for years. Right here’s yet one more useful remark to counterbalance the issues highlighted above:

We’re within the SF Bay Space as properly, have a 2018 M3 LR with very same mileage 34K (34,1XX to be extra precise), however was born in Feb 2018 so about six months older. Actually has by no means had any service or repairs, save the retrofit of HW3/cameras included with FSD, and a few primarily preventative 12V battery replacements.

One other relative’s 2018 M3 LR was born in Sept 2018, similar as yours, however not pushed a lot solely 11K miles. A bit of unfastened exterior trim changed the primary month, and in any other case additionally simply a few 12V replacements (with onscreen warnings, I attribute to their storage being in sizzling summer time local weather).

We did have a Mannequin S that had just a few minor repairs, most underneath guarantee. However I used to be simply considering this morning, driving in at present’s rain with new tires and wipers just lately placed on, how dependable and trouble-free our M3 has been; and our kin too, esp for being 1st yr manufacturing run of the Mannequin 3 (ours is within the 1st 5000 by VIN). Possibly we’re simply statistically fortunate, but it surely offers me nice confidence.

That’s a pleasant option to wrap issues up, however tell us down beneath you probably have any ideas or experiences to contribute on these subjects or others.