Tesla Model 3 pre-facelift: common faults & what to check

You're looking at the pre-facelift

2 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

2019–2024pre-facelift Selected2019–2024pre-faceliftEV RWD 54-62kWhElectricDocumented issues14 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2019–2024pre-facelift Selected2019–2024pre-faceliftEV Long Range/Performance 75-82kWhElectricDocumented issues14 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Tesla Model 3

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Tesla Model 3 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Check the 12V battery date code (located in the frunk on Model 3).

  See why

  12V auxiliary battery failure — no-start condition

  Tesla Model 3 uses a small 12V lead-acid auxiliary battery (later lithium on some variants) to power the low-voltage control systems, door handles, and high-voltage contactor relay. When this battery fails, the HV traction pack is rendered inaccessible because the contactors cannot close — the car appears completely dead despite a full HV charge. Owners are locked out, the app loses connection, and the car cannot be driven or charged. The 12V battery typically lasts 3–5 years and fails without warning. NZ/AU humidity and temperature cycling accelerates plate sulphation. Tesla service has documented this as one of the most common roadside assistance call-out reasons.

  What you would notice

  • Car completely unresponsive — no door handle extension, no app connection
  • Touchscreen fails to wake when approaching car
  • Charging cable locked in and car will not start
  • Low 12V warning on touchscreen shortly before failure
  • Repeated false alerts and self-waking events draining 12V overnight

  Typically $350–$900 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Inspect the ball joint boot for cracking or grease expulsion.

  See why

  Front lower control arm ball joint separation

  NHTSA opened investigation PE20-020 in 2020 following multiple reports of front suspension lower control arm ball joint fracture on early Model 3 vehicles. The ball joint connects the lower control arm to the steering knuckle; if the joint separates while driving, the wheel collapses inward, causing immediate loss of steering and braking control. The failure can occur without audible warning on road surfaces with sharp impacts.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over bumps or during cornering
  • Steering wheel shimmy at highway speeds
  • Uneven or accelerated tyre wear on front axle
  • Vehicle pulling noticeably to one side

  Typically $750–$2,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Then grasp at 3 and 9 o'clock and repeat.

  See why

  Front lower control arm ball joint premature wear

  The front lower control arm ball joint on Model 3 wears prematurely due to the combination of the vehicle's high kerb weight (1,800–2,100 kg depending on variant), a press-fit ball joint that is not separately serviceable, and a tight ball-joint boot prone to tearing on New Zealand and Australian road surfaces. Worn ball joints produce knocking on uneven surfaces, affect steering geometry, and in advanced cases pose a safety risk from joint separation. Tesla has addressed some cases under warranty and a quiet service campaign for high-mileage vehicles, but no universal recall has been issued. The entire lower control arm must be replaced because the joint is not sold separately.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over speed bumps and potholes
  • Steering wander or vague on-centre feel
  • Uneven front tyre wear, particularly inner edge
  • Vibration through steering wheel at certain speeds
  • Audible pop when turning at low speed with suspension loaded

  Typically $900–$2,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Ask to drive the car in a tight circle at low speed under gentle power while listening for clicking.

  See why

  Rear half-shaft CV joint wear and clicking

  The Model 3 transmits torque from the rear motor to each rear wheel via constant-velocity (CV) half-shafts. The inboard and outboard CV joints are subject to accelerated wear in Performance variants where instant peak torque (430-670 Nm at the axle) is applied repeatedly from standstill. The tripod-type inboard joint wears its needle bearings unevenly under sustained high-torque launches, producing a characteristic clicking or clunking sound during low-speed acceleration. Worn CV boots — cracked from heat or age — accelerate failure by allowing grease expulsion and grit ingress. Replacement requires the entire half-shaft assembly.

  What you would notice

  • Rhythmic clicking or clunking from the rear when accelerating from low speed
  • Sound worsens on full-throttle launches or during tight turning under power
  • Grease flung onto the inner wheel arch or suspension components
  • Vibration through the floor under hard acceleration

  Typically $700–$1,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Check all underbody welded seams for rust bubbling under the paint.

  See why

  Front subframe and underbody corrosion

  Early Model 3 vehicles used a front subframe and underbody floor pan with a primer and paint application that proved less corrosion-resistant than comparable vehicles. In markets without road salt (including New Zealand and coastal Australia), the primary corrosion drivers are salt air, road grime, and minor stone chip damage to underbody coating. Corrosion begins at welded joints, suspension mounting points, and drain holes in the front subframe. While structural failure from corrosion alone is rare in the NZ/AU context, it can compromise the integrity of suspension mounting points and create pathways for water to enter the battery cooling circuit cavity. NHTSA opened a separate investigation into front subframe structural defects in US salt-belt vehicles.

  What you would notice

  • Visible surface rust on front subframe or floor pan visible during underbody inspection
  • Rust blush at suspension mounting bolt locations
  • Flaking underbody coating exposing bare metal, particularly at welds
  • Water weeping from front floor drain holes with rust-coloured staining

  Typically $600–$2,500 to put right.

• Common issue

  With the car stationary, turn the steering lock to lock and listen for creaking from the front wheel arches.

  See why

  Front upper control arm creak and fore-link bushing wear

  The front upper control arm ball joints lose their grease when water gets past the seal, causing a loud creak or squeak when turning at low speed or loading the suspension. The fore links (compression rods) also wear their bushings early, giving a clunk over sharp bumps and under hard braking. Tesla issued service bulletin SB-20-31-006 to reseal the ball joints with urethane, and often replaced arms as goodwill even out of warranty. It is a wear annoyance rather than a safety failure if caught early, but ignored ball joints eventually develop play. The Highland facelift revised the front suspension and largely eliminated the issue.

  What you would notice

  • Creak or squeak from the front end when turning at low speed
  • Clunk over speed bumps or driveway lips
  • Groaning when rocking the car on its suspension
  • Knock under hard braking

  Typically $400–$1,200 to put right.

Tesla Model 3 service schedule

The 3 engines a 2019 Tesla Model 3 was sold with, each with its own intervals. Pick your engine above to narrow this to one. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Tesla Model 3’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• EV Battery Replacement Cost

Buying guides that cover the Tesla Model 3

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Other Tesla models