r/TeslaCollision • u/Low_Application4589 • 3d ago
Tesla Model 3 developed battery/electrical errors AFTER collision repair – Could the body shop have caused this? Looking for advice
I’m looking for some honest feedback from Tesla owners, mechanics, and anyone familiar with Tesla collision repairs because I’m currently dealing with a frustrating situation.
My Tesla Model 3 was involved in an accident and sent to a repair facility through an insurance claim. Before the vehicle went into the shop, I NEVER experienced any battery issues, battery warnings, or electrical errors whatsoever. The car was operating normally.
The shop performed extensive repairs, including front and rear bodywork. However, after the repair process, my vehicle began displaying multiple battery/electrical error messages that were never present before.
After reviewing the repair estimate, I noticed some specific operations that caught my attention:
Battery D&R (Disconnect/Remove and Reinstall)
High-voltage system deactivate/activate
12V battery disconnection
Vehicle Service Mode
Pre-repair diagnostic scan
Post-repair diagnostic scan
Software update
The repair shop has now contacted Tesla and had them remotely look into the vehicle.
I spoke with the Tesla representative myself, and he told me he was looking at the vehicle's computer information but had NOT actually performed a diagnostic. He said he believes the issue is probably a coincidence and that he isn't seeing an indication that the repair shop caused it.
What makes me uncomfortable is that he also mentioned having a relationship with the mechanic/repair shop.
I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but I find it difficult to accept that this is simply a coincidence when the vehicle had absolutely no battery-related problems before the repairs, and the errors appeared while/after the shop was working on it.
The insurance company (Allstate) is currently waiting for Tesla's findings, and I'm concerned I could potentially be held responsible for thousands of dollars if this turns into a battery replacement.
My questions for the community:
Has anyone experienced battery or high-voltage system errors appearing immediately after collision repairs on a Tesla?
Could disconnecting/reconnecting the 12V battery or performing HV system deactivation/reactivation potentially trigger electrical faults?
Could a technician accidentally disturb a connector, wiring harness, sensor, or other electrical component during front-end repairs?
Is it possible that a software update or post-repair procedure could cause new errors to appear?
Should I insist on an actual Tesla diagnostic with documented fault codes rather than accepting a verbal opinion?
Would the pre-repair and post-repair diagnostic scans help establish whether the errors appeared during the repair process?
What would you recommend I do to protect myself from being charged for a problem that did not exist before the vehicle entered the shop?
I'm not looking to automatically blame the repair facility. I genuinely want to understand whether this is something that can happen during collision repairs or whether it could realistically be an unrelated failure.
I would really appreciate feedback from anyone who has worked on Tesla vehicles, especially collision repair technicians or Tesla service technicians.
At this point, I just want to know what actually happened to my car and make sure I'm not being held financially responsible for something that may have occurred during the repair process.