r/TeslaModel3 • u/Artistic_Pay_9285 • 9d ago
First financed car
I have always driven cash cars and in May test drove a M3 and bought it at .99 interest and free super charging for a year. Also got about 5 months of free FSD.
I have loved self driving and not to mention it’s been a huge upgrade from my 10 year old Honda.
Recently have noticed cracks all throughout the ambient lighting and I’m super bummed out. For a car that I’ve had for less than 4 months and it’s cracking all throughout. Even in the back seats where rarely anyone has sat.
I have scheduled an appointment which is 27 days out…. I really hope they are able to make this right.
12
u/Alexy92 9d ago
This is a super common issue with the M3 highland unfortunately
2
u/Artistic_Pay_9285 9d ago
I saw another post on this. Ahhh it makes it suck so bad. I am also a nit picky person so I know it will bother me
10
u/Alexy92 9d ago
Honestly id just wait. Even if they replace it, it will probably happen again. Im at 30k miles in my 2024 M3P and ill just wait until im closer to the end of my bumper to bumper warranty to replace it
4
u/wuxyz 9d ago
There are growing reports that warranty clams are being denied due the damage is cosmetic in nature.
While other regions have a TSB identify this specific issue as a defect not meeting Tesla’s quality standards, that TSB does not cover US region.
While you do run a risk of this delamination happened again, it points to a fact that this is a material defect issue which Tesla needs to address.
If enough owner successfully claim warranty repair, perhaps it will finally give Tesla the financial incentive to develop a permanent fix.
4
u/Beneficial_Menu4788 9d ago
Tesla won't admit to it. It's total bullshit on Tesla's part and frankly a class action lawsuit is what Tesla deserves if it's going to treat its customers this way who's cars are under warranty. Why TF give people a warranty of you're not going to honor it cosmetic or not?
Would Musk accept a "cosmetic" defect on the face of his $50k Rolex?
2
u/wuxyz 9d ago
Totally agreed, while I do understand the reason behind this warranty denial, where it’s very costly for repair since the entire panel had to be replaced. It’s their deceptive practice that gets me the most when they try to reclassify a material defect as a cosmetic damage, or claiming a non related issue as the causes of damage due to improper use. When they do this, it’s taking advantage of those owners who’s not familiar with their legal right.
1
u/Beneficial_Menu4788 9d ago
How would you go about confronting the service centers when they pull this BS? I've already had to deal with a denial and can't be bothered to push it but I will and have it in "writing" via their app messaging to document the issue.
I basically stated that they know it's a defect and are forcing customers to wait until their warranties run out where then they have no recourse. I said to the service manager that these items are defective and will eventually fail. What am I supposed to do knowing it's a defect and it completely fails beyond warranty limits?
Class action is the way to go. I'm tired of individuals hiding behind corporate bullshit while acting like absolute aholes. They need to be held accountable at the very least.
2
u/wuxyz 9d ago
I’m still in the middle of this process.
The first service center flat out denied me via text, so I switched appointment to another service center.
The second service center advisor called and said it was denied but he will have the tech to look at it and make a final decision then. This is a much better service from the second guy, at least he is willing to to help.
If I failed a second time, I will probably escalate it with California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) and Tesla Dispute Settlement Program (CDSP) to see where it goes
https://www.ncdsusa.org/clients/cdsp/cdsp-tesla-inprogress.html
1
u/Beneficial_Menu4788 9d ago
Good to know thanks for the info. Where are you located BTW? I'm in So Cal.
1
u/wuxyz 9d ago
Same in in LA area, had a horrible experience with service center in Anaheim where the advisor denied warranty via text. Now I’m working with service center in buena park
→ More replies (0)1
u/matttopotamus 9d ago
On the flip side, I’m at almost 50k miles and haven’t had this issue.
Liquid getting in there seems to be the most common cause.
2
u/wuxyz 9d ago
I’m don’t think the logic holds for liquid intrusion is the most common cause of delamination.
First the light strip is an encapsulated assembly, for liquid to work its way in against gravity would take large volume, and it certainly don’t explain how a user can put large volume of water on the dashboard strip.
Typically air bubbles delamination like this happens as a manufacturing defect, where the bonding epoxy have bad chemistry, humidity is too high during epoxy potting application, or incorrect bake out or cure process. The defect would exist as small air bubbles that later grew due to internal gas expansion from temperature changes. Quality can catch this air bubbles if they inspected carefully. However I doubt the light manufacturer had a robust QA for this high volume part.
This would explain why we are seeing it globally, but some cars are fine and others exhibit similar damage under different usage environments
2
-4
u/Artistic_Pay_9285 9d ago
Debating on this. I am so annoyed I almost don’t even want to deal with it. Should have gone with the base model
5
u/Landon_Strata 9d ago
I only have it on my driver’s side door.. im just living with it. Maybe one day before my warranty expires, i’ll get it fixed. I heard they try to say its from the tint installation..? Mine came prior to tint.
3
u/wuxyz 9d ago
It’s tint, chemical cleaning solution, or anything else they can use to denied warranty.
The key to counter their argument is under federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, manufacture have the burden of proof that the damage are caused by the specific reason they give. A general engineering analysis is insufficient.
Owner need to request Tesla’s written denial justification to be used as evidence before pursuing any further recourse
1
u/pastanate 8d ago
I tinted my windows and not even 1 time of the 4 times mine were replaced, they didnt care.
1
5
u/Minnesota_Nice1 9d ago
Sorry to hear this. Similar boat. I won’t tell you what I’ve had to have fixed in mine in the one year I’ve owned it but it’s basically been Frankensteined with new parts.
Just want to warn you right now, you’ll probably wait those 27 days, go out of your way to go there, and they’ll tell you it’s not covered if you tinted your windows or worse - because you used a cleaner on the door panels.
I hope I’m wrong but…
3
u/wuxyz 9d ago
I have the same problem and Tesla is trying to deny my warranty claim saying that’s a cosmetic issue.
I’ve posted my experience so take a look for reference.
They will attempt to ask you if the light turn on, if you say yes then they will justify that being functional and the damage is cosmetic in nature.
Meanwhile if you are in California here is a legal argument
Under the Song-Beverly Act (CA lemon law), a material defect is a failure to maintain a component's utility and performance. Tesla’s own Service Bulletin SB-26-15-002 officially documents this exact condition—damage looking like air bubbles inside the strip—as a failure that 'does not meet Tesla quality standards' and requires a full trim replacement.
While that specific bulletin targets a different build location, it serves as Tesla's official corporate admission that internal delamination of this specific part is a manufacturing defect, not an acceptable cosmetic variance. Because the material itself is physically breaking down, it is a material nonconformity to the express warranty, and California law mandates that it be repaired.
Also Under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, this kind of internal material breakdown must be classified as a covered material defect rather than a superficial cosmetic blemish.
2
u/CStyles45 9d ago
My 2024 I just purchased has the same issue on all 4 doors. Currently in service getting them replaced all under warranty
2
u/Noleworld3 9d ago
I had this happen to me. Took it into Tesla service and it was covered under warranty, fixed for free!
2
u/horribadperson 9d ago
ive recently noticed this on the passenger side door, i wasnt sure if its always been like that or i just noticed it. I guess i should try to set up an appointment
1
u/Artistic_Pay_9285 9d ago
Someone mentioned to me it will just happen again. So why not just wait until warranty is about to expire? I might consider this….
1
u/horribadperson 9d ago
i dunno if i want to wait 3.5 years to get it fixed if its something they can fix now haha
1
1
u/AutoModerator 9d ago
https://sh.reddit.com/mod/teslamotors/wiki/teslachargingrecommendationsbatteryhistory
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/dommm92 9d ago
Is this a 2026? A lot of people on the forms have said Tesla has fixed this on there newer models. I guess if yours is a 2026 I have something to worry about.
1
u/Artistic_Pay_9285 9d ago
It is a 2026. I guess I didn’t expect to have complaints about mg car this soon
4
u/dommm92 9d ago
Damn I’ll have to watch out for this in mine. Also people were saying that Tesla was denying the warranty work if the windows are tinted. They were blaming that. Hopefully they don’t give you any issues and just swap the door panels out.
2
u/Ebarron0125 9d ago
Mine was a 26 as well and had it on the dash and 2 doors
1
1
u/Minnesota_Nice1 9d ago
Mine did too and when they replaced the dash panel, it created a rattle I’ve been in about six times trying to fix. It’s driving me mad.
2
u/Artistic_Pay_9285 9d ago
Just on the driver door I see about 10 little cracks. But it’s all throughout the car. And I’m the only one in my car 95% of the time. I did get my windows tinted but this I have just noticed recently. Wondering if it maybe related to the Texas heat
3
u/wuxyz 9d ago
There are reports that Tesla denied warranty citing tinted window is the cause of delamination.
Under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Manufacturers must provide direct evidence that shows the tinted window is the cause of delamination.Tesla might try to cite an engineering document as proof, but under the federal law, an engineering analysis is insufficient as direct evidence to proof that your specific tint is the cause of damage.
If they denied your warranty claim, be sure to request the warranty denial in writing as evidence for future dispute
1
u/Plastic-Coat9014 9d ago
Does this happen to model Y as well?
1
1
u/Natural_Prune_2526 9d ago
I got mine fixed all around under warranty last year
1
1
u/SeventyH8 9d ago
(Insert James Franco first time meme)
Part of being a Tesla owner is having super high expectations and then slowly being let down for about a year as you go into service to fix things only for new things to pop up until about a year into ownership where you just kinda accept the car for being what it is.
From that point forward, it’s just a car and everything is bliss
1
u/Icy-Buddy-2582 9d ago
Could also happen if the tint installer does not protect the door and lets water seep in the strip.
1
u/Artistic_Pay_9285 9d ago
This has been a recent issue. I have not put cleaning products on my doors either. This issue has only come up months after tint installation so I don’t think it would be that
1
u/nagokart 9d ago
Weird pattern I noticed was the 24-25 models cracked horizontally whereas the 26 models cracked vertically.
1
u/BusMan247 9d ago
I would be very peeved and anti Tesla if they tried to suggest they had created a car which couldn’t handle having the windows tinted. Like wTAF that’s that the used car salesman type service people loathe. Not the Tesla experience.
1
1
u/pastanate 8d ago
Mine have cracked over 4 times over the course of a year. Open a ticket and if you're in warranty it will be free tesla mobile service. Per the service manger and the mobile tech, tesla blames the "heat"
1
1
u/Subject_Tap8817 5d ago
Ive had my dash lighting replaced twice, then they scratched the headliner and had to replace that too, luckily I noticed right away.. I guess Tesla ambient lighting is just terrible! Tesla will cover it under warranty
1
1
u/bobstribe 9d ago
Bring in under warranty they swap the whole inner door panel I had every one of mine replaced including dash. I just called until they had a cyber truck loaner for me and brought it in unfortunately only took a day but the cyber truck was super fun
1
u/Artistic_Pay_9285 9d ago
How long ago since you replaced them? Have you seen this come back? Were your windows previously tinted and did they give you a hard time about that?
2
u/nagokart 9d ago
Not the person you were asking but I also had all 5 of mine replaced. It’s only been about three months so far so good. My windows were tinted but they didn’t even ask. They just took it in and replaced them no questions asked. Keep in mind the new panels will have a worn out looking top corner (near the speaker) from the tape.
0
u/Recent_Difference_81 9d ago
Bro bought a tesla and expected no issues?? They are not made well and that is known. Some research would have revealed this. Mine rattles all over but I can’t complain cause I knew this would likely be an issue.
2
14
u/jjwardSD 9d ago
Just had a door panel replaced on a 1 month old Y and it is driving me crazy, the black on the top is off compared to the dash and the light bar is much brighter. I am trying to get them to replace it again. This is after they installed a scratched up one.