Tesla Model 3 Highland
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The Highland facelift arrived in late 2023 and was far more than a cosmetic touch-up. A sleeker new front with matrix-LED headlights, a sharpened rear with a full-width light bar, and inside above all one thing: radical simplification. The big talking point is the removal of the classic stalks. Turn signals and, in part, drive selection move to capacitive buttons on the steering wheel. It saves parts but polarizes heavily — in roundabouts or when signaling quickly the buttons react sluggishly and aren't where your hand reflexively reaches for them. Anyone switching from a conventional car needs weeks to adapt, and some never fully do. On the plus side, comfort improved noticeably: acoustic glass, more insulation and refined aerodynamics make the Highland audibly quieter than the pre-facelift car. Rear passengers get their own 8-inch display for climate and media, and the front seats are ventilated. Range and efficiency rose slightly thanks to a lower drag coefficient and finer drivetrain management. The chassis tuning became softer and more supple — the harsh, occasionally nervous character of the predecessor is tamed without the body going wallowy. Weak points mainly affect the early build. The capacitive turn-signal buttons aren't just a matter of habit; early on they suffered dropouts, partly improved via software. In the first production weeks buyers complained of rattles from the dashboard and door trims, and the factory wheel alignment was occasionally off, causing uneven tire wear — have the alignment checked before buying. By 2026 the Highland is widely available used or as a demo car, and prices have stabilized after the steep new-car depreciation. A solid, efficient everyday EV — just test the control layout thoroughly before you buy.
460 PS
Performance · Elektro
2.9 seconds — this time with brakes that keep up
Legendary!Generations
Engine Overview
The Tesla Model 3 Highland is available with 6 engine variants — from 279 to 498 hp.
Dual motor, all-wheel drive. NMC battery retains ~85% capacity after 200,000 miles per Tesla fleet data. Rear induction motor on 2018-2020 builds is the weaker link — bearing failures from 60k miles. Post-2020 switched to dual permanent magnet, substantially improved. Drive unit warranty: 8 years / 120,000 miles. 12V drain issue affects 2017-2021 primarily — Tesla switched to lithium-ion 12V late 2021.
- !! 12V auxiliary battery failure from 100,000 km
Same 12V drain affecting 2017-2021 lead-acid cars. Car becomes completely inoperable. Fixed late 2021 with lithium-ion 12V.
Symptoms: Car dead, unable to unlock or charge - !! Rear induction motor bearing failure (2018-2020) from 160,000 km
Affects 2018-2020 Long Range AWD with rear induction motor. Coolant exposure corrodes bearings inside drive unit. Post-2020 switched to dual permanent magnet — problem eliminated. Drive unit replacement $6,000-10,000 at Tesla.
Symptoms: Loud whirring/grinding from rear, increasing vibration, eventual loss of rear drive power - !! Drive unit bearing whine from 160,000 km
Same bearing whine as all Model 3 variants. Dual-motor cars may develop it on either unit. Independent shops: $400 bearing replacement. Tesla: $6,000-10,000 full unit. 8-year/120,000-mile warranty.
Symptoms: High-pitched whining from front or rear motor, louder at highway speed
+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Dual permanent-magnet motors, 377 kW peak, 0-100 in about 3.3 seconds — brutal, near-silent thrust with no shift pauses. Track Mode stresses the drive harder, so bearing wear appears earlier than on the Long Range. Same NMC degradation. Drive-unit replacement runs 6,000-10,000$ out of warranty; bearing-only repair about 400$ at independent shops. Brakes and tires wear rapidly under track use, and a set of good performance tires quickly costs over 1,000$.
- !! 12V battery failure (2018-2021) from 100,000 km
Same 12V issue as all Model 3 from 2018-2021. Lead-acid dies without warning. Fixed late 2021 with Li-ion 12V.
Symptoms: Car completely dead - !! Rear induction motor failure (2018-2020) from 145,000 km
Same as Long Range — rear induction motor coolant ingress. Performance use adds thermal stress. Post-2020 dual PM motors resolve it.
Symptoms: Grinding from rear, loss of power - !! Drive unit bearing whine — accelerated by track use from 130,000 km
Higher thermal and mechanical loads from Performance/Track Mode accelerate bearing wear. May appear 50-80k miles with frequent track use. Same repair: $400 bearings or $6,000-10,000 full unit.
Symptoms: Whining on hard acceleration, milling noise at speed
+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Single permanent magnet motor, rear-wheel drive. LFP battery from 2021 tolerates daily 100% charging but loses 30% range in freezing temperatures. NMC pack on earlier SR+ degrades faster but handles cold better. The 12V auxiliary battery is the weak link — fails without warning, strands the car. Drive unit bearing whine develops around 100k miles but rarely catastrophic. VIN prefix tells the factory: 5YJ=Fremont (worst QC), LRW=Shanghai (best QC).
- !! 12V auxiliary battery dies without warning from 100,000 km
Affects 2017-2021 models with lead-acid 12V. Battery dies without warning — car completely inoperable, doors may not open, charge cable locks in place. PTC heater isolation faults drain the 12V. Tesla switched to lithium-ion 12V late 2021, largely resolving the issue. Budget $250-450 replacement every 3-4 years on lead-acid cars.
Symptoms: Car completely dead, unable to unlock doors, charger cable stuck, no warning before failure - !! Drive unit bearing whine from 160,000 km
High-pitched whine or milling noise from rear drive unit, developing gradually. Common across all Model 3 variants. Bearing replacement: ~$400 at independent shops. Full drive unit at Tesla: $6,000-10,000. Covered under 8-year/120,000-mile drivetrain warranty. Rarely catastrophic — most owners live with it.
Symptoms: High-pitched whining increasing with speed, milling sound on acceleration and deceleration, vibration through floor - !! Charge port door actuator failure — won't open or close from 80,000 km
The small motor that opens and closes the charge port door fails, leaving the port stuck open or closed. Common on pre-2022 builds. Tesla mobile service replaces in 10 minutes. Third-party parts $57 but use the old design that fails again — Tesla's updated part $360 includes design revision. May be covered under 8-year charging system warranty.
Symptoms: Charge port door won't open when tapped or from app, door stuck open, intermittent operation in cold weather
+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Horn fails in rain (speaker design) Highland replaced the traditional horn with an external speaker that also serves as pedestrian warning sound. The speaker is not adequately waterproofed — horn becomes inaudible or completely silent in rain. 15+ NHTSA complaints filed. Works normally in dry conditions. No permanent damage — dries out and functions again. Design flaw, not a wear item. Symptoms: Horn produces no sound or weak sound in rain, works normally when dry, pedestrian warning sound also affected | Low | |
| Capacitive turn signal buttons — unresponsive Highland replaced stalks with capacitive steering wheel buttons. Buttons become unresponsive, lock out after finger rest, or need excessive force. May be software-related — some cases resolved via OTA. Unique to Highland redesign. Symptoms: Turn signal buttons unresponsive, signals fail to activate, buttons lock out | Low | |
| Door ambient LED light bar cracking and failure LED light strips above door interior handles develop cracks from panel flex when pulling the door shut. Direct sunlight through windows causes heat-related bubbling in the LED strip material. Tesla replaces the entire door panel rather than just the light bar. Covered under warranty — mobile service can handle the replacement. Symptoms: LED light bar goes dark in sections, visible cracks or bubbles in light strip, flickering ambient lighting | Low |
Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 25 weaknesses have been documented for the Tesla Model 3 Highland (2024–2025) — 18 engine-related and 7 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Electronics, Suspension, Interior, Other.
Model 3 (Model3-SR, 2024–2025) — Be Careful: 12V auxiliary battery dies without warning, Drive unit bearing whine, Charge port door actuator failure — won't open or close. Power: 279 PS.
Model 3 (Model3-LR, 2024–2025) — Be Careful: 12V auxiliary battery failure, Rear induction motor bearing failure (2018-2020), Drive unit bearing whine. Power: 498 PS.
Model 3 (Model3-Perf, 2024–2025) — Be Careful: 12V battery failure (2018-2021), Rear induction motor failure (2018-2020), Drive unit bearing whine — accelerated by track use. Power: 460 PS.
What to watch out for with the Tesla Model 3? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Tesla Model 3 Highland have? +
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee