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Has the quality of Tesla vehicles, specifically the Model 3, improved since production began? There were lots of reports of poor quality, inconsistencies and ve

Has the quality of Tesla vehicles, specifically the Model 3, improved since production began? There were lots of reports of poor quality, inconsistencies and very long repair times when they first came out. Elon himself even said to wait until production reaches a steady state: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-best-time-to-buy-tesla-quality-issues-2021-2 https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-best-time-to-buy-t... I have a Chevy Volt right now, but I sometimes wonder what I'd buy if it were to be totaled in an accident since GM made the (poor, IMHO) decision to discontinue the Volt.

bagels 4y ago
They're a lot better than when the model 3 first came out. There are still some fit and finish issues in body panels though, the standard is not up to any other manufacturer there.
- speedgoose 4y ago
  In the price range for sure, but you can find a lot worse at lower prices. The Chinese and German Tesla are also fine in terms of body panel gaps.
fallingknife 4y ago
Anecdotally, between friends and family, I know 5 people who have bought them and all love them. Tesla does rank near the bottom in "initial quality" but when you actually look at the numbers, it's not a dramatic difference. They have 25% more problems than the industry average, and are about equivalent to VW, which nobody seems to consider a low quality car. https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-initial-quality-study-iqs https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-init...
- colordrops 4y ago
  I have one of the first 5000 VINs released and it's been totally fine. Haven't had problems scheduling appointments with Tesla and getting work done. Cracked the roof with a bad bike rack once and they replaced it within a day.
toddmorey 4y ago
Manufacturing has improved a bit, but these aren't designed to be high quality cars in the same way Toyota has worked quality into their culture. Also, improvement in initial issues has been unfortunately offset by reduction in service quality. It's impossible to get timely service appointments now.
- speedgoose 4y ago
  Toyota may have reliable cars but they also have unreliable ones. Like their latest very disappointing and far from high quality EV that is also unreliable as the first batches were losing their wheels. Disclaimer: I don’t like Toyota because of their disdain and lies about EVs.
voski 4y ago
I think you will like the model 3 more than a volt or a bolt. I am in a similar situation as you. I want to get rid of my model 3 but I am not sure what to replace it with… No EV exists with the same performance in that price range. I do not like my model 3. Tesla service is not trustworthy in my experience. My car was delivered with minor fit and finish issues. I despise the lack of apple car play or android auto.
- highwaylights 4y ago
  If this is legit (and I don't really doubt that it is other than it's so rare to hear someone complain about Tesla while simultaneously owning a Tesla), then I'd love to hear more about this. You say the car has minor fit and finish issues, but that's clearly not what would motivate you to get rid of it. CarPlay / AA is fixable I imagine. Is there anything else that's gone wrong with your experience? I say this as someone who has eyeballed the Model 3 but never committed, and I'd be interested to hear about any negatives (as the internet hype mafia makes it difficult to see these stories).
  - natch 4y ago
    Driving addiction could be a negative for some people. Seriously. The car is so fun it messes with your limbic system. For AWD and up models at least but I hear the RWD models are still fun. Myself I embrace the fun carefully while keeping the addiction in check, at least that’s what I tell myself.
    - dzhiurgis 4y ago
      I drove Kona EV for few months and I think EV's have just too much torque, especially at lower speeds. Extra torque from likes of Tesla at high speeds are great for overtaking, but going 0-60 in seconds is recipe for missing a corner. I don't expect this to be regulated, but it makes sense why most EV's cap on 8s 0-60.
      - natch 4y ago
        The torque is there if you press the pedal down more than 1/4 or so but you barely need to touch the pedal. It’s just pedal control. Use of the torque is entirely optional. Most people don’t go 0-60 in three seconds while cornering.
cs702 4y ago
My experience with quality as the owner of two Teslas, including a Model 3 purchased within the past year: * Tesla fit and finish has improved but IMHO isn't yet quite on par with, say, MB and BMW -- e.g., panels and seals don't seem to be as perfectly aligned, and some gaps seem as if they're just a little wider than in those other two brands. However, I much prefer Tesla's interior -- modern, simple, uncluttered. Every other vehicle interior now feels cluttered and last-century to me. * Tesla reliability has been amazing for me. No regular check-ups or oil changes required! And once the novelty wears off, the vehicles just keep working, and they don't seem to age as much. Our other Tesla is two years old now and its interior still feels brand new. It seems Tesla has chosen materials for the interior that feel "artificial" and "light" but somehow last and last and last without showing any wear and tear.
- bhauer 4y ago
  I have roughly the same experience with my Model 3. Fit and finish is acceptable, matching the entry-level luxury vehicles I have owned in the past (vehicles from Acura, BMW, Infiniti, etc.) The quality of materials is debatable since, for example, Tesla exclusively uses synthetic material and no leather. But as you point out, the durability of these materials seems very good. Even with routine leather care, my previous vehicle with a leather interior showed more significant signs of wear at the same point in its life.
- dagw 4y ago
  panels and seals are not as perfectly aligned, and some gaps seem as if they're just a little wider than in those other two brands. I see this complaint a lot, but I've never understood how serious it is. Is it purely an aesthetic thing or does it actually effect the the longevity or road worthiness of the car in any way?
  - bhauer 4y ago
    My Acura had some slightly misaligned panels and they never contributed any perceptible issue to the road worthiness of that car during my ~15 years of ownership. There were some interior rattles over time, but I've never had a car that didn't eventually develop some rattles. I have not observed any panel misalignment on my Model 3.
songshu 4y ago
The Volt was an instant classic and you're very lucky to have one. IMO the best EVs right now are coming out of Korea but things are moving very fast and I'm expecting good things from the big 3.
alchemist1e9 4y ago
If you have Volt and want a very reliable without troubles EV only substitute that is good value, take a look at Nissan Leaf. Yes there is talk it will be replaced in 2025, however it is the oldest and most dependable EV out there, current 2nd generation is exceeding the 1st in reliability, which was already the most reliable EV by far. It’s not sexy or has cool flat screens or futuristic controls. Instead it just works, well, and for low price. Some passengers don’t even realize they are in an EV until they notice it’s too quiet. I’m sure this comment will tick off lots of other fanboys who will come bashing it, but it’s nonsense.
- 1053r 4y ago
  Only if you want a battery that will die fast. Nissan made an insane decision early on to not heat or cool their batteries, and also not go with a battery chemistry that is resistant to degradation in the heat. 10 years in, all those early LEAFs have been scrapped or needed battery swaps due to like 75%!!! range loss in some cases! Meanwhile, Tesla, while notorious for fit/finish issues, has similar vintage cars that are still on their first battery with less than 20% loss of range. Yes, the LEAF is "reliable." It reliably goes when you step on the accelerator, and everything else is reliable as well, except for the drivetrain, which reliably loses range to the point where the car is totaled because Nissan raised battery prices just as a tidal wave of vehicles needed them. There's a reason Tesla is outselling every other EV in North America. Part of it is that they are able to source materials, but they are the only ones with a "good enough" mix of reliability and build quality on everything but the drivetrain, a bulletproof drivetrain, and a reliable and widespread charging network. Teslas aren't perfect, and there's room for a fast follower company to beat them, especially on fit, finish, convenience, and luxurious cabins, but that would require an Apple like attention to both detail and supply chains.
  - alchemist1e9 4y ago
    Totally false information. Though a common misconception that comes from the Nissan Leaf being the first mass produced EV and the first to discover issues with battery degradation in hot or cold climates, this was an issue in 1st generation that is long gone, yet your out of date narrative has stuck in many minds. https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/21/surprise-nissan-leaf-batteries-last-much-longer-than-expected/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/21/surprise-nissan-leaf-ba... Your 75% number is completely absurd and fabricated. Teslas are a different price range than a Leaf and frankly not worth it my opinion.
natch 4y ago
Yes.
cosgrove 4y ago
Get a Model Y instead of a Model 3 if you can swing it and don't mind the crossover platform vs. sedan. The number of parts in a Model Y is even less than a 3 due to the gigacastings. Plus: hatchback! Who doesn't love a hatchback?

bagels 4y ago

They're a lot better than when the model 3 first came out. There are still some fit and finish issues in body panels though, the standard is not up to any other manufacturer there.

speedgoose 4y ago
In the price range for sure, but you can find a lot worse at lower prices. The Chinese and German Tesla are also fine in terms of body panel gaps.

fallingknife 4y ago

Anecdotally, between friends and family, I know 5 people who have bought them and all love them. Tesla does rank near the bottom in "initial quality" but when you actually look at the numbers, it's not a dramatic difference. They have 25% more problems than the industry average, and are about equivalent to VW, which nobody seems to consider a low quality car. https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-initial-quality-study-iqs https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-init...

colordrops 4y ago
I have one of the first 5000 VINs released and it's been totally fine. Haven't had problems scheduling appointments with Tesla and getting work done. Cracked the roof with a bad bike rack once and they replaced it within a day.

toddmorey 4y ago

Manufacturing has improved a bit, but these aren't designed to be high quality cars in the same way Toyota has worked quality into their culture. Also, improvement in initial issues has been unfortunately offset by reduction in service quality. It's impossible to get timely service appointments now.

speedgoose 4y ago
Toyota may have reliable cars but they also have unreliable ones. Like their latest very disappointing and far from high quality EV that is also unreliable as the first batches were losing their wheels. Disclaimer: I don’t like Toyota because of their disdain and lies about EVs.

voski 4y ago

I think you will like the model 3 more than a volt or a bolt. I am in a similar situation as you. I want to get rid of my model 3 but I am not sure what to replace it with… No EV exists with the same performance in that price range. I do not like my model 3. Tesla service is not trustworthy in my experience. My car was delivered with minor fit and finish issues. I despise the lack of apple car play or android auto.

highwaylights 4y ago
If this is legit (and I don't really doubt that it is other than it's so rare to hear someone complain about Tesla while simultaneously owning a Tesla), then I'd love to hear more about this. You say the car has minor fit and finish issues, but that's clearly not what would motivate you to get rid of it. CarPlay / AA is fixable I imagine. Is there anything else that's gone wrong with your experience? I say this as someone who has eyeballed the Model 3 but never committed, and I'd be interested to hear about any negatives (as the internet hype mafia makes it difficult to see these stories).
- natch 4y ago
  Driving addiction could be a negative for some people. Seriously. The car is so fun it messes with your limbic system. For AWD and up models at least but I hear the RWD models are still fun. Myself I embrace the fun carefully while keeping the addiction in check, at least that’s what I tell myself.
  - dzhiurgis 4y ago
    I drove Kona EV for few months and I think EV's have just too much torque, especially at lower speeds. Extra torque from likes of Tesla at high speeds are great for overtaking, but going 0-60 in seconds is recipe for missing a corner. I don't expect this to be regulated, but it makes sense why most EV's cap on 8s 0-60.
    - natch 4y ago
      The torque is there if you press the pedal down more than 1/4 or so but you barely need to touch the pedal. It’s just pedal control. Use of the torque is entirely optional. Most people don’t go 0-60 in three seconds while cornering.

cs702 4y ago

My experience with quality as the owner of two Teslas, including a Model 3 purchased within the past year: * Tesla fit and finish has improved but IMHO isn't yet quite on par with, say, MB and BMW -- e.g., panels and seals don't seem to be as perfectly aligned, and some gaps seem as if they're just a little wider than in those other two brands. However, I much prefer Tesla's interior -- modern, simple, uncluttered. Every other vehicle interior now feels cluttered and last-century to me. * Tesla reliability has been amazing for me. No regular check-ups or oil changes required! And once the novelty wears off, the vehicles just keep working, and they don't seem to age as much. Our other Tesla is two years old now and its interior still feels brand new. It seems Tesla has chosen materials for the interior that feel "artificial" and "light" but somehow last and last and last without showing any wear and tear.

bhauer 4y ago
I have roughly the same experience with my Model 3. Fit and finish is acceptable, matching the entry-level luxury vehicles I have owned in the past (vehicles from Acura, BMW, Infiniti, etc.) The quality of materials is debatable since, for example, Tesla exclusively uses synthetic material and no leather. But as you point out, the durability of these materials seems very good. Even with routine leather care, my previous vehicle with a leather interior showed more significant signs of wear at the same point in its life.
dagw 4y ago
panels and seals are not as perfectly aligned, and some gaps seem as if they're just a little wider than in those other two brands. I see this complaint a lot, but I've never understood how serious it is. Is it purely an aesthetic thing or does it actually effect the the longevity or road worthiness of the car in any way?
- bhauer 4y ago
  My Acura had some slightly misaligned panels and they never contributed any perceptible issue to the road worthiness of that car during my ~15 years of ownership. There were some interior rattles over time, but I've never had a car that didn't eventually develop some rattles. I have not observed any panel misalignment on my Model 3.

songshu 4y ago

The Volt was an instant classic and you're very lucky to have one. IMO the best EVs right now are coming out of Korea but things are moving very fast and I'm expecting good things from the big 3.

alchemist1e9 4y ago

If you have Volt and want a very reliable without troubles EV only substitute that is good value, take a look at Nissan Leaf. Yes there is talk it will be replaced in 2025, however it is the oldest and most dependable EV out there, current 2nd generation is exceeding the 1st in reliability, which was already the most reliable EV by far. It’s not sexy or has cool flat screens or futuristic controls. Instead it just works, well, and for low price. Some passengers don’t even realize they are in an EV until they notice it’s too quiet. I’m sure this comment will tick off lots of other fanboys who will come bashing it, but it’s nonsense.

1053r 4y ago
Only if you want a battery that will die fast. Nissan made an insane decision early on to not heat or cool their batteries, and also not go with a battery chemistry that is resistant to degradation in the heat. 10 years in, all those early LEAFs have been scrapped or needed battery swaps due to like 75%!!! range loss in some cases! Meanwhile, Tesla, while notorious for fit/finish issues, has similar vintage cars that are still on their first battery with less than 20% loss of range. Yes, the LEAF is "reliable." It reliably goes when you step on the accelerator, and everything else is reliable as well, except for the drivetrain, which reliably loses range to the point where the car is totaled because Nissan raised battery prices just as a tidal wave of vehicles needed them. There's a reason Tesla is outselling every other EV in North America. Part of it is that they are able to source materials, but they are the only ones with a "good enough" mix of reliability and build quality on everything but the drivetrain, a bulletproof drivetrain, and a reliable and widespread charging network. Teslas aren't perfect, and there's room for a fast follower company to beat them, especially on fit, finish, convenience, and luxurious cabins, but that would require an Apple like attention to both detail and supply chains.
- alchemist1e9 4y ago
  Totally false information. Though a common misconception that comes from the Nissan Leaf being the first mass produced EV and the first to discover issues with battery degradation in hot or cold climates, this was an issue in 1st generation that is long gone, yet your out of date narrative has stuck in many minds. https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/21/surprise-nissan-leaf-batteries-last-much-longer-than-expected/ https://cleantechnica.com/2022/09/21/surprise-nissan-leaf-ba... Your 75% number is completely absurd and fabricated. Teslas are a different price range than a Leaf and frankly not worth it my opinion.

natch 4y ago

Yes.

cosgrove 4y ago

Get a Model Y instead of a Model 3 if you can swing it and don't mind the crossover platform vs. sedan. The number of parts in a Model Y is even less than a 3 due to the gigacastings. Plus: hatchback! Who doesn't love a hatchback?