Model 3 Build Quality Issues?

So you don’t think these issues are of consideration when you buy a $50k vehicle?!

 

Quality issues? Tesla model 3, 92% customer satisfaction, the highest rated car, higher than more expensive cars like Porsche, Corvette, & MBZ. Avalon 88%, Prius 86%. So yeah, quality issues are important and Tesla has nailed it with the model 3.

I can hear the "but, but, but"s coming.

 

Build quality. Sure, a good topic. Is there really statistical evidence of more issues than other cars? Not anecdotes on you tube? Also consider that the average Tesla buyer is probably more picky and more technologically inclined to post a video about it. I'm not saying they don' have real issues.

Somehow, a thread with a title about build quality evolved into a discussion about the buttons and user interface. Again, this is a good topic to discuss...but off-topic relative to build quality. Probably a good idea to drive a Model 3 for a week in order to properly discuss

Mike

 

i think the problem here is that we don't have a measure of quality issues of other 50k vehicles.

assuming that there are few, if any, would be a mistake.

and assuming that they get taken care of readily under warranty to be a mistake.

and to assume that they are inexpensive to repair out of warranty would be a mistake.

we all know the history and reputation of luxury german vehicles. it's not how much they cost, it's how much they cost to own.
it's just that the spotlight is not on them from the oil companies and stock market shorters

 

I believe CR covers the BMW 3 Series and other Model 3 competitors, and they do have that number of problems per 100 cars metric for brands.

 

Well there were issues this past week with door handles not working during the deep freeze. These things are odd ball items, but still should not happen.

 

You are right, that shouldn't happen. That's why the model 3 only received the highest score of 92 rather a perfect score of 100.

If you look casually at any car, they all have problems that should not happen. Since this is a Prius forum let's look at the Prius, which scored an 86, for problems that should not happen, one major problem a month:

2018

1. October
   • Prius Recalled for Stalling Out Instead of Limping Home
     October 05
     Toyota is recalling 2.4 million Prius and Prius v vehicles worldwide to fix a problem with the hybrid system’s “limp home” mode. The Prius and...
     
2. September
   • Prius Recalled Worldwide Over Threat of Electrical Fires
     September 05
     The threat of electrical fires has led Toyota to recall a million Prius cars worldwide, with 192,000 of those vehicles in the United States. An...
     
3. July
   • Air Conditioner Lawsuit Complains About Mold Smell From Toyota HVAC
     July 31
     Toyota has blamed a musty A/C smell on microbes [i.e., mold] growing o the evaporator surface and now a lawsuit wants them to do something...
     

​

 

I've had to force plenty of car doors open that had frozen shut.
Back when you needed a key to unlock the door, they sold little sprays of de-icer for specifically thawing the lock out.
The battery can get too cold to operate the power locks, or start the car, in the temperatures many saw recently.
It may have reach the temperatures Toyota says to operate a Prime in.

 

My first car had the door handles/locks freeze in a snow storm. People told me to spray WD-40 or graphite into the lock. I laughed at them -- there was a solid block of ice covering the whole thing. After about 5 minutes with a propane blow torch I was able to unlock and pull the handle. Ha. The door didn't move until I chipped away and torched off more ice. I never thought that it was the car maker's fault...although lots of other things were.

Is there a fix for this -- sure, put remote control heaters in the door handle and all around the door frame.
That is pretty expensive to do I would think. Second best: remotely start the heater like the Model 3.

Mike

 

I held 2 Model 3 reservations since they opened them up online. I've since cancelled.

Model S is one of my favorite cars of all time, but I was extremely underwhelmed with the Model 3 overall.

In my opinion, Model S is the best car available for $75k+. I've driven a Lexus GS and a Mercedes S-class on more than one occasion. They do nothing for me. I'd much rather have electrons for fuel than any of those fancy features.

But with Model 3, all of that was turned on its head. The car is barren inside, like a Scion or a Mazda. I think the Prius Prime Advanced actually has more amenities. The price is frankly ludicrous even after the price drops (it was over $50k when I test drove). Even at $45k where it is now, there is simply no value there.

Even if I loved the car, I absolutely wouldn't buy one. I like reliable cars that are cheap to maintain. The Model 3 has neither of those qualities. The build issues are not just a few loud customers, they are systemic, well-documented, and backed by data (real data, not anecdotes):

High warranty costs reflect Tesla’s struggle with quality | Reuters

https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/henry-payne/2019/02/04/tesla-duality-vexes-hot-selling-brand/2730714002/

Tesla won’t test Model 3’s assembly line before starting full-scale production

Tesla Model 3 build quality explained - Business Insider

All of this to say nothing of the jackass CEO, who as far as I can tell, is just Donald Trump minus the bankruptcies and fake tan.

 

You posted a whole bunch of opinions and then called them facts.
Having driven the Model S for over 5 years, and then a Model 3 for a year, I respectfully disagree with your opinion.

In my opinion, the Model 3 is a much more complete car than the Model S. The only thing the Model S has on the 3 is size, and cost. IMO the smaller, less expensive Model 3 is more desirable.

I have had far fewer issues with a first year Model 3 than our first year Model 3. In my experience, the Model 3 reliability is very good.

As for the style, it is a very clean contemporary look. For me, that is perfect and I wouldn’t have it any way. I am so sick of cluttered interiors. However, if someone doesn’t like the style, I could see it off-putting.

 

yeah, those links are just rehash. if you don't like the car, i'm in. it's not for me either. but if it was, nothing in those links would make me buy any other similarly priced vehicle over it.

 

MEH

 

I started to go through your links one-by-one and read them to see what the "facts" and "real data" were about the Model 3 issues.
Your first link is 3 years old and talks about problems with the Model S which is "one of your favorites of all time"

Help me understand why I should bother to look at the other links.

Mike

 

How do you know you don't like the car? Have you ever driven one? You sound like my wife, "But I don't like escargot" having never tried it. A friend of ours dared her to try it. She loved it and now orders it at every opportunity.

 

There’s a lot that goes into liking something.
In this case, I don’t like the price, proceed to exit.
You keep promising the 35k version, but I may not live to see it

 

Btw, your wife sounds like a smart lady.
I don’t like escargot or sushi, and I’ve never had either and never will