The paint on the doorsteps of the new Tesla Model 3 is “getting out of sight”, are users spoiling it? Opinions plus proposed solution

For about a month now, voices have been heard on our Forum that the paint is peeling off the thresholds of the new Tesla Model 3. At the Tesla dealership, they answered that the opinion of the service is needed, and this - we already know this from Readers - is ambiguous. There was even an opinion from experts that Model 3 owners who worked too closely with high-pressure cleaners were hurting themselves. Tesla should be aware of this issue and is already sending out mobile services analyzing the issue to some internet users.

Beware of the paint on the doorstep of the new Tesla 3. Recommended mud flaps and protective film (PPF)

Table of contents

• Beware of the paint on the doorstep of the new Tesla 3. Recommended mud flaps and protective film (PPF)
  • Better to prevent than to cure

The first post on the EV forum on this topic is dated April 28, 2021. In Tesla, which covered 2 kilometers around Warsaw in 3 months, the left threshold looks like this. The podicool mold came to the conclusion that the primer did not have time to dry before applying the last layers of varnish, so now the whole thing comes off even with minor mechanical injury:

The problem arises all over the world and the most painful is the case of Tesla production in late 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.exclusively at the Fremont plant (USA). From photographs found on the Internet, we conclude that varnish can peel off regardless of color - but perhaps the point is that on white you simply don't see that something has disappeared, because the background is light gray (source, more photos here, film from Mr. Przemysław's red Tesla HERE):

Our readers advise, when trying to determine if a flooring is at risk, not to be influenced by the flexibility of the flooring at the bottom of the threshold. This area is intentionally soft, probably so as not to break it too easily. By the way, the opinion of an expert was quoted, who claims that:

[Large] damage seen in photographs is caused by too close handling of high pressure cleaners.

A jet of water tears the varnish on some unevenness. Domestic washing machines are especially problematic, which try to create the impression of "power" by narrowing the jet of water.

Better to prevent than to cure

In the Polish showroom of Tesla, we were told that “he heard about several cases"And this"you need to wait for the opinion of the service“. And the service has very different opinions, it can decide that it is the fault of the user, it can also decide on a warranty repair. Based on the feedback we've collected, the best way to get rid of the problem is:

• Avoid washing with too much pressure"Thoroughly clean the paintwork" or "wash off unpleasant dirt",
• purchase of mud flapswhich will protect the threshold from pebbles from tires (original HERE),
• pasting thresholds with protective film (PPF), which can cost from a few hundred to a little over a thousand zlotys.

It is worth adding that Tesla is clearly aware of the ailments, or at least looking for ways to better protect sills without the need for the extra plastic caps that have become the industry standard. The Tesla Model Y is sold in Canada (and only Model Y) Mudguards and screen protectors have been standard since Q2021 XNUMX.... So far, only films have been released in the United States.

Sources: Tesla Model 3 LR 2021 varnish 🙁 [Forum www.elektrowoz.pl], Tesla Model 3 frets painted in watercolors [www.elektrowoz.pl editors are not responsible and cannot check many of the materials posted on Facebook]

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