Freemont, California — Tesla has admitted its Model 3s have a design flaw that causes the rear bumper to fall off after driving through heavy rain or water puddles.
It was two years ago that Tesla stated they would look “into the matter.”
Tesla admitted to a design defect in the Model 3s built before May 21, 2019, and the EV giant will perform the repair under warranty.
Speculation has arisen that Tesla admitted the issue after a video showing a Model 3’s loose bumper went viral online.
Eric Bolduc, an anti-rust body shop owner in Quebec, who specializes in electric vehicles, believes the issue could be linked to the rear body panel. Bolduc said he has worked on about 25 Model 3 vehicles so far and he always finds about 10-20 lbs of sand and dirt stuck in the panel due to what he thinks is a lack of proper drainage.
However, Tesla did make an official statement: “In rare instances, certain components on Model 3 vehicles built at the Fremont Factory before May 21, 2019, might be damaged when driving through standing water on a road or highway with poor drainage or pooling water. In these rare instances, the rear fascia might detach from the vehicle, and harnesses and/or body fasteners/mounts might also be damaged. This document clarifies that damage caused during these instances is covered under warranty.”
After May 19, 2019, Tesla apparently changed the rear fascia diffuser as well as the front and mid area shields on the Model 3. It seems like the previous design of these parts had contributed to the issue of water getting into the rear panel and pulling off the bumper.
