If the brakes or steering feel wrong
Pull over somewhere safe and switch off. If you're stuck on the road, get everyone away from the traffic and put your hazard lights on. Call roadside assistance if you have it, and 000 if anyone's hurt or in danger.
Tesla Model 3 service schedule
There isn't a logbook service every year. Tesla's Australian service manual says to check the condition of the brake fluid every 4 years, and to flush it only when that check says it's needed. An older Model 3 may well have reached that point without anyone mentioning it, so it's worth raising.
Beyond that, go by the Service > Maintenance screen in the car, which Tesla says shows the current recommendation for your car, and by what's actually worn.
Tesla Model 3 maintenance as the car ages
Time and kilometres bring ordinary jobs even to an EV. Tyres come first, because the car's weight and instant torque are hard on them. Rotating them on time helps them last.
Brakes are a quirk. The electric motor does much of the slowing, so pads last, but discs that rarely work hard can corrode. Have them looked at, even if they've got plenty of pad left. Suspension bushes, wheel alignment, wipers and the cabin filter round out the usual list.
An EV also has a small low-voltage battery that keeps the electronics alive. Warnings about it are worth acting on rather than ignoring.
Recalls on the Model 3
CarsGuide reported the software recall in November 2022 and said there was an easy fix. In January 2024 it reported thousands of 2022-23 Model 3 and Model Y cars recalled for a possible steering issue. Check your VIN on vehiclerecalls.gov.au, especially on a car you've bought second-hand. Tesla began refreshing the car in October 2023 in most markets, so know which version you've got.
What's yours and what's the mechanic's
You can
- Read the Service > Maintenance screen and note what's due.
- Check tyre pressures when the tyres are cold.
- Look at the tread across the full width of each tyre.
- Take a photo of any warning on the screen.
Leave to the mechanic
- Brake fluid checks and flushes.
- Tyre rotation, alignment and suspension work.
- Anything near the orange high-voltage cables, which is never a home job.
- High-voltage battery and drive unit work, by someone trained and equipped for it.
Our take on a Model 3
On an early car, we'd ask for one proper once-over rather than waiting for something to go wrong: brake fluid condition, disc surfaces, tyres, suspension and alignment. Ask the mechanic to write up what's due now and what can wait. Servicing by a qualified independent mechanic to Tesla's specifications doesn't by itself void a new car warranty, so keep the invoices. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.