As a Tesla owner, I have always been impressed with the performance and technology of my Model 3. However, earlier this month, I started noticing a strange noise coming from the left front wheel area while driving. It was a foreign sound that I couldn’t quite place, but it was definitely noticeable, especially when turning the wheels.
Concerned about the issue, I decided to make a Tesla Service appointment to have it looked at. When I brought my car into the service center, I spoke with the service advisor who informed me that Tesla had a technical service bulletin for about two years regarding lubricating the ball joints on the front control arms of all Model 3 vehicles during routine service appointments.
The service advisor explained that control arms are considered wearable parts and are not covered under warranty once the vehicle reaches a certain age or mileage. He mentioned that Tesla had revised the part since my car was originally manufactured, but unfortunately, there was nothing more he could do in terms of covering the cost of the replacement.
After the inspection, the service center replaced both front upper control arms due to worn out ball joints, costing me $182.48 for parts and $55.50 for labor, plus tax, totaling $255.24. While this wasn’t a huge expense in the grand scheme of ownership, it did bring up the question of whether Tesla should be responsible for common part failures like this.
I left the service center feeling satisfied with the quick and efficient service, as well as the touchless experience through the Tesla phone app. While I appreciated the improvements in customer service compared to previous experiences, I couldn’t help but wonder if Tesla should do more to address potential issues with the front control arms for owners.
If you’re a Tesla owner experiencing any noise or issues with your suspension, I highly recommend having it looked at before your warranty expires to potentially save yourself a few hundred dollars in repairs. And if you’ve had a similar experience with your Tesla, I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether Tesla should take more responsibility for common part failures like this.
Overall, my service visit on November 8th, 2022, was a reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance and the evolving nature of Tesla‘s approach to improving their vehicles. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing your feedback in the comments below. See you in the next blog post!
