# What to Look For When Buying a Used Tesla Model 3 > What to check on a used Model 3, what a problem looks like, and when to walk away. Covers: Original (2019–2023), Highland (2023 on). Last updated: 8 October 2026. Web page: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-tesla-model-3-inspection-checklist. Printable PDF: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-tesla-model-3-inspection-checklist.pdf. ## Common Problems on a Used Tesla Model 3 The most commonly reported problems on a used Tesla Model 3 are a worn battery that cuts the range, knocks and creaks from the front suspension, and a weak 12V battery that can stop the car waking up. Check the glass roof for cracks and the underfloor battery for damage, and make sure the seller removes the car from their Tesla account. ### A Worn Battery That Cuts the Range A Model 3 has a large battery under the floor. Like a phone battery, it loses capacity with age and use, and a lot of fast charging can wear it faster, so a worn battery means a shorter range. Replacing it costs a large share of the car's value. Ask the seller to charge the car to 100% just before you arrive, then note the range shown on the screen and compare it with the range that version had new. Look underneath for dents, deep scrapes or cracked covers on the battery, and check the screen for battery alerts. Ask for a battery health report and any battery or drive-unit repair invoices. The battery has its own warranty with a time and kilometre limit, so check the start date. A modest range drop is normal; a big one is something to price in, or a reason to walk away. ### Knocks and Creaks From the Front Suspension Some Model 3s develop knocks, creaks or clunks from the front suspension as its joints and arms wear. An electric car is quiet, so suspension noises that a petrol engine would drown out are easy to hear. On the drive, go over speed humps and rough roads slowly, and turn the wheel at low speed. Listen for knocks, creaks or clunks from the front, and feel for looseness through the steering. A hum that grows with speed is often a wheel bearing. Ask whether any suspension parts have been replaced, with invoices; the seller can show past service visits in their Tesla app. Worn suspension parts are a moderate repair, so price them in. ### A Weak 12V Battery As well as its big battery, a Model 3 has a small 12V battery that powers the computers and wakes the car up. When it weakens, the car can show an alert to replace it, or fail to wake up at all, even though the big battery is fine. Check the alerts on the screen for a 12V battery warning, and ask when it was last replaced and whether the car has ever failed to wake up. A new 12V battery is a cheap fix, so it isn't a reason to walk away, but an old one is worth pricing in. ### Cracks in the Glass Roof The Model 3's roof is made of large glass panels. A stone strike, a twisting body after a crash, or a heavy roof load can crack them, and a replacement panel is costly. Look along the roof in daylight for cracks, chips and star marks, and from inside for water marks or stains around the edges. A cracked roof panel needs replacing, so get a quote and price it in. Cracks alongside other signs of crash repair are a reason to have the car checked by a specialist. ## Which Tesla Model 3 Years to Avoid? No Tesla Model 3 year is one to avoid outright. Which problems a particular car has depends on its generation, its battery and how it was used, so judge the one in front of you rather than the year alone, starting with its recalls and reported faults (Shufti looks these up from the listing). - **Original (2019–2023).** Most have done enough kilometres for wear items to come due: check the service history for regular servicing, and whether tyres, brakes and the battery need replacing. - **Highland (2023 on).** The current model. Check how much of the new-car warranty is left and that servicing has kept it valid. ## Tesla Model 3 Inspection Checklist Tick it if it's fine. Cross it if it isn't, and note what you found so you can price it into your offer. - Safety critical: Affects how safely it drives or protects you in a crash. Best to have a mechanic check it before you buy. - Negotiate: Costs money to fix, from wear to major repairs. Get a quote and take it off the price. ### Before You Go - [ ] **Get the VIN and rego** before you travel. A seller who won't share them is a red flag on its own. - [ ] **Know the version:** rear-wheel drive, Long Range or Performance. Their battery sizes and new-car range differ, so look up the range it had new. - [ ] **Ask the seller to charge it to 100%** just before you arrive, so you can read the full range on the screen. - [ ] **Ask how it was charged and used:** home charging, mostly fast chargers, rideshare or fleet? Bring a torch and a friend. ### Exterior - [ ] **Panels and paint.** Uneven gaps, mismatched colour or overspray on seals and trim mean crash repair. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Glass roof.** No cracks, chips or water marks inside. The roof is large glass panels; a replacement is costly. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Hail and dents.** Look along the bonnet, boot and doors at a low angle to the light. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Wheels.** Kerbed alloys or missing wheel covers. A badly kerbed wheel can be bent, causing vibration. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Cameras and lights.** Camera lenses on the doors, pillars, bumper and behind the mirror are clean and uncracked; all lights work. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Charge port.** The flap opens and shuts; the socket is clean, dry and has no burn marks or bent pins. (Negotiate) - [ ] **VIN plate** (in a door frame or under the windscreen) is there, untouched, and matches the papers. ### Under the Bonnet - [ ] **Front boot (under the bonnet).** Even panel gaps, untouched bolts and no paint on seals. This is the crumple zone; fresh welds or new parts mean a front-end crash. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Water.** Front boot, rear boot and the well under the boot floor are dry, with no rust or tide marks. Tide marks can mean flood damage. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Small 12V battery.** Ask when it was last replaced. An alert to replace it means it's due; a flat one can stop the car waking up. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Fluids.** Washer fluid is topped up. Ask when the brake fluid was last checked or changed. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Rear boot.** Floor, latch and seals undamaged; the boot opens and closes cleanly from the screen and button. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Repair kit.** There's no spare wheel; check the tyre repair kit or inflator is there. (Negotiate) ### Underbody and Wheels - [ ] **Underfloor battery.** Look under the sills and floor for dents, deep scrapes, cracked or missing covers, or any leak. Damage here needs a Tesla or EV specialist check before you buy. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Lifting points.** The jacking points behind each wheel aren't crushed or cracked. Jacking in the wrong place can damage the battery. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Tyre tread** above the wear bars, worn evenly. EVs are heavy and quick; uneven wear means the wheels are out of line. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Tyre age.** The 4-digit code on the side is the week and year made (2319 = week 23, 2019). Over ~6 years: budget for new ones. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Rust and crash repairs.** Bent metal, fresh welds or new black coating in one spot; damage near the suspension mounts. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Suspension.** Push down on each corner: it should bounce back once and settle. Oily shock absorbers leak. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brakes.** Discs not heavily rusted or grooved. An EV slows itself mostly with its motor, so brakes can rust from too little use. (Negotiate) ### Interior and Electrics - [ ] **Alerts.** Open the alerts on the screen: no airbag, brake, steering, battery or drive-system messages. Ask about any alert you see. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Battery range.** At 100%, compare the range shown with the range this version had new. A big gap can mean a worn battery; ask for a battery health report. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Touchscreen** starts up, responds without lag or freezing, with no flicker or dead patches. Almost every control is on the screen. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Seatbelts** pull out fully, retract and latch, with no fraying. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Wear matches the kilometres.** Steering wheel, seat bolsters, armrests and rear seats. Rideshare cars wear the rear seats and door cards. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Air con and heating** blow cold and hot, without a musty smell. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Keys and electrics.** Key cards and phone key work; windows, mirrors, cameras and seat heaters work. (Negotiate) ### Test Drive - [ ] **Power.** Smooth, strong pull with no stutter, power warnings or sudden loss of power. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Drive noises.** A faint hum is normal. A loud whine, grinding or clunk as you speed up or slow down needs a specialist. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Slowing down.** Lift off the accelerator: the car slows smoothly and steadily, with no jerks. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brakes.** Firm pedal; stops straight with no pulling, pulsing or grinding. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Steering and suspension.** Drives straight; no knocks, creaks or clunks over bumps. A hum that grows with speed is often a wheel bearing. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Charging.** Plug it in at a charger: it starts charging, the port light turns green and no error shows. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Afterwards,** check for new alerts and that the range dropped about as much as the distance driven. (Negotiate) ### Documentation - [ ] **Seller's ID** matches the rego papers, and the VIN matches on the papers and the car. - [ ] **Service and battery records.** Service invoices and any battery or drive-unit repairs. The seller can show past service visits in their Tesla app. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Battery warranty.** The battery and drive unit have their own warranty, longer than the basic one, with a km limit. Check the start date. - [ ] **Account transfer.** The seller must remove the car from their Tesla account at handover, or they can still unlock and track it. - [ ] **Charging gear.** The portable charging cable and adapters are included and work. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Paid features.** Check which software upgrades are listed on the car, and confirm with Tesla which ones carry over to you. ## Stay Safe Never go under a car held up only by a jack, and never open the radiator or coolant cap on a hot engine. Keep hands, hair and loose clothing clear of fans and belts when the engine is running, and do checks under the bonnet with it switched off where you can. On the test drive, hold a current licence, confirm the car is registered and insured, obey road rules, and only brake hard when the road behind is clear. Meet in a safe, public-facing place, take someone with you, and don't carry large amounts of cash to a viewing. ## Disclaimer Shufti is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla; Tesla and Model 3 are trademarks of Tesla, Inc. Figures are counts from Shufti's analysis of official records and published reports, not a statement that any particular vehicle is affected. This checklist is general information only and is not professional, mechanical, legal or financial advice. It covers common checks, not every possible fault, and a car can pass every item here and still have problems. It is not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic, which is worth considering before you buy, especially if anything tagged Safety critical turns up. Repair costs vary widely; get your own quotes. Roadworthy, registration and transfer rules differ by state, so check with your state road authority. Private sales generally don't come with the consumer guarantees that apply when you buy from a dealer. You use this checklist at your own risk and, to the extent permitted by law, Shufti accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from its use. ## Buying a Used Tesla Model 3: Questions Answered ### Is a used Tesla Model 3 reliable? It depends more on the particular car than the badge: how it was driven, loaded and serviced. Work through the commonly reported problems above, read the service history for servicing done on time, and run a PPSR check. ### Which Tesla Model 3 years should I avoid? No Tesla Model 3 year is one to avoid outright. Which problems a particular car has depends on its generation, its battery and how it was used, so judge the one in front of you rather than the year alone, starting with its recalls and reported faults (Shufti looks these up from the listing). This checklist covers the Original (2019–2023) and Highland (2023 on) Tesla Model 3. Problems reported across them include a worn battery that cuts the range, knocks and creaks from the front suspension and a weak 12V battery. ### How many kilometres is too many for a used Tesla Model 3? Kilometres matter less than the battery's health. A high-kilometre car charged mostly at home can have a healthier battery than a low-kilometre one charged mostly at fast chargers or used for rideshare. Compare the range at 100% with the range it had new, ask for a battery health report, and check the battery warranty's kilometre limit. ### Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a used Tesla Model 3? It's worth it if you can. A specialist can check the battery's health and the underfloor battery case, which most buyers can't assess themselves. Most buyers don't book one, though, so whatever you decide, check the car thoroughly yourself with this checklist first. See Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it? (https://shufti.com.au/guides/is-a-pre-purchase-inspection-worth-it) ### How do I check a used Tesla Model 3 for money owing or a write-off? Run a PPSR check with the car's VIN. It shows whether there's finance owing and whether the car has been reported stolen or written off, and costs $2. Run it on the day you pay. See What a PPSR check covers and what it doesn't (https://shufti.com.au/guides/what-is-a-ppsr-check) --- Shufti is an Australian used car inspection app for iPhone and Android that tailors the inspection to the exact car you're looking at. It is not affiliated with Shufti Pro, the identity verification (KYC) company. From the listing link, it builds every check around that car's make, model and year, odometer reading and the seller's description. It runs PPSR and government recall checks, crosschecks a database of more than 3 million recalls and owner complaints, flags problems from your photos and audio, plans a test drive, produces a shareable report with repair cost estimates, and coaches you through the negotiation. A check costs $24.99, or $49.99 for three, including PPSR and recall checks. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection costs $250–350. Made by Frontpoint Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 23 669 870 366), Melbourne, Australia. Contact: hello@shufti.com.au. Download: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/shufti-used-car-inspection/id6795718336?pt=129235165&ct=Website%20guide&mt=8), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.shufti.shufti_app&referrer=utm_source%3Dshufti.com.au%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite%26utm_campaign%3DWebsite%2520guide%26utm_content%3Dllms).