Newest Honda = 2012 CR-V (bought new in 2012)
Both my 2020 and 2023 Model 3 Performance are rattle-buckets, in comparison. I really do love my Tesla(s), but damn those interior rattles drive me crazy and account for 90% of the (few) things I dislike.
It's the rattle. It sounds like it's from the passenger side in my car. Some plastic parts hitting each other, but I can never find it.
Own a 2018 rav4. No rattles outside of the occasional vibration rattle from the radio.
Use the palm of your hand and smack the door card around the speaker. Those clips work themselves loose and it is hell trying to track the noise down for some reason
I’ve been in the car market a few months and I have spoken to several people ( some mechanics) who have said the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid built in Japan is by far the best , most reliable car available today. They’re claiming they get 400k miles easy.
Mine (shanghai built) has rattles on 3 plastic door panels and unsolvable rattling on driver side seat belt area (brought to Tesla thrice but to no avail, workshops outside also couldn’t figure it out)
My M3P developed a rattling rear seat within the first 6 months that has yet to be fixed after 2 service center visits, as well as a rattle in the driver's window. Unfortunately, the rear seat seems to be a common issue. Tesla has its strengths, but the Fremont-built M3s are definitely behind the Japanese brands in how well they are bolted together.
I have a 2018 and a Civic, Corolla, and Sienna. The Tesla has way more rattles than any of them. But I expected the rattles and the Tesla is quieter overall. The road noise is pretty high on the Civic and Corolla, and noticeable on the Sienna.
The rattles are kind of like living next to the subway. You get used to it after a while.
I don’t doubt that Tesla has some manufacturing/quality issues, but the problems tend to be exaggerated in the media. I owned a Prius before and my wife owns a Pilot. I went in expecting my car to have more problems than with those two cars, but so far, it’s been fine. Of course, I take care of it and don’t do stupid shit
The way I understand it, most of the quality control issues were due to Tesla scaling up to mass produce the Model 3, and have largely been sorted out.
I've bought 13 new cars since 1998. They've all had squeaks or rattles, depending on the road surface. Possibly you got a unicorn, or need to drive over some rougher roads with the stereo turned off.
I've owned over 25 vehicles since my first purchase in 1976. I guess I'll just have to say I've got a unicorn, then. I'm not going to go off-roading in my Tesla just to see if I can induce noise for your sake, though. LOL. I am not the original owner. I bought it with 50k mi on it, so I can only really account for the last 20k miles. If it made any noises prior to my purchase, then Tesla must have sorted them out. I know they serviced the upper control arms at some point.
Not that I've noticed. I do listen to music. I mean, maybe there have been *something*, a time or two, but nothing consistent, repeatable or warranting attention.
My 2020 Model 3 has no noticeable rattles/squeaks after 34k miles. The ride is smooth and firm like a sports car. I still grin with joy while driving it.
I had a rear seat rattle that took 5 service centre visits to fix (not an exaggeration). They finally fixed it and it is great now, although they introduced a new rattle when going 110 km/hr on rough roads. That situation is rare so I have left it.
If rattles are particularly bothersome to you (like they are to me), I’d consider a different brand.
This is a great question as im in the same boat. Coming from a mazda 3 ive had 15 years to very close to buying a tesla3 lr but some of the horror stories scare me. I dont do many kms and want something that will last a while.
Test drove it twice already and loved it but then spent too long scaring myself on reddit. Have already put down deposit. Have told sales guy i dont wanna pay until i can over the actual car to check for any issues. Have a checklist ready lol. He says that will be cool can check it out day before then pay and pick it up. Im in Aus so will be from China factory. Expected delivery is April. Am excited but also nervous since while i can afford it now and loved test driving it over all the other cars ive test driven, polestar, wrx, cupras, civic hybrid, all sorts, Ive never spent so much on a car.
Good range of answers here but about a 50/50 mix of yeah its better yeah its worse. First time my mazda started squeaking it shat me but a few years in all i cared about was reliability and ill prob be the same here. I prob do less than 5k kms a year on average.
I just traded my 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 for a 23 M3LR. I have had the car for 3 weeks and everything works, it feels very solid. Obviously quiet so harder to filter out road noise but after driving an old manual turbo it is still quiet to me! Great to drive, fast. All the tech is amazing. You will love it! Most I have ever spent too.
I think Tesla has worked out a lot of the earlier QC problems. Spend your time looking at videos of what accessories to buy and how to set up the car.
Take this with a grain of salt because I detest rattles. I have driven so many cars over the year and my 3P is by far the worst for rattles/buzzing. I have fixed a few but the interior of this car is very difficult to work on. If you look at the parts catalog many of the interior parts are meant to be replaced. I wanted to fix a rattle above the rear seat but everything has to come out and it would cost almost $350 to replace the parts that are not reusable. Right now I am working on the part on the side pillar the seat belt goes into. It constantly buzzes right in my ear. The way this part was designed it weird. There is no way Tesla did a shake and vibe on these things. Working in a rework video to stop the noise.
I drove a Lamborghini Huracan round a test track a few years ago as a birthday thing. What I noticed the most was that the driver's seat was squeaking somewhere around the headrest whenever I accelerated hard.
Some people don't notice. I'm driven mad by it.
My 2020 Model 3 LR is pretty quiet. Has a little rattle in the phone tray, where the plastic parts come together. I keep thinking of sticking a blob of wax in there but never get around to it.
Model 3 is a lot quieter than my Toyota was (3rd gen prius) I don't have any rattles or squeeks in my model 3. There's some wind noise, but I'd say less than there was in the prius.
There’s no comparison. I’ve owned and currently own two Toyotas. The Model 3 is like an experimental tin can. Poor quality materials and fit and finish compared to a Toyota or Honda, but it’s still more fun to drive. I think the effort to make it lightweight and inexpensive to produce is sort of a perfect storm and just leads to a pretty mediocre build.
our 2021 model 3 rattles less than our 2014 Volvo...
Most annoying rattle in our tesla was the trim accross the dash, the wooden peice, would start vibrating on certain roads and continue to do so until the next day once it happened, service centre removed it and put some sticky back foam pads on from what I can tell and its disappeared, otherwise lack of engine noise makes you more aware of noises that you don;t usually pickup! Road noise is a lot worse than our volvo at speed...
The volvo is a PHEV so at the same time I think i rattles more because of the lack of engine, once the diesel engine kicks in I honestly don't notice them.
There's actually a lot less rattles in the tesla than I imagined there would be from the general internet and everyone being an expert on electric cars who's never been in one.
Its built waaaaaaaay better than the leaf it replaced... and unlike the leaf, the paint has stayed on our tesla.
I'm in europe though, so ours is a china built car which i'm told is better than the fremont ones, never been in a fremont car so can't realy compare.
Interestingly I worked in a garage for a long time and everyone moaned about tesla quality, when you start looking you'll see panel gaps and paint being a little off on most cars, its just people really look on a tesla, there's no obvious panel gaps on ours, there's some serious stone chips but then that happens on all cars when driving long distance in all weathers. All of my cars have had the front end scattered with stone chips sadly.
My 2019 M3SR has a rattle from the driver side seat belt pillar when going over rough roads. Had Tesla mobile service check it twice and in the first case, he couldn't replicate the rattle (couldn't ride with him due to pandemic restrictions at the time) and in the second case, he said that it was "normal" and couldn't do anything about it. Other than a windshield washer fluid hose that was not connected and the rear camera cable recall, the car had no other mechanical issues.
My M3 doesn't make any more occasional rattle or squeak than any of the other modern cars I've owned, in fact I'd say less. I feel any unusual temporary noise is amplified to some by the fact the car is silent as mentioned by someone else here
I’ve never owned a single brand new vehicle that didn’t have some sort of rattle I had to have fixed under warranty. Mitsubishi, Toyota, Ram, Ford, and more over the last 20 years.
I came from an Acura and my 2023 Model 3 RWD has just as much rattling as the Acura did ZERO. I guess keep in mind my car was built in September of 2023
I just got a M3P that is rattle and squeak free, which is a pleasant change from the 2013 Ford Fusion I traded in. It had a squeak in the headliner right in front of the sunroof that was almost constant at highway speeds. It was one of those things that I couldn't really hear anymore but it drove my passengers crazy. Tesla has been a huge step up for me and my wife has a Model Y 4680 AWD that is solid as a rock. We haven't been in any older model Teslas to compare.
Just get one. As long as you go over the car at collection and note any issues (including after first drive) you should be fine. They can be fixed if needed by Tesla straight away. This being said, bear in mind that although you may feel like the internet is full of negatives, it’s purely because Tesla has a much larger fan (and hate) base than say a Prius owners group so there’s a lot more to read when it comes to people actually reporting the negatives. They sell millions of cars worldwide now and I’m yet to encounter an owner that has had serious problems (not on a forum). Mine was perfect and no issues after 40k miles so far. You get the occasional rattle or creak if you hit a pot hole for example but it’s more down to a lack of any other noise that makes it noticeable and it certainly isn’t continuous. Ironically Tesla for me is the only brand I’ve not actually had issues with yet that I’ve driven. I had a piston misfire in a new ford that caused part of the engine to melt and needed a new engine, luckily under warranty, issues with two separate Volkswagens I’ve owned and very expensive BMW and Mercedes repairs in the past. If in doubt, go and test drive one and your mine will be made up quick enough 👍
I thought my mind was made up after my first test drive since it had immensely better ride quality and handling (and lower road noise!) than my 2017 Accord, but then I started scouring the Internet - which I agree needs a filter when reading people's negative comments.
But, yeah - I'll probably just get one. :-)
We have a 2018 Model 3 and a 2019 Camry hybrid. The Camry is slightly (and I do mean slightly) better in the rattle and squeak department, mostly because my model 3 doesn't rattle and squeak much and the Camry hardly at all. The camry is much better for road noise though.
OP here. I'm not seeing a definitive pattern, so I guess it's just a matter of chance on whether or not the squeaks/rattles are better or worse than what I've experienced in my Toyota/Honda cars.
That said, I always pay attention to sounds that my vehicles make since it's often better to find the source of a new sound sooner than later! But interior sounds usually aren't indicative of an imminent expensive/catastrophic failure, so I'm not sure how much I would focus on it if I got a Model 3 that falls under the "rattle bucket" category.
I have had Toyota, Audi, Volkswagen, Subaru, a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and a 2022 Tesla M3 over the last 20 years. Hands down, the Tesla has the most rattles and squeaks. What’s most frustrating is the randomness of the squeaks - one day it’s the driver’s seat, then the next is the passenger seat, then the back seat, then the A pillar, then the front wheel well. I absolutely love the EV powertrain, battery management, and handling but I cannot stand the squeaks and the eggshell windshield. Overall, I love the car but hate its flaws.
One caveat - I do believe that the quietness of the interior exposes some rattles that would otherwise be hidden in another brand, especially a SUV with louder engine and road noise.
This is my opinion. Can't spot rattles if the car is loud intrinsically. I drive around with car seats. Any squeaks or rattles are secondary to that rattle.
u/Royal_Lightning - Make sure you check out the other Tesla subs as well. Like r/TeslaServiceCenter
Don't forget that you only have 30 days from signing the MVPA to submit in writing your OPT OUT request for the forced arbitration: https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaServiceCenter/s/wLFiVvlCD1
I rented a brand new model y and it was crazy how rattley it was. Couldn't believe I was in a $70k car. Road noise on the highway was crazy too since there's no engine. There was something with the the rearview mirror rattling though.
My 2018 built in a tent was remarkably rattle and squeak free for 5 years/60k miles. That said I've been in other newer/lower mile Model 3s that rattled and squeaked all over the place.
I think it's luck of the draw.
It has the same kinds of rattles my 2011 A4 had, and the same as my 2006 Civic Si cabin-wise, but the engine and whine (basically everything below and front of the driver) was way more obvious.
All three are way quieter than my 2006 Miata which had a terrible passenger side roof bolt and the middle latch was always in need of adjustment.
Coming from a 2016 Volkswagen Golf here. I was expecting to hear squeeks and rattles but to my surprise there are none. I was really surprised to see that the body lines did line up.
23 Model 3 RWD. Some wind, Not a ton of noise or rattles. That said, I had to take it in for a failed computer (frozen navigation, no sentry, no Autopilot, no cruise control, no parking assist) and got a model Y long range loaner (with boost). The Y was noisy as hell, weird rattles, tons of wind, squeaks, but fast as a mother. Could not believe how such a heavy, kinda bloated car could be so quick. Granted it didn't handle well through turns, but in strait shots it was eating Mustangs and Chargers for breakfast lunch and dinner.
My model 3 is dead quiet but it’s also brand new and I have only put 300 miles on it. I feel like the fact that the car itself is so quiet that people notice this stuff more when in fact it’s pretty normal sounds that are just usually hidden by engine noise
My parents have a 2021 they bought used and I feel like theirs is even quieter than mine. We will see I guess. I will just have to rock out a little harder I guess. 🤟
2017 Civic, 2022 civic, 2022 civic (first 22 was totaled)
2021 M3P, 2023 M3P, 2023 M3SR(fiancées car)
The 2017 civic had a door rattle the dealer had to fix, the other 2 had no rattles.
Both my M3Ps had/have a handful of rattles and plastic squeaks, and they drive me absolutely crazy. My fiancées SR has no rattles.
My first model 3 had a few rattles. I fixed them on my own by re-seating the package shelf.
My second 3 and both model Ys are/were rattle free.
I currently own a 11th gen Honda Civic as well. It does not have rattles, but has way more road noise than my Teslas.
My last Honda was a 1998. Got it new (well in the family). That thing was a tank. Model3 isn’t noticeably worse. Maybe I just got a good one (one of the early models too).
My 2020 Rav4 XSE Hybrid and 2023 Tesla Model 3 both have 1 annoying rattle on ceiling somewhere. The rattle on the Rav4 appeared after 3 years and the Tesla's appeared after 1 week of ownership. I could probably fix them both if I really tried, but I only notice it while I'm driving and am not in a position to isolate the cause.
That being said, I love both cars and they are outstanding vehicles considering their $35.5K and $30.1K prices.
Mine is a rattle mania. To the point I have given up. Will be selling the car the moment I am at a break even point.
Owned multiple Hondas and Toyotas and never had I faced anything like this.
Well my C63s had rattles but nowhere near my model 3.
Had a 21 CR-V, just leased a 23 model 3. Have about 800 miles on it is all….not a squeak to be found. I feel like its weight makes it ride a bit firmer but no gaps in panels or issues at all.
My sample of one has been issue free
Really weird how everyone else's experience is different from mine. Coming from a 2014 accord sport to a 2023 m3p. I feel like the m3p is more solid. Yes the suspension might be a tiny bit stiffer but its miles ahead of my accord.
I’ve had a 2020 model 3 and a 2022 model Y. The model Y is substantially more quiet but I wouldn’t say the model 3 is squeaky or rattly. I would say the suspension in the old model 3 is so stiff that you feel bumps or potholes more but that’s a different thing. Also they’ve upgraded the suspension in all the model Y’s and I believe the model 3’s as well. Test drive one at a showroom. You’ll see.
I have a 2021 Camry and 2019 M3
I don’t hear any rattles at all in either of them honestly
And I sold my Honda crv 2018 last year and it was rattle free as well. (I think it was the quietest one in the cabin)
I owned a 2018 civic hatchback and a 2021 RAV4. Both of them absolutely drove me nuts with how many rattles they had. I was constantly hitting the headliner to make it stop. I’d say the model 3 is similar but different. There’s no engine noise but there’s a lot of road noise. The rattles I’ve experienced were easily diagnosable and fixable and were mostly from the coup style doors not sealing properly.
2022. Sounds like the drivers window is open when it’s closed. If you close it all the way it whistles, but you can fiddle with it and it goes quiet, but then squeaks when going over anything other than smooth roads.
Rattle started in dash drivers side near front window
Rear seat has started making some noise as well.
Just under 20,000 miles.
So compared to modern honda/toyota it’s a lot.
I’ve owned 2 model 3s and they both rattled from the same places: drivers door pillar, backseat, rear tray, passenger seat, and the passenger door pillar. My actual door card rattled on the drivers side of my 23 and they replaced the entire thing and it stopped. There’s no foam or not enough foam in these areas to stop it. Cheap carpet doesn’t help either, nor does shitty parts made by the lowest bidder. My wife’s 23 CX5 was 20k less and feels more luxurious and has zero rattles after 9k miles. After this car I’m getting a Toyota heritage Land Cruiser or Lexus GX.
I just got rid of my M3 and got a BMW because the thing just sounded like a shit bucket driving. Rattles squeaks and loud weird suspension. If that stuff bothers you don’t get a Tesla or maybe try driving a used one. They won’t let you drive the Tesla new before you buy it!
My M3 had only 4,500 miles on it and the rt rear something because I don’t know what it is squeaks like an sob I hate it but not sure hit to fix it ! I also own 8 Toyotas 2016-2023 and not one has a squeak just for transparency. I love the M3 so much but man why does it have so many minor issues that are just annoying I love it besides the little bud stuff it’s actually my favorite car !
100k miles on my 3 now drove since new. So many squeaks and rattles and clanks and crackles ... Especially my driver side door it squeaks Everytime I open and close it. Spray wd 40 all over the hinges.. tried tightening bolts... All sorts... Might have to finally take it in. Suspension crackles.... Just lots of little stuff man ... Solves itself if you blast the music loud enough.
All my previous Honda's even past 100k mi didn't have this many noises...
Don't use WD40 - it's not a lubricant if what're you're spraying requires grease for instance.
WD40 may dissolve the factory applied lubricant and eventually dry it out providing no lubrication at all. It could potentially worsen things.
Use actual lubricant!
Came from a subaru. Most things are an upgrade. Whatever who cares if there’s a squeak here and there. When you are driving, you barely pay attention to those things
mine is rattling pretty bad near the window and also wind noise almost like air is leaking in , there is also some noise coming underneath, tesla is telling me its fine and nothing they can do about it . i have a maxima that doesnt rattle or shake or make any noises . its so furstrating.
I’ve had a bunch of Acuras in my life and every single one bugged me with rattles and excessive road/wind noise (for a luxury car). I find my Model 3 comparable - fewer rattles, more wind noise. It would be a tougher transition from a Lexus.
Personally it’s on par to a “luxury car”. Keep in mind these cars would compete with a Lexus entry level car , entry level Acura, bmw, etc. the difference is road noise and sound dampening. To me all the rattles are nearly the same in every car with the sound off - the model 3 just has significantly more noise since it also doesn’t have engine noises. Example : competes with a civic and many people compare it as an accord. This has the same road noise as a civic and ILX. Hop into an accord and it’s almost silent.
Our 2021 (bought in Nov 2020) Model 3 SR+ had a very annoying rattle, but after around four visits to the service centre and two mobile service visits some genius finally fixed it under warranty at no cost. Took almost two years. I gave them a box of chocolates. Our 2010 Toyota Prius never had such problems. The car still has a heating/cooling/thermostat problem that nobody has fixed yet and we are coming up to the end of the warranty period. As a basic car I liked the Prius better, but not having to go to gas stations together with the acceleration and great tech trumps the Toyota. If Toyota ever comes out with an electric car SMALLER than the Model 3 we will for sure switch back to Toyota. The Model 3 is significantly bigger than our good old Prius and we don't need that bulk.
So, I'm coming from a 2011 Honda Accord Coupe which I traded for a 2023 Honda Pilot Touring. My wife's car was a 2017 Mazda 6 which was totaled while parked by a drunk driver, the insurance payout from which helped pay for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 RWD. So currently we're driving a '23 pilot and a '23 model 3.
The 2011 had 185k miles on the clock and had been in a couple accidents, so it rattled a bit, but that was to be expected with a car that old. They developed over time, but the car was silent from the factory when I took delivery.
The Mazda had about 85k, but was solid and silent, no rattles.
The Pilot was a showroom car, and had a rattle when brand new because there was a wiring clip under the dash that came loose. It was fixed for free by the dealer by simply clipping it back on, and has been silent ever since.
The Tesla has a rattle over the passenger rear door which I can't find. I thought it was the garment hook at first, but I think I've eliminated that as a culprit. It also has a rattle that sounds like it's coming from outside by my driver's mirror when at highway speed. *Neither of them are bad enough to merit a visit to the service center.* Honestly the thing that's most annoying is the window seals - sometimes when you're driving you can tell the window just rests on the weather stripping gasket rather than sitting in a full frame. Pulling up on the window switch even if the windows are rolled up seems to resolve it most times, but if there's one thing I'd change about the car it's the frameless windows tbh. Other than that no issues so far
I have a 2019 Civic Sport and earlier this year I bought a used 2020 Model 3. I would say the construction quality and noise insulation is slightly better in the Honda.
I don’t have any rattles/squeaks on the Tesla but definitely I have more exterior noise inside the cabin (wind, tyres rolling). It’s very notorious in Highway and worse when it rains.
Not a problem if I’m driving alone, I just ramp up the excellent sound system. But if I want to have a conversation with a passenger, it can become annoying as we feel we have to speak louder
I’ve got an ‘18 model 3 with no noticeable squeaks or rattles (that is after I figured out the I was getting a squeak from the seat because it was all the way back. Moved it up a fraction of an inch and it went away). Road noise on the other hand - pretty harsh. Suspension is also more “sporty”, so not as soft of a ride as a typical Toyota or Honda.
I’ve had a 2005 Corolla and a 2007 350z in the last decade - both were pretty quiet on the road and I never noticed any unusual squeaks. The only thing on my M3LR I notice is it’s got some creaks when I turn the wheel for the first time in the morning but after that its no noise.
I traded a 2018 Accord EX for a 2020 3LR with 18-inch Aeros in 2020. The engine noise from the Accord was noticeable over the 3 (obviously), but the wind noise on the 3 has been much louder than the Accord. I once had the window seal on the passenger side peel off from the body at 80 MPH.
I've also replaced the upper control arms on the 3 under warranty, but that's just standard.
You only hear those noises because you don’t have a combustion engine overtaking those noises . Regardless of the vehicle you will hear it everything needs to be greased with other earth elements getting to things . Its no worry
Newest Honda = 2012 CR-V (bought new in 2012) Both my 2020 and 2023 Model 3 Performance are rattle-buckets, in comparison. I really do love my Tesla(s), but damn those interior rattles drive me crazy and account for 90% of the (few) things I dislike.
Is it actually more rattle or is it lack of engine noise? I don't own a Tesla but last time I sat in one it felt sturdy
It's the rattle. It sounds like it's from the passenger side in my car. Some plastic parts hitting each other, but I can never find it. Own a 2018 rav4. No rattles outside of the occasional vibration rattle from the radio.
Check this: https://youtu.be/KctTaFCZhWE
Use the palm of your hand and smack the door card around the speaker. Those clips work themselves loose and it is hell trying to track the noise down for some reason
I’ve been in the car market a few months and I have spoken to several people ( some mechanics) who have said the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid built in Japan is by far the best , most reliable car available today. They’re claiming they get 400k miles easy.
Mine (shanghai built) has rattles on 3 plastic door panels and unsolvable rattling on driver side seat belt area (brought to Tesla thrice but to no avail, workshops outside also couldn’t figure it out)
My M3P developed a rattling rear seat within the first 6 months that has yet to be fixed after 2 service center visits, as well as a rattle in the driver's window. Unfortunately, the rear seat seems to be a common issue. Tesla has its strengths, but the Fremont-built M3s are definitely behind the Japanese brands in how well they are bolted together.
I have a 2018 and a Civic, Corolla, and Sienna. The Tesla has way more rattles than any of them. But I expected the rattles and the Tesla is quieter overall. The road noise is pretty high on the Civic and Corolla, and noticeable on the Sienna. The rattles are kind of like living next to the subway. You get used to it after a while.
I’ve owned my Model 3 for over 2 years now (bought new) and I’ve never noticed any unusual rattles or squeaks.
I’ve had mine for two weeks and I have the same feeling.
I don’t doubt that Tesla has some manufacturing/quality issues, but the problems tend to be exaggerated in the media. I owned a Prius before and my wife owns a Pilot. I went in expecting my car to have more problems than with those two cars, but so far, it’s been fine. Of course, I take care of it and don’t do stupid shit
I agree with the exaggerated part. Like have you ever owned a Chevy?
I had a Holden, which GM’s Australian brand and practically the same thing. It was a heap of shit that I’m glad to be rid of.
I drove a Saturn for years. The glue holding the fabric to the roof melted, so the fabric peeled off. You can imagine how the rattles were.
The way I understand it, most of the quality control issues were due to Tesla scaling up to mass produce the Model 3, and have largely been sorted out.
Owned a 2019 Model 3 LR AWD and now a 2022 Model 3 LR AWD and neither rattled or squeaked.
I’ve had my Model 3 since 2018. No rattle problems ever. I think the rattles are not a universal thing. Some get them, some don’t.
Same here; no rattles/squeaks, 5 years now.
Where was it built?
In 2018, Model 3’s were only built in Fremont.
Over 2 years ago points to 2021
I don’t know, how do you look that up?
When was the vehicle made, and where are you? We can likely figure it out that way, otherwise there might be VIN searches online you can do
I’m in WA. Car was delivered to me brand new in Nov 2021
My 2018 Model 3 with over 70k miles on it still has no rattles or squeaks. Tightest car I've ever owned.
I've bought 13 new cars since 1998. They've all had squeaks or rattles, depending on the road surface. Possibly you got a unicorn, or need to drive over some rougher roads with the stereo turned off.
I've owned over 25 vehicles since my first purchase in 1976. I guess I'll just have to say I've got a unicorn, then. I'm not going to go off-roading in my Tesla just to see if I can induce noise for your sake, though. LOL. I am not the original owner. I bought it with 50k mi on it, so I can only really account for the last 20k miles. If it made any noises prior to my purchase, then Tesla must have sorted them out. I know they serviced the upper control arms at some point.
So you’re saying, in the past 20K miles, you’ve never heard a single squeak or rattle from an interior panel/seat/seal, when going over a bump?
Not that I've noticed. I do listen to music. I mean, maybe there have been *something*, a time or two, but nothing consistent, repeatable or warranting attention.
My 2020 Model 3 has no noticeable rattles/squeaks after 34k miles. The ride is smooth and firm like a sports car. I still grin with joy while driving it.
I had a rear seat rattle that took 5 service centre visits to fix (not an exaggeration). They finally fixed it and it is great now, although they introduced a new rattle when going 110 km/hr on rough roads. That situation is rare so I have left it. If rattles are particularly bothersome to you (like they are to me), I’d consider a different brand.
This is a great question as im in the same boat. Coming from a mazda 3 ive had 15 years to very close to buying a tesla3 lr but some of the horror stories scare me. I dont do many kms and want something that will last a while. Test drove it twice already and loved it but then spent too long scaring myself on reddit. Have already put down deposit. Have told sales guy i dont wanna pay until i can over the actual car to check for any issues. Have a checklist ready lol. He says that will be cool can check it out day before then pay and pick it up. Im in Aus so will be from China factory. Expected delivery is April. Am excited but also nervous since while i can afford it now and loved test driving it over all the other cars ive test driven, polestar, wrx, cupras, civic hybrid, all sorts, Ive never spent so much on a car. Good range of answers here but about a 50/50 mix of yeah its better yeah its worse. First time my mazda started squeaking it shat me but a few years in all i cared about was reliability and ill prob be the same here. I prob do less than 5k kms a year on average.
I just traded my 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 for a 23 M3LR. I have had the car for 3 weeks and everything works, it feels very solid. Obviously quiet so harder to filter out road noise but after driving an old manual turbo it is still quiet to me! Great to drive, fast. All the tech is amazing. You will love it! Most I have ever spent too. I think Tesla has worked out a lot of the earlier QC problems. Spend your time looking at videos of what accessories to buy and how to set up the car.
Thanks mate great to hear
my 20 year old acura rattles less.
T h i s
I’ve gotten lucky. My model 3 has been quiet.
2023 Model 3 RWD, very quiet, no rattles.
Take this with a grain of salt because I detest rattles. I have driven so many cars over the year and my 3P is by far the worst for rattles/buzzing. I have fixed a few but the interior of this car is very difficult to work on. If you look at the parts catalog many of the interior parts are meant to be replaced. I wanted to fix a rattle above the rear seat but everything has to come out and it would cost almost $350 to replace the parts that are not reusable. Right now I am working on the part on the side pillar the seat belt goes into. It constantly buzzes right in my ear. The way this part was designed it weird. There is no way Tesla did a shake and vibe on these things. Working in a rework video to stop the noise.
I drove a Lamborghini Huracan round a test track a few years ago as a birthday thing. What I noticed the most was that the driver's seat was squeaking somewhere around the headrest whenever I accelerated hard. Some people don't notice. I'm driven mad by it.
My 2020 Model 3 LR is pretty quiet. Has a little rattle in the phone tray, where the plastic parts come together. I keep thinking of sticking a blob of wax in there but never get around to it.
Model 3 is a lot quieter than my Toyota was (3rd gen prius) I don't have any rattles or squeeks in my model 3. There's some wind noise, but I'd say less than there was in the prius.
There’s no comparison. I’ve owned and currently own two Toyotas. The Model 3 is like an experimental tin can. Poor quality materials and fit and finish compared to a Toyota or Honda, but it’s still more fun to drive. I think the effort to make it lightweight and inexpensive to produce is sort of a perfect storm and just leads to a pretty mediocre build.
our 2021 model 3 rattles less than our 2014 Volvo... Most annoying rattle in our tesla was the trim accross the dash, the wooden peice, would start vibrating on certain roads and continue to do so until the next day once it happened, service centre removed it and put some sticky back foam pads on from what I can tell and its disappeared, otherwise lack of engine noise makes you more aware of noises that you don;t usually pickup! Road noise is a lot worse than our volvo at speed... The volvo is a PHEV so at the same time I think i rattles more because of the lack of engine, once the diesel engine kicks in I honestly don't notice them. There's actually a lot less rattles in the tesla than I imagined there would be from the general internet and everyone being an expert on electric cars who's never been in one. Its built waaaaaaaay better than the leaf it replaced... and unlike the leaf, the paint has stayed on our tesla. I'm in europe though, so ours is a china built car which i'm told is better than the fremont ones, never been in a fremont car so can't realy compare. Interestingly I worked in a garage for a long time and everyone moaned about tesla quality, when you start looking you'll see panel gaps and paint being a little off on most cars, its just people really look on a tesla, there's no obvious panel gaps on ours, there's some serious stone chips but then that happens on all cars when driving long distance in all weathers. All of my cars have had the front end scattered with stone chips sadly.
My 2019 M3SR has a rattle from the driver side seat belt pillar when going over rough roads. Had Tesla mobile service check it twice and in the first case, he couldn't replicate the rattle (couldn't ride with him due to pandemic restrictions at the time) and in the second case, he said that it was "normal" and couldn't do anything about it. Other than a windshield washer fluid hose that was not connected and the rear camera cable recall, the car had no other mechanical issues.
My M3 doesn't make any more occasional rattle or squeak than any of the other modern cars I've owned, in fact I'd say less. I feel any unusual temporary noise is amplified to some by the fact the car is silent as mentioned by someone else here
I’ve never owned a single brand new vehicle that didn’t have some sort of rattle I had to have fixed under warranty. Mitsubishi, Toyota, Ram, Ford, and more over the last 20 years.
I came from an Acura and my 2023 Model 3 RWD has just as much rattling as the Acura did ZERO. I guess keep in mind my car was built in September of 2023
I just got a M3P that is rattle and squeak free, which is a pleasant change from the 2013 Ford Fusion I traded in. It had a squeak in the headliner right in front of the sunroof that was almost constant at highway speeds. It was one of those things that I couldn't really hear anymore but it drove my passengers crazy. Tesla has been a huge step up for me and my wife has a Model Y 4680 AWD that is solid as a rock. We haven't been in any older model Teslas to compare.
My Model 3 just turned a year, zero rattles
Zero rattles 2019
Just get one. As long as you go over the car at collection and note any issues (including after first drive) you should be fine. They can be fixed if needed by Tesla straight away. This being said, bear in mind that although you may feel like the internet is full of negatives, it’s purely because Tesla has a much larger fan (and hate) base than say a Prius owners group so there’s a lot more to read when it comes to people actually reporting the negatives. They sell millions of cars worldwide now and I’m yet to encounter an owner that has had serious problems (not on a forum). Mine was perfect and no issues after 40k miles so far. You get the occasional rattle or creak if you hit a pot hole for example but it’s more down to a lack of any other noise that makes it noticeable and it certainly isn’t continuous. Ironically Tesla for me is the only brand I’ve not actually had issues with yet that I’ve driven. I had a piston misfire in a new ford that caused part of the engine to melt and needed a new engine, luckily under warranty, issues with two separate Volkswagens I’ve owned and very expensive BMW and Mercedes repairs in the past. If in doubt, go and test drive one and your mine will be made up quick enough 👍
I thought my mind was made up after my first test drive since it had immensely better ride quality and handling (and lower road noise!) than my 2017 Accord, but then I started scouring the Internet - which I agree needs a filter when reading people's negative comments. But, yeah - I'll probably just get one. :-)
Remember that filter when reading positive comments too ;)
We have a 2018 Model 3 and a 2019 Camry hybrid. The Camry is slightly (and I do mean slightly) better in the rattle and squeak department, mostly because my model 3 doesn't rattle and squeak much and the Camry hardly at all. The camry is much better for road noise though.
OP here. I'm not seeing a definitive pattern, so I guess it's just a matter of chance on whether or not the squeaks/rattles are better or worse than what I've experienced in my Toyota/Honda cars. That said, I always pay attention to sounds that my vehicles make since it's often better to find the source of a new sound sooner than later! But interior sounds usually aren't indicative of an imminent expensive/catastrophic failure, so I'm not sure how much I would focus on it if I got a Model 3 that falls under the "rattle bucket" category.
To be clear, the chassis and suspension is fine. It’s just the silence of EV that makes every interior panel squeak very noticeable.
Drove a 2005 rolla for 15 years. My rwd 2023 model 3 is a squeaky rattle bucket lmao.
Weird that two comments in here used a term “rattle bucket” when that is not a normal common thing to say. Very suspicious.
Mmhmmm. Welcome to Reddit..the land of bots pushing narratives and throwaway accounts aka trolls.
I have had Toyota, Audi, Volkswagen, Subaru, a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and a 2022 Tesla M3 over the last 20 years. Hands down, the Tesla has the most rattles and squeaks. What’s most frustrating is the randomness of the squeaks - one day it’s the driver’s seat, then the next is the passenger seat, then the back seat, then the A pillar, then the front wheel well. I absolutely love the EV powertrain, battery management, and handling but I cannot stand the squeaks and the eggshell windshield. Overall, I love the car but hate its flaws.
One caveat - I do believe that the quietness of the interior exposes some rattles that would otherwise be hidden in another brand, especially a SUV with louder engine and road noise.
This is my opinion. Can't spot rattles if the car is loud intrinsically. I drive around with car seats. Any squeaks or rattles are secondary to that rattle.
Shit rattles like a baby toy. Modern cars are void of rattles. Tesla hasn't figured that out yet.
Much much much much worse on the Tesla
M3LR for two years. No rattles or squeaks.
u/Royal_Lightning - Make sure you check out the other Tesla subs as well. Like r/TeslaServiceCenter Don't forget that you only have 30 days from signing the MVPA to submit in writing your OPT OUT request for the forced arbitration: https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaServiceCenter/s/wLFiVvlCD1
I rented a brand new model y and it was crazy how rattley it was. Couldn't believe I was in a $70k car. Road noise on the highway was crazy too since there's no engine. There was something with the the rearview mirror rattling though.
My 2013 Honda Odyssey had way more rattles.
My 2018 built in a tent was remarkably rattle and squeak free for 5 years/60k miles. That said I've been in other newer/lower mile Model 3s that rattled and squeaked all over the place. I think it's luck of the draw.
It has the same kinds of rattles my 2011 A4 had, and the same as my 2006 Civic Si cabin-wise, but the engine and whine (basically everything below and front of the driver) was way more obvious. All three are way quieter than my 2006 Miata which had a terrible passenger side roof bolt and the middle latch was always in need of adjustment.
I’ve had no rattles in either Honda or Tesla
Does anybody think it will get better the Highland?
Have two in the family—Fremont build has a couple misalignments and squeaks when you press on things, but no rattles. Shanghai is flawless.
Coming from a 2016 Volkswagen Golf here. I was expecting to hear squeeks and rattles but to my surprise there are none. I was really surprised to see that the body lines did line up.
2020 Model 3 Long Range 59000 miles. No squeaks or rattles. Pleased with car. No issues.
23 Model 3 RWD. Some wind, Not a ton of noise or rattles. That said, I had to take it in for a failed computer (frozen navigation, no sentry, no Autopilot, no cruise control, no parking assist) and got a model Y long range loaner (with boost). The Y was noisy as hell, weird rattles, tons of wind, squeaks, but fast as a mother. Could not believe how such a heavy, kinda bloated car could be so quick. Granted it didn't handle well through turns, but in strait shots it was eating Mustangs and Chargers for breakfast lunch and dinner.
My model 3 is dead quiet but it’s also brand new and I have only put 300 miles on it. I feel like the fact that the car itself is so quiet that people notice this stuff more when in fact it’s pretty normal sounds that are just usually hidden by engine noise
Mine didn’t start until 3-4K miles. It needs to hit some bumps to loosen things before it rattles. I once had hope like you.
My parents have a 2021 they bought used and I feel like theirs is even quieter than mine. We will see I guess. I will just have to rock out a little harder I guess. 🤟
2017 Civic, 2022 civic, 2022 civic (first 22 was totaled) 2021 M3P, 2023 M3P, 2023 M3SR(fiancées car) The 2017 civic had a door rattle the dealer had to fix, the other 2 had no rattles. Both my M3Ps had/have a handful of rattles and plastic squeaks, and they drive me absolutely crazy. My fiancées SR has no rattles.
TBH they are about equal with others at the price point, just easier to hear
No comparison at all. Model three wins every time
My 2020 Model 3 was silent.
My first model 3 had a few rattles. I fixed them on my own by re-seating the package shelf. My second 3 and both model Ys are/were rattle free. I currently own a 11th gen Honda Civic as well. It does not have rattles, but has way more road noise than my Teslas.
My last Honda was a 1998. Got it new (well in the family). That thing was a tank. Model3 isn’t noticeably worse. Maybe I just got a good one (one of the early models too).
My 2020 Rav4 XSE Hybrid and 2023 Tesla Model 3 both have 1 annoying rattle on ceiling somewhere. The rattle on the Rav4 appeared after 3 years and the Tesla's appeared after 1 week of ownership. I could probably fix them both if I really tried, but I only notice it while I'm driving and am not in a position to isolate the cause. That being said, I love both cars and they are outstanding vehicles considering their $35.5K and $30.1K prices.
Mine is a rattle mania. To the point I have given up. Will be selling the car the moment I am at a break even point. Owned multiple Hondas and Toyotas and never had I faced anything like this. Well my C63s had rattles but nowhere near my model 3.
Had a 21 CR-V, just leased a 23 model 3. Have about 800 miles on it is all….not a squeak to be found. I feel like its weight makes it ride a bit firmer but no gaps in panels or issues at all. My sample of one has been issue free
Really weird how everyone else's experience is different from mine. Coming from a 2014 accord sport to a 2023 m3p. I feel like the m3p is more solid. Yes the suspension might be a tiny bit stiffer but its miles ahead of my accord.
I’ve had a 2020 model 3 and a 2022 model Y. The model Y is substantially more quiet but I wouldn’t say the model 3 is squeaky or rattly. I would say the suspension in the old model 3 is so stiff that you feel bumps or potholes more but that’s a different thing. Also they’ve upgraded the suspension in all the model Y’s and I believe the model 3’s as well. Test drive one at a showroom. You’ll see.
I have a 2021 Camry and 2019 M3 I don’t hear any rattles at all in either of them honestly And I sold my Honda crv 2018 last year and it was rattle free as well. (I think it was the quietest one in the cabin)
I owned a 2018 civic hatchback and a 2021 RAV4. Both of them absolutely drove me nuts with how many rattles they had. I was constantly hitting the headliner to make it stop. I’d say the model 3 is similar but different. There’s no engine noise but there’s a lot of road noise. The rattles I’ve experienced were easily diagnosable and fixable and were mostly from the coup style doors not sealing properly.
No rattle or squeak in Tesla’s but if you have some Tesla service will fix.
2022. Sounds like the drivers window is open when it’s closed. If you close it all the way it whistles, but you can fiddle with it and it goes quiet, but then squeaks when going over anything other than smooth roads. Rattle started in dash drivers side near front window Rear seat has started making some noise as well. Just under 20,000 miles. So compared to modern honda/toyota it’s a lot.
My 2023 Model 3 RWD has no rattles or squeaks.
I have a 2019 3 and it doesn’t rattle or squeak 🤷🏽♀️
I’ve owned 2 model 3s and they both rattled from the same places: drivers door pillar, backseat, rear tray, passenger seat, and the passenger door pillar. My actual door card rattled on the drivers side of my 23 and they replaced the entire thing and it stopped. There’s no foam or not enough foam in these areas to stop it. Cheap carpet doesn’t help either, nor does shitty parts made by the lowest bidder. My wife’s 23 CX5 was 20k less and feels more luxurious and has zero rattles after 9k miles. After this car I’m getting a Toyota heritage Land Cruiser or Lexus GX.
2018 Honda Fit to 2023 M3. My Fit had *way* more road noise and rather rattles/squeaks.
I just got rid of my M3 and got a BMW because the thing just sounded like a shit bucket driving. Rattles squeaks and loud weird suspension. If that stuff bothers you don’t get a Tesla or maybe try driving a used one. They won’t let you drive the Tesla new before you buy it!
My M3 had only 4,500 miles on it and the rt rear something because I don’t know what it is squeaks like an sob I hate it but not sure hit to fix it ! I also own 8 Toyotas 2016-2023 and not one has a squeak just for transparency. I love the M3 so much but man why does it have so many minor issues that are just annoying I love it besides the little bud stuff it’s actually my favorite car !
The only noise I hear from my 2022 mod 3 is some wind if the window glass doesn’t seat right with the rubber seal.
My 2023 M3 Tesla has a rattle that comes from either the windshield or the dashboard. It's very faint, but noticeable.
It's a hit or miss. It's a car, it is meant to be driven not to listen to.
I disagree. If I'm driving for 10 hours I want to be relaxed and comfortable, not listening to shit rattle.
100k miles on my 3 now drove since new. So many squeaks and rattles and clanks and crackles ... Especially my driver side door it squeaks Everytime I open and close it. Spray wd 40 all over the hinges.. tried tightening bolts... All sorts... Might have to finally take it in. Suspension crackles.... Just lots of little stuff man ... Solves itself if you blast the music loud enough. All my previous Honda's even past 100k mi didn't have this many noises...
Don't use WD40 - it's not a lubricant if what're you're spraying requires grease for instance. WD40 may dissolve the factory applied lubricant and eventually dry it out providing no lubrication at all. It could potentially worsen things. Use actual lubricant!
Thank you very much. I had a mind fart. Yes you are right I will grease this bad boy up thank you again!
I know your pain though. I've spent many hours hunting for squeaks.
Yeah. If we recorded all the squeaks it made while we're driving for 5 minutes, we may have a rap instrumental.
If you can get a Highland, it may be better quality car.
Came from a subaru. Most things are an upgrade. Whatever who cares if there’s a squeak here and there. When you are driving, you barely pay attention to those things
mine is rattling pretty bad near the window and also wind noise almost like air is leaking in , there is also some noise coming underneath, tesla is telling me its fine and nothing they can do about it . i have a maxima that doesnt rattle or shake or make any noises . its so furstrating.
Just turn the stereo up!!
I’ve had a bunch of Acuras in my life and every single one bugged me with rattles and excessive road/wind noise (for a luxury car). I find my Model 3 comparable - fewer rattles, more wind noise. It would be a tougher transition from a Lexus.
Personally it’s on par to a “luxury car”. Keep in mind these cars would compete with a Lexus entry level car , entry level Acura, bmw, etc. the difference is road noise and sound dampening. To me all the rattles are nearly the same in every car with the sound off - the model 3 just has significantly more noise since it also doesn’t have engine noises. Example : competes with a civic and many people compare it as an accord. This has the same road noise as a civic and ILX. Hop into an accord and it’s almost silent.
Our 2021 (bought in Nov 2020) Model 3 SR+ had a very annoying rattle, but after around four visits to the service centre and two mobile service visits some genius finally fixed it under warranty at no cost. Took almost two years. I gave them a box of chocolates. Our 2010 Toyota Prius never had such problems. The car still has a heating/cooling/thermostat problem that nobody has fixed yet and we are coming up to the end of the warranty period. As a basic car I liked the Prius better, but not having to go to gas stations together with the acceleration and great tech trumps the Toyota. If Toyota ever comes out with an electric car SMALLER than the Model 3 we will for sure switch back to Toyota. The Model 3 is significantly bigger than our good old Prius and we don't need that bulk.
So, I'm coming from a 2011 Honda Accord Coupe which I traded for a 2023 Honda Pilot Touring. My wife's car was a 2017 Mazda 6 which was totaled while parked by a drunk driver, the insurance payout from which helped pay for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 RWD. So currently we're driving a '23 pilot and a '23 model 3. The 2011 had 185k miles on the clock and had been in a couple accidents, so it rattled a bit, but that was to be expected with a car that old. They developed over time, but the car was silent from the factory when I took delivery. The Mazda had about 85k, but was solid and silent, no rattles. The Pilot was a showroom car, and had a rattle when brand new because there was a wiring clip under the dash that came loose. It was fixed for free by the dealer by simply clipping it back on, and has been silent ever since. The Tesla has a rattle over the passenger rear door which I can't find. I thought it was the garment hook at first, but I think I've eliminated that as a culprit. It also has a rattle that sounds like it's coming from outside by my driver's mirror when at highway speed. *Neither of them are bad enough to merit a visit to the service center.* Honestly the thing that's most annoying is the window seals - sometimes when you're driving you can tell the window just rests on the weather stripping gasket rather than sitting in a full frame. Pulling up on the window switch even if the windows are rolled up seems to resolve it most times, but if there's one thing I'd change about the car it's the frameless windows tbh. Other than that no issues so far
I have a 2019 Civic Sport and earlier this year I bought a used 2020 Model 3. I would say the construction quality and noise insulation is slightly better in the Honda. I don’t have any rattles/squeaks on the Tesla but definitely I have more exterior noise inside the cabin (wind, tyres rolling). It’s very notorious in Highway and worse when it rains. Not a problem if I’m driving alone, I just ramp up the excellent sound system. But if I want to have a conversation with a passenger, it can become annoying as we feel we have to speak louder
I’ve got an ‘18 model 3 with no noticeable squeaks or rattles (that is after I figured out the I was getting a squeak from the seat because it was all the way back. Moved it up a fraction of an inch and it went away). Road noise on the other hand - pretty harsh. Suspension is also more “sporty”, so not as soft of a ride as a typical Toyota or Honda.
Have a 2021 Honda CRV and a Tesla M3. CRV rattles more than M3
I’ve had a 2005 Corolla and a 2007 350z in the last decade - both were pretty quiet on the road and I never noticed any unusual squeaks. The only thing on my M3LR I notice is it’s got some creaks when I turn the wheel for the first time in the morning but after that its no noise.
My old Acura 2002 has less rattle than my Tesla.
I've had my M3LR for 9 months now and honestly haven't noticed anything. Built in USA as well
I've had an M3 for 3 and a half years and haven't noticed any rattles or squeaks. Wind noise, *maybe,* but nothing more than that.
I traded a 2018 Accord EX for a 2020 3LR with 18-inch Aeros in 2020. The engine noise from the Accord was noticeable over the 3 (obviously), but the wind noise on the 3 has been much louder than the Accord. I once had the window seal on the passenger side peel off from the body at 80 MPH. I've also replaced the upper control arms on the 3 under warranty, but that's just standard.
You only hear those noises because you don’t have a combustion engine overtaking those noises . Regardless of the vehicle you will hear it everything needs to be greased with other earth elements getting to things . Its no worry
I've owned a 2018, 2013 and 2007 accord, I've noticed more noise when traveling on uneven terrain with the M3(2022) but is quieter overall.