3 years and 130,000+ km in a Tesla Model 3: what broke, how much battery was lost, and why I ordered another one
An honest owner's review after three years with a Tesla Model 3 Highland: the good, the annoying, three faults, tyre wear and roughly 8% battery degradation.
On 29 November 2023 I picked up a Tesla Model 3 Highland in Bucharest with 1–2% charge. Today, 2 November 2026, it has more than 130,000 km on the clock. In the new Mașina Timpului video (in Romanian) I go through everything: why I bought it, what I liked, what broke and how much battery it lost. Here is the written version, with the warranty terms checked against Tesla's official documents.
How I ended up with a Tesla
It started with a short drive in a friend's Model 3. At the time I had a Porsche 911 that did 0–100 km/h in about 5.2 seconds, and the Tesla felt noticeably quicker. I didn't love the old design, but the Highland refresh, with its reworked interior and materials, won me over. I ordered it in October 2023, and later sold both the Honda Civic and the Porsche. We are now a one-car family.
Switching to electric was easier than expected
Before delivery I installed the charging apps and planned stops with PlugShare. The first evening at home with the car plugged in was the "petrol station in the yard" moment. The benefit I keep coming back to is choosing what you pay for energy: home socket, a cheaper fast charger, or practically free with solar panels. My first long trip, in January 2024, went all the way to Italy.
What I liked
- Climate pre-heating from the app.
- The Supercharger network: plug in, charging starts, payment is automatic.
- The touchscreen is as fast as on day one, after dozens of software updates.
- Battery preconditioning now also starts when navigating to third-party chargers, not just Superchargers. That wasn't the case at first.
What I didn't like
- No battery temperature readout in the car.
- Rear manual door release is hidden under a cover and hard for a passenger to find. The front has a visible mechanical lever, and I'd like the same in the back.
- DC charging from 50% upwards is fairly slow on my NMC battery: it starts at around 100 kW and drops.
What broke in three years
- The charge port door stopped opening on touch and sometimes opened by itself. Replaced under warranty.
- Tyre pressure sensors: the service menu showed their batteries were running low. I replaced them with compatible sensors from Tesery, which work well.
- The front fan has made a bearing noise since a car wash at -11°C last winter. Tesla service found no fault code and left the replacement up to me. It has been fine for a year since.
Tyres and battery
The summer tyres lasted about 70,000 km, mostly motorway driving, before inner-edge wear reached the indicators. Tip: owner groups often sell nearly new original tyres taken off right after delivery. I got a set of Michelin Primacy with 400 km on them for 2,150 lei (about €430) including shipping.
At the last 100% charge the car showed 508 km versus 550 km when new, about 7.6% less displayed range. I estimate real degradation at 8–9% and will measure it again on the next road trip. The car has mostly been charged at DC stations at maximum available power. On long trips I drive at 120 km/h and charge between 5% and 60%, roughly every 250–300 km.
Warranty: what Tesla's documents say
Tesla's European warranty covers the Model 3 battery and drive unit for 8 years or 160,000 km (RWD) and 8 years or 192,000 km (Long Range and Performance), with at least 70% capacity retention. Tesla does not tie the warranty to mandatory scheduled servicing, though damage from improper third-party work may not be covered, and warranty repairs are done at a Tesla Service Center.
Would I buy one again?
Yes. I have already ordered another Tesla, with an LFP battery, and I'm waiting for delivery. I plan to test its charging at different states of charge and temperatures.
What it means for drivers
- Three years and 130,000 km can mean only a few minor faults, but this is one car, not a statistic.
- About 8% degradation after heavy fast charging is far from the 70% warranty threshold.
- Look for nearly new original tyres in owner groups to save money.
- No mandatory servicing for warranty keeps running costs low. Still follow the manual's recommended intervals.
