Last month, we found out that several Tesla Model 3 Performance owners noticed that the rear drive unit was leaking lubricant. We followed the development of this issue and can confirm that Tesla finally acknowledged the fault, although it wasn't easy for those affected to pass the message.
A month ago, several owners of the recently launched Tesla Model 3 Performance noticed fluid leaks beneath the rear drive unit. The leaks were small, so many owners weren't actually aware of the issue, as the fluid was contained in the underbody protection panel. Only after taking off the aero shield were the leaks visible, although in some cases, owners saw oil leaks under the car. Intriguingly, the leaks appeared quite early into ownership, sometimes after a few hundred miles.
After the issue was widely reported in forums and social media, the source of leaks was narrowed down to a faulty breather valve in the drive unit, which doesn't allow venting of the pressure inside the drive unit. This causes the fluid to push against the axle seals and eventually leak. However, Tesla was very slow to acknowledge the issue, and the first reaction from the service center was to blame the customer.
Read Article