Model 3 Rear Bumper May Fall Off Under Heavy Rain, Tesla Admits

The Tesla Model 3 is now the best-selling electric vehicle on the market, mainly because of its impressive range and integration of many advanced technologies. Fit and finish remains an issue, however, as evidenced by the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.

We’ve already told you about a paint problem on the Model 3. Now, it’s more serious: the rear bumper may fall off when driving under heavy rain.

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No, this is not a joke, people. Watch the following video captured by the rear camera of a Model 3 owner:

An isolated incident? Not really. Several owners have reported this issue since 2018. After months of investigation, Tesla is finally admitting that there’s a design defect with the car.

The company has released a service bulletin saying that “in rare instances, certain components on Model 3 vehicles built at the Fremont Factory before May 21, 2019, might be damaged when driving through standing water on a road or highway with poor drainage or pooling water.”

At least one owner on the Reddit forum claims that he saw the rear bumper fall off even though his Model 3 was manufactured earlier this year.

Fortunately, the document clarifies that damage caused during these instances is covered under warranty. From what we can understand, the fix is a rear bumper cutout that seemingly prevents water from pooling up and creating excessive pressure on the body.

Will that be enough to reassure owners? Our advice if you’re driving behind a Model 3 on a rain-soaked highway: keep your distance!