17 Sep 2024, 17:27 UTC • By: Photo: Tesla, mmyers300 via Tesla Motors Club 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. In the case of a Tesla enthusiast, this was the easy way, considering that his car had a modified suspension. It was nothing fancy, just a front upper control arm and a front sway bar, with no modifications on the rear axle. However, Tim from Zevcentric was forced to prove that other Tesla owners had experienced the same issue. Even then, the service center technicians refused to do any repairs and only cleaned the drive unit, saying there was no issue and no leakage could be observed. Sure enough, the fluid was leaking again after an easy 52-mile trip from the service center to Tim's home and then to work. Thankfully, Tim quoted Troy Jones, Tesla's VP for sales and service, when he vented his frustration on X, and the wheels finally got turning. A few hours later, Tesla reached out, including through its regional manager, proving that having a social media following is worth the effort. Tim was offered not only apologies but also an explanation of what happened (see above), indicating that Tesla finally acknowledged the issue. This is good not only for Tim but also for other Model 3 Performance owners. Apparently, Tesla engineers are working on a solution, which might be a few weeks out. Once the revision is available, Tesla will issue a technical service bulletin (TSB) and fix the affected units. Tim thinks that supercharging may also contribute to the leakage, causing the pressure inside the drive unit to rise as the temperature increases. That's the only explanation for why his rear drive unit didn't leak at the service center, but it did shortly after that. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending, although it's unclear how things developed if Tim's X account wasn't so visible. UPDATE: I picked up the vehicle last night from service as they clean the DU and wanted me to monitor the leak. This service appointment I wasn’t expecting a repair as there isn’t no fix for it Currently and I just wanted this to be documented for future reference and repair.… https://t.co/a3WppuxGWO