Dealer visit checklist
2020 Tesla Model 3 checklist
Print it or keep it on your phone. Tick each item as you go so nothing gets missed.
Inspect the car
- Check every panel gap and look for mismatched paint (signs of past accident repair)
- Look at the tires: even wear, matching brands, at least 4/32" tread
- Check under the car and engine bay for oil, coolant or other leaks
- Start the engine cold; listen for knocks, ticks or squeals and watch for smoke
- Test every window, lock, seat, light, the A/C, heat and infotainment
- Test drive on city streets and highway: straight braking, smooth shifts, no pulling
- Ask for the service records and a vehicle history report
- Have an independent mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection (about $100–$200)
Known 2020 Tesla Model 3 problems to check
- Panel gaps and paint quality inconsistencies are frequently reported, particularly around trunk lids, door frames, and hood alignment — inspect carefully at purchase
- Suspension clunking noises, especially from the front control arm bushings, appear disproportionately often in owner forums and NHTSA complaints for this model year
- Touchscreen 15-inch MCU can experience occasional software glitches or slow response; a reboot usually resolves it but it's worth noting
- Rear trunk/frunk water intrusion has been reported in some units due to imperfect sealing — check weatherstripping and cargo area for moisture
- Heat pump was not standard on 2020 Model 3; cold-weather range loss of 20-40% is more pronounced than on 2021+ models that added the heat pump
Ask: have these recalls been fixed?
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE: Tesla, Inc.
- AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN: Tesla, Inc.
- SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS: Tesla, Inc.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE: Tesla, Inc.
- SEAT BELTS: Tesla, Inc.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK: Tesla, Inc.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER: Tesla, Inc.
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA: Tesla, Inc.
Negotiate the price
- Know the typical price: about $29,000 for this model year
- Negotiate the out-the-door price, not the monthly payment
- Get the full price with every fee listed in writing before you sign
- Bring your own loan pre-approval so the dealer has a rate to beat
- Say no to add-ons you didn't ask for (paint protection, VIN etching, nitrogen tires)
- Negotiate your trade-in separately, after the car's price is agreed
- Be ready to walk away; another listing is usually a click away