I have a Model 3, in the 3000 VIN range, which I purchased in January. Apart from a brake light moisture issue which was fixed in 3 days, until one week ago I was quite happy with the car. That was when I noticed that a foot wide and foot high series of cracks in a shape vaguely like that of the Tesla logo had appeared in the front and center of the glass roof. The car is kept in a garage at home and at work and there have been no impacts on the roof. I contacted the local Tesla service center and was told they needed to order the replacement part and would let me know when it came in. After a week, I contacted them again to ask how long it would be to fix it. I was then told that I would need to wait an additional 4-6 weeks. Meanwhile over the week the cracks have spread by another 8 inches on both sides and are much deeper. Soon the entire front third of the glass roof looks like it is going to crack. I then offered to bring the car in for inspection so they can see how big the issue is (photographs do not show the problem very well). I also think they should investigate it in case this is a manufacturing issue that only shows up after 4 months, when the car has been exposed to heat and cold (the car is not in California). They agreed to look at it and I brought the car in today to my local Tesla Service Center.
Today, a Tesla service center person looked at the cracking and agreed that it was stress cracking and not due to an impact. The front two inches of the glass roof overlap with metal and he noticed that there was a very deep crack in that area which I had previously not noticed as it is not visible from inside the car. He told me not to worry --- that the roof was laminated glass and the roof would not break and was still waterproof. That said, he then decided to tape the deep crack with cellophane tape "to keep the air out". And when I again asked about how soon they would replace the roof, he told me that I will still going to have to wait a month or two because he can't get the part soon. I am one day of ground shipping away from California and surely there is a warehouse of glass roofs in Fremont, waiting to be used for new Model 3's.
If the roof cracks continue to extend, in a week or so, I am not sure the car will still be driveable since I am not willing to risk driving a car in the rain with 1/3 of the glass roof badly cracked and there already is what looks like could be an actual hole above the front metal part of the roof. Plus if the Tesla Service person is taping a part of the glass roof, I take that as a bad sign.
I do not think this failure of the glass roof in a new car (from stress cracking, ie a manufacturing or parts problem) is being addressed in a professional manner because the issue deserves immediate repair not what could be a 2 month delay. There are very few Model 3's that are 4 months old so there can't be many service issues yet so it is hard to understand why I am being put off by the Tesla Service Center. It was my idea to drive to the Service Center --- it has been hard to get their attention on this issue.
I would like suggestions on what to do and whether any other Model 3 owner has seen this problem yet.
Today, a Tesla service center person looked at the cracking and agreed that it was stress cracking and not due to an impact. The front two inches of the glass roof overlap with metal and he noticed that there was a very deep crack in that area which I had previously not noticed as it is not visible from inside the car. He told me not to worry --- that the roof was laminated glass and the roof would not break and was still waterproof. That said, he then decided to tape the deep crack with cellophane tape "to keep the air out". And when I again asked about how soon they would replace the roof, he told me that I will still going to have to wait a month or two because he can't get the part soon. I am one day of ground shipping away from California and surely there is a warehouse of glass roofs in Fremont, waiting to be used for new Model 3's.
If the roof cracks continue to extend, in a week or so, I am not sure the car will still be driveable since I am not willing to risk driving a car in the rain with 1/3 of the glass roof badly cracked and there already is what looks like could be an actual hole above the front metal part of the roof. Plus if the Tesla Service person is taping a part of the glass roof, I take that as a bad sign.
I do not think this failure of the glass roof in a new car (from stress cracking, ie a manufacturing or parts problem) is being addressed in a professional manner because the issue deserves immediate repair not what could be a 2 month delay. There are very few Model 3's that are 4 months old so there can't be many service issues yet so it is hard to understand why I am being put off by the Tesla Service Center. It was my idea to drive to the Service Center --- it has been hard to get their attention on this issue.
I would like suggestions on what to do and whether any other Model 3 owner has seen this problem yet.
