I wanted to create a post to help other users as this could be a safety/QC issue on the horn not honking. I added the same response on a few replies to other posts but for search reasons I decided another main post is needed.
This left side horn issue was more concerning for me because I am left handed and a few other owners from the same Model 3 FB groups I am in posted about this months ago. Some had mentioned that a few tabs under the steering wheel needed to be pressed in to make better contact, some were fixed some were not. I probably would have never caught this without seeing those posts or unless an event happened as I hardly ever feel the need to honk the horn. I realized it makes sense from a safety standpoint since electric vehicles are so quiet and this is our first EV.
First experience:
I scheduled an appointment through the app and a Tesla Ranger came out a few weeks ago to look at the issue and said he could not find anything wrong and to "just press harder" was their solution. He even brought a replacement steering wheel with him in case it needed to be replaced which he said that our Model 3 didn't need.
Part of the troubleshooting process involved resetting the windows from a panel in the rear right passenger foot well area. While wfh, I noticed the ranger in my front security camera had the hood open and the rear door open and questioned why access to that area was needed. I assumed since the windows needed to be reset and he did the normal diagnostics and troubleshooting measures I took his word for it about pressing harder on the left side as it seemed to honk 'okay' while he was here. What stuck on the back of my mind was that ranger told me he had assistance from a senior technician on the phone during the troubleshooting process. hmmmm ok, must be a newer tech.
Second experience:
A month or so later I was contacted by Tesla to come into the Service Center because we were next in line to address a paint issue that we had been waiting on since our August delivery date. Perfect timing to bring up this horn issue again. So I did and they ended up fixing it.
See videos below:
Here is my video before it was fixed, squeaks, instead of honking on the left side:
Here is my video after it was fixed at the Service Center in Dublin, CA:
Honks as it should on both sides now.
Check yours fellow Model 3 owners and please respond to the poll!
This left side horn issue was more concerning for me because I am left handed and a few other owners from the same Model 3 FB groups I am in posted about this months ago. Some had mentioned that a few tabs under the steering wheel needed to be pressed in to make better contact, some were fixed some were not. I probably would have never caught this without seeing those posts or unless an event happened as I hardly ever feel the need to honk the horn. I realized it makes sense from a safety standpoint since electric vehicles are so quiet and this is our first EV.
First experience:
I scheduled an appointment through the app and a Tesla Ranger came out a few weeks ago to look at the issue and said he could not find anything wrong and to "just press harder" was their solution. He even brought a replacement steering wheel with him in case it needed to be replaced which he said that our Model 3 didn't need.
Part of the troubleshooting process involved resetting the windows from a panel in the rear right passenger foot well area. While wfh, I noticed the ranger in my front security camera had the hood open and the rear door open and questioned why access to that area was needed. I assumed since the windows needed to be reset and he did the normal diagnostics and troubleshooting measures I took his word for it about pressing harder on the left side as it seemed to honk 'okay' while he was here. What stuck on the back of my mind was that ranger told me he had assistance from a senior technician on the phone during the troubleshooting process. hmmmm ok, must be a newer tech.
Second experience:
A month or so later I was contacted by Tesla to come into the Service Center because we were next in line to address a paint issue that we had been waiting on since our August delivery date. Perfect timing to bring up this horn issue again. So I did and they ended up fixing it.
See videos below:
Here is my video before it was fixed, squeaks, instead of honking on the left side:
Honks as it should on both sides now.
Check yours fellow Model 3 owners and please respond to the poll!
