Owners of the new Tesla Model 3 and Y 2021 vehicles are reporting serious problems with the heating system, which is giving up in the dead of winter.
Sources are telling us that it is a widespread problem.
Tesla and the cold
Tesla is often accused of being a “California company” that does not design cars for cold climates.
The truth is that Tesla vehicles work very well in the cold when it comes to driving performance.
The electric power packs provide a lot of torque and allow for powerful four-wheel drive through dual-engine drives, which can be extremely useful in winter conditions. However, Tesla has encountered some problems when it comes to daily use in extreme cold.
During the first winter of the Model 3, we reported that the vehicle had some significant flaws, such as the windows, the handle and the loading door freezing.
Tesla addressed these problems, but now a new one has emerged.
Tesla heating system problem in new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles
Several Tesla owners are reporting that the heating simply stopped working on their vehicles during cold weather.
Nathalie Desrosiers only had her new Model 3 for a week before the climate system stopped pushing hot air, which is less than ideal in Quebec in December, to say the least.
She said Electrek that Tesla put his car into service, lent him another car and did not explain the problem, but the company said that it probably will not get his car back before 11 January.
That’s because the problem is widespread and Tesla’s service centers in Québec are busy working on many vehicles with the same problem, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In addition, Tesla forums and Facebook groups in the northern regions, such as Québec, where Tesla vehicles are popular, are currently inundated with new Tesla Model 3 owners with the same problem with their heating system.
Could it be Tesla’s new heat pump?
The source of the problem is unclear, but it appears to affect only Model Y vehicles and new Model 3 vehicles, both equipped with Tesla’s new heat pump system.
In March 2020, Tesla launched the Model Y, and it was the first vehicle to introduce a new “octo-valve” and heat pump system, which is proving to be more efficient than resistive heating.
With the first deliveries taking place only in California, the electric SUV is now experiencing its first real winter, and the new 2021 Model 3, which now also includes the same heat pump system as the Model Y, is starting to be delivered.
We will update if we can get more information about the situation.
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