WhichCarParts

1st generation (original, pre-Highland) · 2017–2023 · Compact EV sedan

2023 Tesla Model 3 parts and specs

Everything you need to own and maintain this exact model year. Verified specifications, part numbers, and the problems that recur, in one place.

Last verified

Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0. Illustrative, not necessarily your model year or trim.

Quick facts

Engine oil
None, fully electric
Battery
Group 85B24LS (JIS; 12V 45 Ah) through ~Nov 2021 production; 16V Li-ion after
Tire size
235/45R18 (base trim)
Wiper blades
26" / 19"
Cabin filter
Tesla 1107681-00-A (two filters per car, sold as a pair; later revisions -00-B/-00-C interchange)
Key fob battery
CR2032 (optional accessory key fob). The standard key card and phone key have no battery to replace.

Specifications for the 2017–2023 Model 3

Oil & filter

Viscosity, capacity, filter part numbers, change interval

Battery

BCI group size, cold cranking amps, AGM or flooded

Tires & wheels

Factory sizes by trim, pressures, bolt pattern, lug torque

Wiper blades

Driver, passenger and rear blade lengths

Air & cabin filters

Cabin and engine air filter part numbers, locations, intervals

Bulbs

Headlight, fog and marker bulb types

Brakes

Rotor diameters, pad references, service notes

Fluids

Transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid and capacities

Service schedule

What's actually due at every mileage interval

Problems & reliability

Documented failures, recalls, and which years to avoid

Key fob battery

Which coin cell the remote takes

Specs

Towing, weight, fuel tank, fuel economy

These specifications are shared across every Model 3 of the 1st generation (original, pre-Highland) generation. See the 2017–2023 Tesla Model 3 overview for the full picture, or the Tesla Model 3 guide to compare every generation.

What changed for the 2023 Tesla Model 3

  • 2023Final year of the original body; carryover, with the original-generation production ending late 2023 for the Highland changeover

Known problems with the 2023 Tesla Model 3

2 of the 6 issues we track for the 2017–2023 generation are documented against the 2023 model year, and 2 carry a recall or service bulletin.

  • Phantom braking on Autopilot / TACC

    moderateNHTSA investigation PE22-002 (closed, no defect finding)

    Sudden, unneeded hard braking at highway speed while using Traffic-Aware Cruise Control or Autopilot, often repeatedly in one drive. Complaints spiked after Tesla dropped radar for camera-only 'Tesla Vision' in mid-2021. NHTSA opened investigation PE22-002 in February 2022 covering an estimated 416,000 2021–2022 Model 3/Y and closed it in 2025–2026 without a defect finding; software updates have reduced but not eliminated reports. No hardware fix exists, keep firmware current.

    Typical cost: N/A (software behavior; no repair)

  • Heat pump failure / loss of cabin heat in cold weather

    majorNHTSA 22V-050 (Tesla firmware 2021.44.30.7)

    2021+ cars use a heat pump whose expansion-valve software could let refrigerant migrate and shut the compressor down in sub-14°F weather, killing cabin heat and defrost. Tesla recalled 2021–2022 cars (26,681 vehicles) and fixed it over the air with firmware 2021.44.30.7+. Separate from the recall, hardware failures of the heat pump sensor/EXV and compressor are among the most reported cold-climate issues; covered under the 4-yr/50k basic warranty, expensive after.

    Typical cost: Free (OTA recall / warranty); ~$1,500–$3,000 for out-of-warranty heat pump hardware

4 more issues reported in other 2017–2023 years
  • 12V lead-acid battery dies every 3–4 years (pre-Dec 2021 cars) — 2017–2021 (and early-build 2022)
  • Front upper control arm creak / squeak — 2017–2021
  • Window automatic-reversal (pinch protection) recall — 2017–2022
  • Touchscreen yellow border / banding (early cars) — 2017–2019

Full detail, costs and sources on the Tesla Model 3 problems and years to avoid guide.

Which powertrains were offered in the 2023 Model 3?

PowertrainTrimsOilOil capacity
Single Motor RWD (Long Range RWD / Mid Range / Standard Range Plus / RWD)Long Range RWD (2017–2019), Mid Range (2018–2019), Standard Range / SR+ (2019–2021), RWD with LFP battery (2022–2023)N/ANone (EV)
Dual Motor Long Range AWDLong Range AWDN/ANone (EV)
Dual Motor Performance AWDPerformance (20-in Über Turbine wheels, bigger front brakes, lowered suspension, track mode)N/ANone (EV)

About the Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is the car that made EVs mainstream in America, and from a parts-and-maintenance standpoint it splits cleanly into two eras. The original car (2017–2023) launched as a Long Range RWD sedan and grew into a three-powertrain lineup, single-motor Standard Range/RWD, dual-motor Long Range AWD, and Performance, picking up a heat pump, powered trunk, and double-pane glass in the 2021 refresh and an LFP battery on the base RWD in 2022. The 'Highland' refresh (2024–2025) reworked the body, suspension, and interior but kept the same service items.

There is no engine oil, no spark plugs, and no dealer service schedule. Tesla's official list is just tire rotations every 6,250 miles, cabin filters every 2 years, a brake fluid health check every 4 years, and winter brake-caliper cleaning. What owners actually look up: the 12V battery gotcha (cars built through roughly November 2021 use a small 85B24LS lead-acid battery that dies every 3–4 years; later cars use a lifetime 16V Li-ion pack), tire sizes and the universal 42 psi placard pressure (heavy EV + XL-rated tires means fast tread wear), the two-stage cabin filter replacement behind the passenger footwell, and a recall history that is almost entirely fixed over-the-air, window pinch (22V-702), heat pump software (22V-050), TPMS light (24V-935), plus the long-running phantom-braking complaint file (NHTSA PE22-002, closed without a defect finding).

For how the specifications changed across every generation, see the full Tesla Model 3 guide.

Other Tesla Model 3 years

20252024202220212020201920182017
Data confidence for this generationVerified

Sources