Model 3

Make
Tesla
Segment
Sedan

The Tesla Model 3 - Tesla's attainable, (relatively) inexpensive pure-electric sedan for the masses - appears to have a bit of a penchant for developing paint issues in cold-weather climates. Salting the roads during winter is a common practice in many areas of the country that see copious amounts of snow and ice each season, and the Model 3's paint doesn't seem to take too kindly to that.

In response, Tesla is rolling out a new "All-Weather Protection Kit" for the Model 3 that couples a transparent protective film with mud flaps or splash guards to deflect debris away from the body.

Each component - the Mud Flap and Splash Guard Kit, and the Paint Protection Film Kit - can be ordered individually from Tesla for $50, and instructions on how to install each are available on Tesla's website. The Mud Flap and Splash Guard Kit features two different sizes of front mud flaps, with all necessary installation hardware, giving customers a couple of options when it comes to mitigating paint damage from flying stones and road salt.

The Paint Protection Film Kit features a sticky transparent film cut to cover the rear of each rocker panel, just ahead of the wheel arches, and a squeegee to remove bubbles.

It's a move in the right direction for Tesla, and a countermeasure that plenty of Model 3 owners have already shown to be effective.

But for some owners, the damage may already have been done. As we reported recently, one Canadian owner is suing Tesla for some very premature weather damage to his 2019 Model 3's paint, after the automaker informed him that the issue is not covered by warranty, and scores of owners across the US and Canada are raising similar complaints. We can fully understand the manufacturer not covering damage caused by using your Model 3 as a snowmobile, but basic perforation and rust-through coverage should be standard.