Tesla Model 3 Cost of Ownership After 2 Years & 50,000+ Miles

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An earlier version of this article was originally published on Tesla Oracle.

It’s been two years and 50,000 miles since Andy Slye, a popular YouTuber, purchased his Tesla Model 3 RWD. After his two-year Tesla anniversary, he shared his Model 3 experience after clocking that many miles on the odometer.

According to Andy, the Tesla Model 3 has been the most economical car he’s ever owned. This also holds true for many other owners around the world. And even though the car is still under warranty, you should still expect some (typical) out-of-pocket maintenance after two years.

To that end, Tesla recommends the following items be replaced or serviced within the two-year period (refer to the Model 3 owner’s manual for complete details).

  1. Brake fluid health check every two years (replace if necessary).
  2. Cabin air filter replacement every two years.
  3. Clean and lubricate brake calipers every year or 12,500 miles (20,000 km) if in an area where roads are salted during winter.
  4. Rotate tires every 10,000–12,000 miles (16,000–20,000 km) or if tread depth difference is 2/32 in (1.5 mm) or greater.

Total cost of service and repairs after 2 years

By using the DIY Model 3 air filter replacement method, Andy saved around $225 and the total cost of service and parts replacement after 2 years was only $390 which is around 50 cents a day or $8 per 1,000 miles. Possible in a BMW 3 Series or an Audi A4? Don’t think so.

Issues fixed under warranty