Tesla Model 3 2017–2023: underside damage, battery and trunk wiring

3D body illustration

Model 3 illustration before the Highland update. 2017+

Original 3D illustration: Tesla 2018 Model 3 (2017+)

«Tesla 2018 Model 3» — Ameer Studio, CC BY 4.0. Author’s original. The web container was unpacked without changing the model data.

This is a body illustration, not a photo, a measurement or a reconstruction of a specific VIN. Trim and part match is not confirmed.

Battery damage requires a separate assessment

In Tesla’s public Collision Repair Manual, Preparing a Total Loss Vehicle for Transport directly refers HV-battery damage to TN-18-16-001. Its transport workflow also references a separate check under CD-23-16-001 and Tesla Collision Repair guidance where battery damage is present or suspected. This requires specialist assessment; it is not a battery-fitness criterion from an exterior photograph.

Tesla: Model 3 Collision Repair Manual: Preparing a Total Loss Vehicle for Transport

Applicability and the full analysis

Rear camera: NHTSA describes a mechanism without collision

In 21V-00D dated December 21, 2021, Tesla describes repeated-flexing wear of the trunk-lid harness coaxial cable on MY2017–2020 Model 3 vehicles. A broken conductor could cause loss of the rear-camera image; possible earlier symptoms include flickering or intermittent pictures. The report identifies a different harness design for MY2021.

Tesla / NHTSA repository: Part 573 Safety Recall Report 21V-00D / SB-21-17-008