Tesla Model 3 and Model Y to gain heated wipers and ventilated seats?

January 6, 2022

By Nuno Cristovao

The Model 3 and Model Y manuals have been recently updated to reflect a new feature for Tesla's most popular vehicles.

Model 3/Y may gain ventilated seats

The Model 3 and Model Y manuals now show that not only will the cars include heated seats as they have since being introduced, but they will also include cooled seats.

Ventilated seats have been a feature that Tesla previously only offered in their top models.

Tesla has slowly been bringing a lot of features that were exclusively available in the Model S and X to all of their cars.

The Model 3 and Model Y have gained a heated steering wheel, MCU 3, and other features that were previously exclusive to the Model S and Model X.

The Model Y now also offers Bioweapon Defense Mode. Unfortunately, it's not available in the Model 3 due to space constraints for the HEPA filter.

Model 3/Y may gain ventilated seats

At this time the cooled seats have only been seen in Tesla's online manual, and there is no other confirmation that cooled seats are coming definitely coming to the Model 3/Y.

When Tesla builds their online manuals they tag each feature with the model it applies to. If a feature is available in all models, then it doesn't get a model tag and it's implied that the feature is available for all Tesla models.

The Tesla manual states:

Touch the driver's side seat icon to adjust seat heaters for the driver. The seat operates at three levels from 3 (highest) to 1 (lowest). The seat icon displays twisting lines that turn red (heating) or blue (cooling) to corresponding with the set level. Auto, which displays when the climate control system is set to Auto, warms or cools the front seats based on cabin temperature.

The ventilated seats footnote does not specify any models, which makes it show up in all manuals, for the Model 3/Y and Model S/X. This could very well be an oversight by Tesla, but it's also possible that Tesla is planning to add ventilated seats to all of their vehicles.

The Model 3 and Model Y will also gain heated wipers this year, which will prevent snow from building up on the wipers themselves. If you've ever driven through a snowstorm in your Tesla, you understand how valuable of a feature this will be.

In the past few months, there have been numerous changes to Tesla models. Tesla is set to open Giga Berlin and Giga Texas factories this year, so if Tesla is planning to make major changes to these vehicles, it makes sense for Tesla to make them now before assembly lines are built and in the new factories.

Tesla Issues Physical Recall for Some Model 3 & Model Y Vehicles Over Seat Fasteners

June 27, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has issued a new, voluntary safety recall for a small batch of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to an issue with improperly tightened fasteners in the first-row seats.

The recall impacts only about 48 vehicles and will require a Tesla service visit to resolve.

Improperly Tightened Fasteners

According to the recall notice, the issue stems from the first-row seating that may have been manufactured with improperly torqued fasteners that attach the seat back to the seat bottom. In some cases, the fasteners may be loose or missing, which could cause a rattle or the seat to detach.

This is a critical safety issue, as a seat back that is not properly anchored could detach, leaving the driver or passenger unsupported and increasing the risk of an accident.

According to Tesla’s investigation, this issue originated from a production change made for vehicles manufactured between April 3rd and May 7th of 2025. However, not all vehicles built within that date are impacted by the recall. The issue impacts 30 2026 Model Ys and 18 2025 Model 3s, across all variants, including RWD, AWD, and Performance (for the Model 3).

Thankfully, there have been no incidents related to this issue to date.

The Fix

Since this is a physical recall, Tesla will have to inspect impacted vehicles and replace and properly retorque the seat fasteners as needed, free of charge.

Owners of vehicles who have been impacted have already been contacted under the voluntary recall, and most vehicles should have been repaired by the time this notice is formally issued.

You can also check if your VIN is impacted by a recall using Tesla’s Recall Tool.

Tesla has noted the repair should take approximately one hour of work at a Service Center, and up to two hours if a Mobile Ranger addresses the recall.

Tesla Robotaxi Sends Out More Invites: Next Phases of Robotaxi

June 27, 2025

By Karan Singh

@TerrapinTerpene

Following the successful launch of Robotaxi on Sunday, June 22nd, Tesla has begun moving to the next phase of its Robotaxi rollout. They have finally begun sending out a second, larger wave of invites, expanding the early access program to more members of the Tesla community across the United States.

This has moved them past the initial 20 or so users that were offered access on Sunday. That also means Tesla is on the hunt for something crucial: more real-world data.

More Riders ASAP

The initial launch was a tightly controlled event, with access granted to a small and curated group of influencers. While this approach was ideal for generating initial buzz for the launch and collecting feedback from high-quality testers, it also presented logistical challenges.

With only a handful of authorized riders and vehicles, the demand for rides would inevitably dry up as influencers begin their journeys back home. Without a public release, that would leave Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet idle, unable to gather additional data.

To rapidly improve on Robotaxi’s FSD, Tesla needs its vehicles to be constantly navigating real-world scenarios, encountering edge cases, and logging miles. The second round of invites is needed to keep Robotaxis learning and on the road.

Austin Users Next?

This new wave of invites isn’t an open door for members of the public quite yet. By continuing to send invites to trusted community members, Tesla is executing a slow and deliberate rollout by inviting members who know and love Tesla. This allows them to scale the program gradually, increasing the number of users and the diversity of ride requests without overwhelming the relatively small initial fleet of about 10 cars.

Future phases will likely involve opening access to Tesla owners within Austin, which would open up a regular flow of rides. Once that’s done, Robotaxi will likely open up to the public.

Sign of Confidence

The expansion of the early access program is a sign that Tesla is happy and confident with the rollout so far. While Tesla can gather plenty of data around Austin from Tesla owners using FSD, they also need to continue testing features that are exclusive to the Robotaxi, such as the Robotaxi app, support, and remotely control the vehicles when needed.

We expect a full launch to potentially still be months out, but this methodical expansion will likely see more users gradually gain access to the Robotaxi network in the coming weeks.