What is the wading depth of the Tesla Model 3?
3 Answers
Tesla Model 3 has a certain wading capability. The maximum safe wading depth guaranteed by Tesla is approximately 138mm, which just submerges the chassis battery. However, the limited wading depth is not due to the battery. According to the "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles" regarding waterproof performance testing of power batteries, even if a new energy vehicle is almost entirely submerged in water, the battery will remain unaffected for 30 minutes. More relevant information is as follows: 1. Tesla Model 3 has no exhaust system: Since the Tesla Model 3 lacks an exhaust system, it can be considered that submerging up to the chassis is the maximum wading depth. However, water reaching the chassis is already the limit. When the water level rises above the chassis to the lower door gaps, water will enter the interior. 2. Precautions: It should be noted that if a new energy vehicle is submerged in water for an extended period, there is still a risk of spontaneous combustion. For new energy vehicles, considering the cleaning and repair costs of other components, the overall maintenance cost of the vehicle can be very high.
I specifically checked the wading data for the Model 3 a couple of days ago, and the official specs don’t provide exact numbers. In theory, EVs have better wading capability than ICE cars since there’s no air intake. The underfloor battery pack has an IP67 waterproof rating—it can handle being submerged in 1 meter of water for half an hour without issues. However, the ground clearance is only about 15cm, so never force your way through deep water. I’ve seen owners ford 30cm-deep water without problems, but the wiring harness connectors in the motor bay might get soaked. To be safe, keep water levels below half the wheel height and pass through slowly without rushing. If the car stalls, never attempt to restart it—water damage to the battery could cost as much as a Wuling.
With a decade of car repair experience, I've encountered numerous Model 3 water wading cases. The core issue is that the battery pack's sealing is indeed robust—official data states it can withstand 1-meter deep water for 30 minutes. The real vulnerabilities are the sensors on the chassis and wiring connectors; most fault codes after wading are due to water seepage in wire harness connectors. It's advised not to exceed 25cm in depth and keep speed below 10km/h. Pay special attention to whether the road's water accumulation is stable, as turbulent flows over 15cm pose risks. Post-wading, inspect the brake discs and chassis, as high-concentration saltwater is highly corrosive. Modified vehicles require extra caution with air suspension height, as the factory suspension's wading capability is average.
