Tesla EVs are often praised for their clever features, but this doesn't mean they are perfect. The Model 3 owners are often tormented by a bad smell in the cabin caused by a damp cabin filter. When this happens, Tesla recommends changing the filter, but the real problem is a rooky mistake that affects the HVAC system's design. Here's how you can solve it permanently.
Many Tesla Model 3 and even some Tesla Model Y owners have reported that their cars started to spread a bad smell after some time, ranging from months to more than a year. This is a known problem and can be easily fixed by replacing the cabin filter, which Tesla service technicians recommend. Still, the root cause of the problem is not the cabin filter per se but the fact that it can get wet during heavy rain or when washing the car. After getting wet, it's a matter of time before mold forms, and the "stinky feet" smell appears.
People were puzzled why this only happened on the Model 3 and certain Model Y cars but not to other models. They attributed this, partly corrected, to the fact that they are fitted with a HEPA filter with Bioweapon Defense Mode. The HEPA filter is not enough to prevent bad odor by itself, though. The way the air inlet is designed in the case of these models changes everything. As it turns out, it's a design problem that causes the cabin filter to get wet and then start smelling.
The Tesla Model 3 ventilation system inlet is placed under the hood, in the left part of the car. It is not weatherstripped, so water can easily get in when driving in the rain, and the wipers throw the water downwards. The water also gets in during washing, although Tesla has mitigated this with the clever Wash Mode. When you activate the Wash Mode in your Tesla, a slat covers the air duct, preventing the water from getting inside the filter cabinet. This is why it's important to set the Wash Mode on even when washing your car manually.
The air duct that leads to the air filter also has an opening to let the water drain in case it gets inside. The problem is that when the ventilation system is running, the airflow is so powerful that it sucks the water into the air filter. This is something that Adam Davenport found out after placing an action camera inside the air duct while spraying the car with water. His finding clearly shows that this is a design issue that Tesla might not be aware of, but it's causing owners headaches and money loss by forcing them to change the cabin filters prematurely.
Adam offers a couple of solutions that can be implemented to prevent the water from getting inside the HVAC system's air inlet. The first is a software update to slow the wipers on their downward travel. This would minimize the chance of water getting inside the air duct, but Tesla must first acknowledge the issue.
Another solution is removing the air duct altogether and letting the HVAC system draw air from the firewall area like most other cars do. The downside is that driving on dirty roads quickly clogs the cabin filter with dirt, as the inlet is now closer to the front wheel.
Finally, the third solution is weatherstripping the air inlet area. Aftermarket solutions can already isolate the hood and prevent the water from getting inside the air duct. You can also opt to only weatherstrip the inlet using a DIY solution, such as an aftermarket gasket. You'll find the necessary information in the YouTube video below. You're welcome.
After his childhood dream of becoming a "tractor operator" didn't pan out, Cristian turned to journalism, first in print and later moving to online media. His top interests are electric vehicles and new energy solutions. Full profile
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