The Tesla Model 3 synthetic leather doesn’t seem to like hair oils and high temperatures, producing nasty bubbles.
In the past few months, several Tesla Model 3 owners reported a bubbling issue with their headrests. The issue is so bad that it literally looks like the vegan-leather upholstery has melted. Moreover, this is permanent damage, and there is simply no way to repair it. There is a way to rectify the issue, and of course, it involves replacing the headrest. However, Tesla won’t cover it under warranty. Bummer.
What Causes the Bubbling?
This problem is not exclusive only to Tesla Model 3 and has been reported by users who drive a car with synthetic vegan leather. According to Tesla Drive Canada, the bubbling problem occurs when hair oils come in contact with the “vegan leather” of the headrests. And the problem is especially nasty if you use hair care products.
There are certain chemicals in these oils, and if they remain in contact with the headrest for a prolonged time under high temperatures, bubbles will form.
When a Canadian Model 3 owner contacted Tesla support to get his headrest replaced, he got the following explanation:
“The root cause is related to the vegan polyurethane resin (PUR) being susceptible to swell under the action of certain chemicals, some of which are found in cosmetics and head oil within a certain pH spectrum. When there is extended contact with the chemical at a high temperature (a hot car), the chemical diffuses into the coating, swells overwhelm the adhesive holding the coating to the textile, and the coating delamination. A bubble is formed. The chemicals need to be on the viscous side to dwell on vertical surfaces, so creams and gels are usually involved. This also means they have a low vapor pressure and are not volatile, so they don’t evaporate…they have plenty of time to diffuse into the material if they’re not wiped away quickly.”
How Can You Prevent it?
We have often heard that “prevention is better than cure,” and the same cannot be truer in this case. Otherwise, you’ll need to shell out $280 if you want a replacement.
Thus, a much cheaper option is to stop the bubbles from forming in the first place. Try to keep your headrests free from hair oils or other chemicals and clean them occasionally using baby wipes or a fresh cloth. Also, try to avoid parking your Model 3 under direct sunlight for extended periods.
Do you have any other explanation as to why these bubbles might be forming? Or do you have a way to prevent them? Let us know in the comments section below.
Download 2.5M+ car repair manuals here!
