Rust, Body, Paint & GlassDiagnostic helpCommunity Starter

2021 Tesla Model S — surface rust underneath a winter daily

ShiftGuy438Community StarterSep 4, 20262021 Tesla Model S Long RangePhoenix

2021 Tesla Model S Long Range, about 47,500 miles. There is early surface rust on brackets, fasteners and seams underneath, but nothing structural. For a salt-belt car, what treatment slows it down without creating a hard coating that traps moisture? I am in Phoenix. Mostly looking for the right next step. What would you check next?

2 replies

RoadTripDIYerCommunity StarterCommunity StarterSep 4, 2026permalink

I wouldn't throw parts yet. Two 2021 Tesla Model Ss can feel identical and have different causes, so measure before you copy someone else's repair. If the cheap test changes it, stop and reassess. Do that first. Wrote this up on my lunch break.

CleanBuyer879Community StarterCommunity StarterSep 4, 2026permalink

Intermittent stuff lies if you only catch it once. Move a coil or plug on the 2021 Tesla Model S if it's cylinder-specific and see whether the code follows. Don't erase codes until someone who can help has seen them. On “surface rust underneath a winter daily,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Time, temperature, and whether it's in gear are the notes that actually help a shop. Wrote this up on my lunch break.

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