Model 3/Y: the '990' rear motor — a sturdy workhorse
By bulk owner reports, the 990 rear motor is less prone to inverter problems and is generally more durable than the early 980. When buying a used pre-facelift, many specifically look for the 990.
It is important to know which motor is fitted where from the factory: RWD/SR+ cars came with the 980 (3D1) at the rear — that is normal, not a cause for concern. The 990 is the rear motor of non-Performance AWD cars from roughly mid-2019, plus the Model Y Long Range.
That said, the 990 is not without episodes either: in China Tesla recalled 127,785 Model 3s (built 01.2019–01.2022) over rear motor inverter semiconductors — the issue was fixed via an OTA update.
Links
- 980 vs 990 discussions: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/980-vs-990-motor-settled.195999/
- Power/efficiency nuances: https://www.reddit.com/r/teslamotors/comments/ioat3d/rear_motor_efficiency_improvements_980_vs_990/
- China recall of 127,785 Model 3s (rear motor inverter): https://cnevpost.com/2022/04/07/tesla-recalls-127785-model-3-vehicles-in-china/
Sources
- https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/980-vs-990-motor-settled.195999/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/teslamotors/comments/ioat3d/rear_motor_efficiency_improvements_980_vs_990/
- https://cnevpost.com/2022/04/07/tesla-recalls-127785-model-3-vehicles-in-china/
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