10:13 10-10-2025

Tesla sells $595 retrofit to restore Model 3 turn-signal stalks in the U.S.

Tesla has begun selling a retrofit kit in the United States that brings back classic turn-signal stalks to the Model 3. Priced at $595 including installation, the package is intended for cars built in 2024 and 2025.

In a twist, the company is undoing its own experiment: after the Model 3 Highland update in 2023, Tesla removed the traditional levers and replaced them with touch controls on the steering wheel. The move drew heavy criticism, with drivers calling the setup awkward—especially in the middle of maneuvers. On the road, tactile stalks can make a disproportionate difference when you need to signal quickly while changing lanes or exiting a turn.

By January 2025, the updated Model Y Juniper restored the indicators, and Tesla’s chief engineer Lars Moravy acknowledged that the company had taken out too much.

Owners of affected Model 3s can now reclaim the familiar interface. The installation includes a new steering wheel, a control module, and a steering column. Unlike in China, where the upgrade is limited to vehicles produced after February 2025, U.S. customers can have it fitted to any 2024–2025 Model 3. It reads as a pragmatic course correction that favors instinctive ergonomics over novelty.