2 painful years with a Model S

[sorka]

The windshield was of very poor quality. Because of Tesla’s method of car construction, the fender has to be cut out from the car resulting in huge prices for simple fixes. I would not call an informative post on issues that have arisen in 2 years a rant. I think it is important for future customers to know what they are getting involved in.

If it had to be cut and replaced, it wasn't "small dent".

 

[sorka]

I am in a similar situation in regard to the winter tire/wheel package. They charged my Amex fast enough, but haven’t seen the tires/wheels. They report to be unable to track them nor do they have any sort of ETA.

I ordered winter tires for my MXP when they showed in stock. The winter tire package is far less expensive than if you ordered the wheels, tires, and sensors al-la-cart because it's a package deal and is sourced by a third party contractor that tesla deals with, ATD. So when you place an online order, it actually gets sent to ATD.

The reason I canceled after six months is because the Sunnyvale dealer, which is the one I designated the package to be delivered to, never got a delivery from ATD. One of the service writers there, who spent tons of time trying to fix this, kept emailing ATD (and ccing me) regarding when the package would ship. After several attempts, they finally responded telling them that they needed to source the wheels, tires, and sensors themselves and that they don't deliver the package themselves. This would have resulted in a far higher package price.

After 6 months, I gave up and requested a refund which came about a month later.

 

[sorka]

I assume your Amex charge is pending or in pre-authorization, because I'm not sure they are allowed to charge your card until the merchandise is shipped and verified. Might want to research that a little more. When did you put your order in, when did they charge your card, did you receive a notice that the tires/wheels were shipped and from where?

My card was charged the day I placed the order. Not pending, but a completed transaction.

 

[RISC601]

My card was charged the day I placed the order. Not pending, but a completed transaction.

My card was charged the day the order was placed also. And no, I never received notification that the tires/wheels had shipped. Although the status said "en route to" my local service center. Most businesses don't charge your card until the merchandise ships, but Tesla doesn't seem to be playing by that rule.

 

[DayTrippin]

I was tracking with some of the issues until the small dent was 20k to fix. Even cutting out and replacing, I am still tempted to call BS. That or the shop shafted you. I know of a Tesla where a truck (probably a garbage truck) drove down the side of the car from the passenger door to the rear quarter. It was in the shop for 6 months; total bill of 23k. I thought that was crazily priced but give the amount of damage it was a lot more in line for what OP is saying for repairs of a "small dent" or even with cutting out the fender.

 

[bhzmark]

windshield cracked from tiny pebble,

Yeah! And my tire went flat from a tiny nail!!! Stupid Tesla!! Never again!!

 

[bhzmark]

I ordered winter tires for my MXP

I order mine a couple months ago and just got them mounted a week ago. A very good deal.

 

[ucmndd]

I am not a glass scientist or specialist. My experience with our Tesla in the last two years has been good, but the windshield SEEMS to be softer material than in the many many other cars we have had.

I concur. And as we all know on the internet, two anecdotes makes a fact.

Slightly more seriously, I drive a lot. About a hundred miles a day, same exact route, for 14 years now. I’ve had five different cars during that time. I know what this drive does to cars and have a pretty good basis for comparison.

I put 175,000 miles on a Model S, ~90% of the miles on that route. Had two windshields over ~7 years. Each of them looked like they had been in a war zone when they were replaced. I had countless rock dings filled (because ~$1200 windshield… woof!), and when both of them inevitably ended up with cracks that couldn’t be repaired, they looked positively sandblasted when they came off the car. They were destroyed.

Other cars on the same route, same mileage, etc - ranging from a Ford Fiesta to a VW Passat - didn’t have nearly the wear to the glass. Not even close.

People will believe what they want and carry their own blatant biases, and I’m sure someone will be along to tell me all the reasons I’m wrong shortly. But my experience is what it is, and worth the price you paid for it.

 

[islandbayy]

I wanted to post a brief description of my 2 year experience with a Tesla Model S 2021 refresh. Hopefully this can be found by others who are thinking of getting one.

The performance is superb. It is very fast and fun to drive. The technology in the UI is above all others. The range is good and enough to easily do local trips for work or pleasure. OTA updates are excellent.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to not believe it, the quality is so poor I cannot think of anything else I have ever experienced that is built so badly.

In two years it has had the main battery die, windshield cracked from tiny pebble, rubber door seals crack and fall off, driver window leak water, climate control sensors break, 20 grand for a small dent in the driver rear fender after someone scraped me at low speed (insurance doesn’t have a certified shop in my region either), ordered and paid for winter wheel/tire package listed as “in stock” in August, only to be without them come December leading me to report it to the BBB (never did get the tires), paint chipping off, exterior door handle broke, glove box release/latch broken, and lastly the covering of the steering yoke is coming off.

This car was nearly 100k when we got it. All I can say is never again will I want anything to do with Tesla.

For Collision repair, you/your insurance got hosed. We got majorly T-Boned on the freeway in Illinois, repair costs were ~$19k.
If you are really in New York, there are Tesla Certified body shops EVERYWHERE. Hope you got the person who hit you insurance to pay. You can also get diminished value from it. Also, you are never stuck with a specific body shop, you CAN take your vehicle and go elsewhere if the shop appears to be screwing you over after getting the estimate. From the sound of it, vehicle was drivable.
As for the other issues, yah, I feel you there. My 2013 was a Train Wreck. Both my 2016's have been basically rock solid.

EDIT 1: Panel cut and replaced, wasn't a minor dent then. Still got hosed by the body shop.

EDIT 2: Dashcam video of the accident we were in. Still managed to drive it 2 1/2 hrs back to home in Wisconsin. No Tow-Trucks nor police would come as they were all too busy due to the storm.

 

[Sprfst]

Doing the Lords work making sure people know buying cars with 100k miles will start having things break…

I think the Lord's work would be teaching you to read.....100k price.

 

[Sprfst]

If it had to be cut and replaced, it wasn't "small dent".

That's not what the certified Tesla repair shop says. The small 4cm dent lead to separation of the bonding that Tesla uses. Therefore it must be cut out.

And another joy of owning this Tesla, I asked the Tesla Service Center to look at it and confirm the need for replacement and cost. Tesla told me they do not assess vehicle damage and defer to the certified collision center.

 

[Sprfst]

For Collision repair, you/your insurance got hosed. We got majorly T-Boned on the freeway in Illinois, repair costs were ~$19k.
If you are really in New York, there are Tesla Certified body shops EVERYWHERE. Hope you got the person who hit you insurance to pay. You can also get diminished value from it. Also, you are never stuck with a specific body shop, you CAN take your vehicle and go elsewhere if the shop appears to be screwing you over after getting the estimate. From the sound of it, vehicle was drivable.
As for the other issues, yah, I feel you there. My 2013 was a Train Wreck. Both my 2016's have been basically rock solid.

EDIT 1: Panel cut and replaced, wasn't a minor dent then. Still got hosed by the body shop.

EDIT 2: Dashcam video of the accident we were in. Still managed to drive it 2 1/2 hrs back to home in Wisconsin. No Tow-Trucks nor police would come as they were all too busy due to the storm.

There is 1 certified repair shop in my region of Upstate NY. Unfortunately, they do not work with my car insurance or the insurance of the person who hit me. This is also something for prospective buyers to consider. State Farm (largest car insurer in the US) is my insurance.

 

[Sprfst]

I was tracking with some of the issues until the small dent was 20k to fix. Even cutting out and replacing, I am still tempted to call BS. That or the shop shafted you. I know of a Tesla where a truck (probably a garbage truck) drove down the side of the car from the passenger door to the rear quarter. It was in the shop for 6 months; total bill of 23k. I thought that was crazily priced but give the amount of damage it was a lot more in line for what OP is saying for repairs of a "small dent" or even with cutting out the fender.

I will upload the certified Tesla dealer quote when it is in my hands. 27k for the L-driver side rear fender and cracked bumper. It's time people know the truth outside of the fanboys on here. A simple Google search will show this is a very well known issue with numerous Reddit threads about the cost.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/ni1i0z

Why Repairing Your EV Is So Expensive

Customers are finding there’s a downside to owning an electric vehicle: repair costs.

www.wsj.com

Here's one, and that's a model 3. 2 different shops, 12-17k for that panel. Must be BS as well right?

 

[Drew-MS]

I will upload the certified Tesla dealer quote when it is in my hands. 27k for the L-driver side rear fender and cracked bumper. It's time people know the truth outside of the fanboys on here. A simple Google search will show this is a very well known issue with numerous Reddit threads about the cost.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/ni1i0z

Why Repairing Your EV Is So Expensive

Customers are finding there’s a downside to owning an electric vehicle: repair costs.

www.wsj.com

Here's one, and that's a model 3. 2 different shops, 12-17k for that panel. Must be BS as well right?

Most (not all) body shops are super shady and rip-off insurance companies in a big way whenever they can. It's known that many body shops purposely create more damage. They do this to either increase the claim or when possible, try to create a 'total loss' so they can purchase the car at a very low price. This exact thing happened to me personally about 10 years ago (with a heavily modded car) and I've learned over the years that it's quite common.

 

[dmurphy]

That's not what the certified Tesla repair shop says. The small 4cm dent lead to separation of the bonding that Tesla uses. Therefore it must be cut out.

And another joy of owning this Tesla, I asked the Tesla Service Center to look at it and confirm the need for replacement and cost. Tesla told me they do not assess vehicle damage and defer to the certified collision center.

Do you belong to your local Tesla Owners' Club? I know a bunch of folks in the NYS Owners' Club and they're always good for advice when it comes to where to repair, etc. Tesla Owners Club New York State

Some of the car issues are certainly valid, but the windshield - stuff happens - and the collision repair - really are not Tesla's doing.

Will agree, the online shop is basically a black hole where you hope products come out the other side .... but that's not really a car thing, but a Tesla operations thing.

Good luck. My advice is to keep the owners' club in mind if you need anything -- the TOCs usually know what's up better than Tesla employees do. (And for sake of clarity - that's true for most car brands ... same is true if you own a Porsche for example.)

 

[⚡️ELECTROMAN⚡️]

I will upload the certified Tesla dealer quote when it is in my hands. 27k for the L-driver side rear fender and cracked bumper. It's time people know the truth outside of the fanboys on here. A simple Google search will show this is a very well known issue with numerous Reddit threads about the cost.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/ni1i0z

Why Repairing Your EV Is So Expensive

Customers are finding there’s a downside to owning an electric vehicle: repair costs.

www.wsj.com

Here's one, and that's a model 3. 2 different shops, 12-17k for that panel. Must be BS as well right?

Any idea what your next vehicle will be?

 

[Excaliber]

OH man that horn button....whos bloody idea was that???? Thats one of the only things i hate....

I added this clear rubber kitchen cabinet stop and it makes the horn work better and easier.



And one on the other side painted black to keep me from hitting the turn signal when using the volume/next scroll.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XXJZQMS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Yelobird]

I wanted to post a brief description of my 2 year experience with a Tesla Model S 2021 refresh. Hopefully this can be found by others who are thinking of getting one.

The performance is superb. It is very fast and fun to drive. The technology in the UI is above all others. The range is good and enough to easily do local trips for work or pleasure. OTA updates are excellent.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to not believe it, the quality is so poor I cannot think of anything else I have ever experienced that is built so badly.

In two years it has had the main battery die, windshield cracked from tiny pebble, rubber door seals crack and fall off, driver window leak water, climate control sensors break, 20 grand for a small dent in the driver rear fender after someone scraped me at low speed (insurance doesn’t have a certified shop in my region either), ordered and paid for winter wheel/tire package listed as “in stock” in August, only to be without them come December leading me to report it to the BBB (never did get the tires), paint chipping off, exterior door handle broke, glove box release/latch broken, and lastly the covering of the steering yoke is coming off.

This car was nearly 100k when we got it. All I can say is never again will I want anything to do with Tesla.

Main battery was the 12v battery. Doesn’t make your story as impressive but does clarify the wow factor.

 

[WyoDude]

I think the Lord's work would be teaching you to read.....100k price.

Haha, if you wrote more clearly there would be no problem. Considering how many people liked my post, it was not clear to many others.

 

[Atomadam]

I added this clear rubber kitchen cabinet stop and it makes the horn work better and easier.



And one on the other side painted black to keep me from hitting the turn signal when using the volume/next scroll.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XXJZQMS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

good idea!