I have had several disappointments recently in dealing with Tesla service, and some of the issues may be relevant to consumer protection laws in effect.
1) Last year our MCU failed in the replacement cost (over $2,700) was something we could not afford at the time. I bought a salvaged MCU from a parts shop in Los Angeles and had a local repair shop install it. When I took the car to Tesla to program it, they refused and said that the MCU was a special part that had to be bought directly from them and if I had them program it, it would void any remaining warranty and they would refuse to work on the vehicle going forward. So we saved up and had them replace the unit later. It seems that the stated policy would violate the Federal Trade Commission's Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Here is an excerpt from the FTC website.
Will using 'aftermarket' or recycled parts void my warranty?
No. An 'aftermarket' part is a part made by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer. A 'recycled' part is a part that was made for and installed in a new vehicle by the manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer, and later removed from the vehicle and made available for resale or reuse. Simply using an aftermarket or recycled part does not void your warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket or recycled part.
2) Our Model S has the optional 2nd charging unit installed and it recently failed.Tesla wanted over $1200 to replace it I learned that some of the charging units are susceptible to having a chip fail and that the chip can be replaced without replacing the entire unit. I was also told that a diagnostic screening generate result codes that would indicate that the problem was a failed chip. So,a couple of months ago I asked Tesla to run the diagnostics on the car and give me an estimate of the cost of repairing the 2nd charge unit. When I went to pick the car up I asked for a printed diagnostic report and they refused, saying that the information was "proprietary". Does this violate the 2017 upgraded "Right To Repair" legislation that addresses diagnostic tools, codes and data?
1) Last year our MCU failed in the replacement cost (over $2,700) was something we could not afford at the time. I bought a salvaged MCU from a parts shop in Los Angeles and had a local repair shop install it. When I took the car to Tesla to program it, they refused and said that the MCU was a special part that had to be bought directly from them and if I had them program it, it would void any remaining warranty and they would refuse to work on the vehicle going forward. So we saved up and had them replace the unit later. It seems that the stated policy would violate the Federal Trade Commission's Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Here is an excerpt from the FTC website.
Will using 'aftermarket' or recycled parts void my warranty?
No. An 'aftermarket' part is a part made by a company other than the vehicle manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer. A 'recycled' part is a part that was made for and installed in a new vehicle by the manufacturer or the original equipment manufacturer, and later removed from the vehicle and made available for resale or reuse. Simply using an aftermarket or recycled part does not void your warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket or recycled part.
2) Our Model S has the optional 2nd charging unit installed and it recently failed.Tesla wanted over $1200 to replace it I learned that some of the charging units are susceptible to having a chip fail and that the chip can be replaced without replacing the entire unit. I was also told that a diagnostic screening generate result codes that would indicate that the problem was a failed chip. So,a couple of months ago I asked Tesla to run the diagnostics on the car and give me an estimate of the cost of repairing the 2nd charge unit. When I went to pick the car up I asked for a printed diagnostic report and they refused, saying that the information was "proprietary". Does this violate the 2017 upgraded "Right To Repair" legislation that addresses diagnostic tools, codes and data?
Indy Auto Repair Shops Can Now Demand the Codes
The passed legislation is good news for both indie auto repair shops and consumers as it helps ensure competition. Not only does this mean better auto repair pricing and cost but it means that you can get the same or better car repair experience from an independent auto shop. Having more diverse choices for auto service benefits everyone.
Experts familiar with the automotive industry do acknowledge that the deal may not be good for dealerships in the long-term, particularly for specialty item repairs. So let’s say for example an uncommon dashboard light comes on in your car, such as the Power Steering Warning Light or Malfunction Indicator Light. You might normally be tempted to take your vehicle to the dealership because you think it is a manufacturer-specific problem. Perhaps an independent repair shop wouldn’t be able to properly diagnose or repair this issue.
The Dealership No Longer Holds the Only Key to Specific Auto Repair
Thanks to this new bill, you no longer have to bring your vehicle to the specific automaker’s dealership. Chain and local auto repair shops can now have access to these computer diagnostics so they can tell you what’s wrong with the car and what needs to be done to fix it.
Moving forward the situation looks even better for non-dealership auto repair shops. Vehicles manufactured in or after 2018 will be required by law to use a standardized computer system that can be accessible to all mechanics wherever they work.
3) The door handle mechanism on the driver side rear door failed and I removed it and sent it to an independent repair shop that specialized in such repairs. The person running the business is thinking of giving up because Tesla refuses to sell her replacement parts. Is that a means of circumventing the above laws?
The passed legislation is good news for both indie auto repair shops and consumers as it helps ensure competition. Not only does this mean better auto repair pricing and cost but it means that you can get the same or better car repair experience from an independent auto shop. Having more diverse choices for auto service benefits everyone.
Experts familiar with the automotive industry do acknowledge that the deal may not be good for dealerships in the long-term, particularly for specialty item repairs. So let’s say for example an uncommon dashboard light comes on in your car, such as the Power Steering Warning Light or Malfunction Indicator Light. You might normally be tempted to take your vehicle to the dealership because you think it is a manufacturer-specific problem. Perhaps an independent repair shop wouldn’t be able to properly diagnose or repair this issue.
The Dealership No Longer Holds the Only Key to Specific Auto Repair
Thanks to this new bill, you no longer have to bring your vehicle to the specific automaker’s dealership. Chain and local auto repair shops can now have access to these computer diagnostics so they can tell you what’s wrong with the car and what needs to be done to fix it.
Moving forward the situation looks even better for non-dealership auto repair shops. Vehicles manufactured in or after 2018 will be required by law to use a standardized computer system that can be accessible to all mechanics wherever they work.
3) The door handle mechanism on the driver side rear door failed and I removed it and sent it to an independent repair shop that specialized in such repairs. The person running the business is thinking of giving up because Tesla refuses to sell her replacement parts. Is that a means of circumventing the above laws?
