Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register

I'm returning my Model 3. I need corporate intervention.

This site may earn commission on affiliate links.
Hi guys and gals,

I'm new here so I don't want you to think i'm just rolling in to bash the brand or anything, I'm actually a BIG fan of Tesla vehicles, so much so that I decided to purchase the AWD Model 3 in December 2018. I'm 40 years old and this is my first new vehicle purchase, ever. I live in south east Michigan where Tesla are not allowed to sell their vehicles so I had to commute 250 miles to Cleveland/Lyndhurst location to pickup the vehicle on December 9th.

I want to admit I was ignorant to the way this company works. There's an obvious breach of communication between all of the branches of this company. as an example, and this is not hypothetical as I will outline the facts below, every department of Tesla has a hard or impossible time communicating with the other, I know i'm not the only one who's brought this up.

What your seeing from me is a complete and total breakdown of consumer confidence in this company. I went from so excited I might buy two new Tesla's to I'm never buying one unless its used, for sale by private owner, out of warranty. Now that I know what I'm dealing with.

Lets start with when I ordered the car on 11/28/18, I go to the website, all excited, I'm gonna do it. I configure the car, I put my down payment of $2500 down, we're good! I had a referral code and wondered why I was never prompted to enter it? I figured Tesla could just fix that for me when before I picked the car up so I could get my free 6 months supercharging. Wrong, my ignorance. I was lied to by everyone up until recently saying I could have that referral code applyed to my new car purchase.

I was assigned a delivery specialist: <redacted> has no voicemail, can't leave messages

We had a hard time confirming the finance amount with Jeffery. We had been given a purchase agreement online but he claimed the numbers were not right and needed to be changed. Once we confirmed MSRP of the car the purchase agreement was changed and reflected a different variation of the same numbers from the original purchase agreement, resulting in the same total. I thought it was weird, but it was the same total.

When questioned, <redacted> was aware the car had not been payed for and confirmed we could bring a cashiers check from our bank to delivery on Dec. 9th. He also confirmed we could pay the difference on site with a credit card as our bank was not financing the full purchase price of the car.

We arrived at Cleveland/Lyndhurst on December 9th under the impression from <redacted> that we could bring a cashiers check from our bank and pay for the car. When we arrived everyone acted as if though the car had been payed for already. We asked about our referral code and was told another department could handle that for us. After signing the documents we were given the keys to the car and was told the title would be in the mail.

We did bring the check to delivery, no one was there to take it, we never met <redacted> and the balance due on the car was $0.00

Confused about the payment,flustered about not getting the referral and excited about the car, thinking there must be a logical explanation we drove away with our new Model 3 taking it back to Michigan. After taking delivery of the car we couldn't reach <redacted>, so we started to reach out to Tesla directly.

12/10/18 We spoke with <redacted> she told us we have 2 owner advisors that are assigned to us and will be in contact. They never were.

<redacted>
<redacted>

12/12/10 Spoke with someone named <redacted>, he didn't know anything.

12/14/18 Spoke to <redacted> He said he would forward our info to <redacted>

12/14/18 Sent a message to investor relations and Tesla Board of Directors explaining our situation, no response. http://ir.tesla.com/CONTACT-US

At this point we decided to stop trying to resolve this as Christmas was approaching and this situation had just become a burden, it wasn't something we needed to be focused on. I continued to drive the car to work 5 days a week and figured it will be resolved at some point OR if not and Tesla is really this negligent, then I just got a $2500 Model 3!

1.7.19 Spoke with <redacted> at Cleveland/Lyndhurst service about some problems we have with the car.

1.7.19 Sent email to Tesla customer support about leaking lights and getting the refferal code added.

1.7.19 Spoke with <redacted> who works for a 3rd party collection service that tracks down people who drove away with their car for free, I guess this happens a lot. She sent one email saying she couldn't contact my bank and never responded again. <redacted>

At this point I just want to pay for the car, this is unbelievable, no one seems to be able to work with me to accept payment for this car and answer my questions about what happened with the purchase agreement numbers. Now I'm getting VERY irritated. The cashiers check is still sitting here and now I'm not confident in the numbers OR in the people that are suppose to process it.

We digress again, tired of dealing with it.

1.17.19 Sent email to <redacted>

1.18.19 <redacted> responds with no idea who we are, I don't respond back.

1.20.19 The paper plate is expiring on Jan 23, We call Tesla Cleveland to ask for another one while we get this figured out. We inquire if the title will be issued and are then told our bank needs to send a letter to the Ohio DMV requesting the title for the car. This is the first we have heard of this, at delivery we were told we would receive our title and paperwork in the mail, nothing about having to prompt the Ohio DMV to issue the title. Unbelievable.

1.20.19 Temps dip into the single digits at night, Im driving and my headlights start cutting out, intermittent. No rhyme or reason to it. Bumps don't seem to affect it and i was close to where I was staying so I was safe and parked it for the night.

1.21.19 I drive the car back to my house and park it in the day, that night was brutal cold, I got in my Model 3 and sure enough the headlights are still cutting in and out.

1.22.19 I wake up today and I don't want the car anymore. I leave it in the garage and head off to work in my v8 mountaineer. I decide I'm going to try and get corporate attention and return this car. I have not spoke with anyone of any authority over the past 6 weeks, obviously no one can or is willing to do anything for me.

1.22.19 I get a call from <redacted> requesting me to pay the remaining balance of $1542 on my car. Not gonna lie, I flipped out on <redacted>, I didn't swear at her but I did proceed to tell her she had no idea what I owe on the car, that the car had never been paid for, she has bad data and to put me in contact with her manager. Congrats, I make 6 figures a year and have a 820 credit score and now I'm in collections.

1.22.19 I get a call from <redacted> I unload on <redacted>, I put it all on him, I tell him I don't want this car anymore, I can't do business like this, I can't drive the car at night while its freezing without the headlights cutting out. I want to return it! He tells me I can return it and contacts <redacted> at Cleveland/Lyndhurst bringing me right back to where this all started.

1.23.19 I call and get <redacted>, amazing! and instantly escalate to <redacted> Cleveland/Lyndhurst has no voicemail, can't leave messages.

I tried to escalate from <redacted> to his boss but he deflected it, so I put it all on him, yeah he seemed a little shocked at the extent of it all and the fact I drove away from his lot without paying for my car but overall he just wanted to get me off the phone just like all the rest (except <redacted>). He said I could return the car and he would set that up, believe me <redacted>, I'm not counting on it.

1.23.19 <redacted> actually called me back (<redacted> boss), but I missed the call by 14 minutes at work. I tried to call him back but no answer, no voicemail.

1.24.19 The car remains in my garage, Tesla Cleveland sent a new paper plate but I'm not driving it anymore. It's not mine. I haven't payed for it AND its defective. I saw the engineer's had supposedly acknowledged that the lights cutting out in the cold was a firmware issue. Most of my driving happens at night, I park my car outside at work so it will be in freezing temps, this flaw is unacceptable AND dangerous!

Other notes include, Michigan rangers not being able to reach my car until March 1st (they can't fix firmware issues), I drove 500 miles just to pick the car up and return home, I got screwed out of my 6 months free supercharging, I ordered aero wheels and snow tires for the car and then cancelled 4 weeks later because the shop can barely deliver anything for sale on there, a never ending auto pilot error on screen even though its not enabled, countless hours spent dealing with people who have no idea whats going on or how to help, being harassed by local police and much more!


I will keep this thread updated as it unfolds, everything will be public from here on out. I can be reached at: <redacted> Thats also the email attached to my Tesla account. Tesla Model 3 VIN# 5YJ3E1EB3JF178471
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Informative
Reactions: Matias and David29
I just called <redacted> Cleveland/Lyndhurst has no voicemail, can't leave messages
I let his phone ring for 15 minutes before I hung up, figured I would give him time to make it back to his desk. Business as usual.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I just called <redacted> again and left a message on his voicemail begging him to put me in contact with someone who is in a position of authority to resolve this situation
 
Last edited by a moderator:
moderator and user note:

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. The issues you're having are truly inexcusable. However, this is a Tesla club not directly associated with Tesla, and as such you are unlikely to receive help from corporate directly by posting here. I have had to redact all the names and phone numbers in your posts. Your record keeping is excellent, and I hope you're able to present this all to Tesla directly and get some resolution.

Please do keep us updated, but also keep the personal information/names out of your posts here at TMC. Good luck.
 
It is unfortunate situation for sure. However, Make no mistake... It is definitely your vehicle. Only way you can get it returned if you can get the State to make a determination that your vehicle is a lemon... covered under a state's lemon law. I'd hire an attorney... unless you like having a M3 paper weight in your garage.
 
The Cleveland showroom and service center are severely understaffed given the region that they have to service. I was "lucky" enough to take delivery in May before the big rush started and really had no issues other then a pre-delivery paint correction. That said, it is near impossible to get the SC on the phone and their schedule is seemingly constantly overbooked. The service technicians are really great, but the sales staff just can't seem to get their head above water.

Either way, good luck.
 
...referral code and wondered why I was never prompted to enter it?...

There's nowhere on the standard website to place a referral code.

You have to use a referral link and you would see the name of the one who refers you like:

"Save with <a name here>'s Referral"

It's inexcusable that no Tesla workers follow up the referral code problem even if it is not their department.

I think it's the leadership problem who trains their workers to be quick and fast with their task and just leave customers stranded with other departments.

...lights cutting out in the cold was a firmware issue...

I haven't heard about cold weather firmware issue with lights.

People have driven Tesla cars in cold arctic regions for years.

My first instinct is Tesla needs to physically replace the lights.

...harassed by local police and much more!...

I assume because of the license plate problem, lights problem?

In conclusion:

I think it's not acceptable and Tesla should do better.

I do understand that you want to put an end those frustrations now.

However, if you really want a Tesla, your problems will be sorted out and it'll be very rewarding in the end.
 
  • Love
Reactions: GreenT
Hi guys and gals,

I'm new here so I don't want you to think i'm just rolling in to bash the brand or anything, I'm actually a BIG fan of Tesla vehicles, so much so that I decided to purchase the AWD Model 3 in December 2018. I'm 40 years old and this is my first new vehicle purchase, ever. I live in south east Michigan where Tesla are not allowed to sell their vehicles so I had to commute 250 miles to Cleveland/Lyndhurst location to pickup the vehicle on December 9th.

I want to admit I was ignorant to the way this company works. There's an obvious breach of communication between all of the branches of this company. as an example, and this is not hypothetical as I will outline the facts below, every department of Tesla has a hard or impossible time communicating with the other, I know i'm not the only one who's brought this up.

What your seeing from me is a complete and total breakdown of consumer confidence in this company. I went from so excited I might buy two new Tesla's to I'm never buying one unless its used, for sale by private owner, out of warranty. Now that I know what I'm dealing with.

Lets start with when I ordered the car on 11/28/18, I go to the website, all excited, I'm gonna do it. I configure the car, I put my down payment of $2500 down, we're good! I had a referral code and wondered why I was never prompted to enter it? I figured Tesla could just fix that for me when before I picked the car up so I could get my free 6 months supercharging. Wrong, my ignorance. I was lied to by everyone up until recently saying I could have that referral code applyed to my new car purchase.

I was assigned a delivery specialist: <redacted> has no voicemail, can't leave messages

We had a hard time confirming the finance amount with Jeffery. We had been given a purchase agreement online but he claimed the numbers were not right and needed to be changed. Once we confirmed MSRP of the car the purchase agreement was changed and reflected a different variation of the same numbers from the original purchase agreement, resulting in the same total. I thought it was weird, but it was the same total.

When questioned, <redacted> was aware the car had not been payed for and confirmed we could bring a cashiers check from our bank to delivery on Dec. 9th. He also confirmed we could pay the difference on site with a credit card as our bank was not financing the full purchase price of the car.

We arrived at Cleveland/Lyndhurst on December 9th under the impression from <redacted> that we could bring a cashiers check from our bank and pay for the car. When we arrived everyone acted as if though the car had been payed for already. We asked about our referral code and was told another department could handle that for us. After signing the documents we were given the keys to the car and was told the title would be in the mail.

We did bring the check to delivery, no one was there to take it, we never met <redacted> and the balance due on the car was $0.00

Confused about the payment,flustered about not getting the referral and excited about the car, thinking there must be a logical explanation we drove away with our new Model 3 taking it back to Michigan. After taking delivery of the car we couldn't reach <redacted>, so we started to reach out to Tesla directly.

12/10/18 We spoke with <redacted> she told us we have 2 owner advisors that are assigned to us and will be in contact. They never were.

<redacted>
<redacted>

12/12/10 Spoke with someone named <redacted>, he didn't know anything.

12/14/18 Spoke to <redacted> He said he would forward our info to <redacted>

12/14/18 Sent a message to investor relations and Tesla Board of Directors explaining our situation, no response. http://ir.tesla.com/CONTACT-US

At this point we decided to stop trying to resolve this as Christmas was approaching and this situation had just become a burden, it wasn't something we needed to be focused on. I continued to drive the car to work 5 days a week and figured it will be resolved at some point OR if not and Tesla is really this negligent, then I just got a $2500 Model 3!

1.7.19 Spoke with <redacted> at Cleveland/Lyndhurst service about some problems we have with the car.

1.7.19 Sent email to Tesla customer support about leaking lights and getting the refferal code added.

1.7.19 Spoke with <redacted> who works for a 3rd party collection service that tracks down people who drove away with their car for free, I guess this happens a lot. She sent one email saying she couldn't contact my bank and never responded again. <redacted>

At this point I just want to pay for the car, this is unbelievable, no one seems to be able to work with me to accept payment for this car and answer my questions about what happened with the purchase agreement numbers. Now I'm getting VERY irritated. The cashiers check is still sitting here and now I'm not confident in the numbers OR in the people that are suppose to process it.

We digress again, tired of dealing with it.

1.17.19 Sent email to <redacted>

1.18.19 <redacted> responds with no idea who we are, I don't respond back.

1.20.19 The paper plate is expiring on Jan 23, We call Tesla Cleveland to ask for another one while we get this figured out. We inquire if the title will be issued and are then told our bank needs to send a letter to the Ohio DMV requesting the title for the car. This is the first we have heard of this, at delivery we were told we would receive our title and paperwork in the mail, nothing about having to prompt the Ohio DMV to issue the title. Unbelievable.

1.20.19 Temps dip into the single digits at night, Im driving and my headlights start cutting out, intermittent. No rhyme or reason to it. Bumps don't seem to affect it and i was close to where I was staying so I was safe and parked it for the night.

1.21.19 I drive the car back to my house and park it in the day, that night was brutal cold, I got in my Model 3 and sure enough the headlights are still cutting in and out.

1.22.19 I wake up today and I don't want the car anymore. I leave it in the garage and head off to work in my v8 mountaineer. I decide I'm going to try and get corporate attention and return this car. I have not spoke with anyone of any authority over the past 6 weeks, obviously no one can or is willing to do anything for me.

1.22.19 I get a call from <redacted> requesting me to pay the remaining balance of $1542 on my car. Not gonna lie, I flipped out on <redacted>, I didn't swear at her but I did proceed to tell her she had no idea what I owe on the car, that the car had never been paid for, she has bad data and to put me in contact with her manager. Congrats, I make 6 figures a year and have a 820 credit score and now I'm in collections.

1.22.19 I get a call from <redacted> I unload on <redacted>, I put it all on him, I tell him I don't want this car anymore, I can't do business like this, I can't drive the car at night while its freezing without the headlights cutting out. I want to return it! He tells me I can return it and contacts <redacted> at Cleveland/Lyndhurst bringing me right back to where this all started.

1.23.19 I call and get <redacted>, amazing! and instantly escalate to <redacted> Cleveland/Lyndhurst has no voicemail, can't leave messages.

I tried to escalate from <redacted> to his boss but he deflected it, so I put it all on him, yeah he seemed a little shocked at the extent of it all and the fact I drove away from his lot without paying for my car but overall he just wanted to get me off the phone just like all the rest (except <redacted>). He said I could return the car and he would set that up, believe me <redacted>, I'm not counting on it.

1.23.19 <redacted> actually called me back (<redacted> boss), but I missed the call by 14 minutes at work. I tried to call him back but no answer, no voicemail.

1.24.19 The car remains in my garage, Tesla Cleveland sent a new paper plate but I'm not driving it anymore. It's not mine. I haven't payed for it AND its defective. I saw the engineer's had supposedly acknowledged that the lights cutting out in the cold was a firmware issue. Most of my driving happens at night, I park my car outside at work so it will be in freezing temps, this flaw is unacceptable AND dangerous!

Other notes include, Michigan rangers not being able to reach my car until March 1st (they can't fix firmware issues), I drove 500 miles just to pick the car up and return home, I got screwed out of my 6 months free supercharging, I ordered aero wheels and snow tires for the car and then cancelled 4 weeks later because the shop can barely deliver anything for sale on there, a never ending auto pilot error on screen even though its not enabled, countless hours spent dealing with people who have no idea whats going on or how to help, being harassed by local police and much more!


I will keep this thread updated as it unfolds, everything will be public from here on out. I can be reached at: <redacted> Thats also the email attached to my Tesla account. Tesla Model 3 VIN# 5YJ3E1EB3JF178471
Did you log into your Tesla account and submit a note using the "escalate" button?
This is supposed to send the note to executive management. Sending a note to investor relations will not get very far.
 
Man, the difference in Tesla SCs and employees across different parts of the country is astounding to me. I live in the DC area and my SC is great. The only issue with my 3 when I bought it was the charge cable button on the mobile connector wouldn’t open the charge port. I called and reported it. About a week later, they called me to schedule someone to drop a new one off at my house. I ended up just swinging by and picking it up, as the SC is not too far from my office. I’ve never had trouble scheduling service and I have been told that they can easily retroactively apply a referral code. Sounds like a lot of horror stories from other SCs though. Good luck getting it all resolved.
 
Other than some build quality issues, which have been since repaired by a local Tesla SC, my purchase process was generally smooth. I live in the Los Angeles area, but for whatever reason, someone in Las Vegas was helping me with paying the remaining the balance for the car. That person in LV was responsive and helpful. I saw the 6 months free supercharging about 2 weeks after delivery.

My only gripes so far: no loaners available at the SC, periodic calls from Tesla asking me to test drive (even though I own a MR3), the ugly large gap between the tire and fender, and the auto climate control system acting weird. When it's cold outside, it blasts hot air even though I set it to 70F, and inversely, it blasts cold air when it's warm outside. Is this normal?

Does Tesla have a Twitter support option? What about writing a physical letter?
 
  • Funny
Reactions: Kant.Ing
Sadly I'm not surprised by the OPs experience... I'm also not very confident Tesla is even capable of addressing the situation. This company literally cannot walk and chew gum at the same time... The reality is there is nothing else on the market that even comes close to anything Tesla is selling and so long as that remains the case, and I see nothing from any other manufacturer that's going to materially change this anytime soon, Tesla has literally zero incentive to do better.

It's unfortunate as Tesla is destroying a lot of good customer will by their actions and this will absolutely come back to haunt them at some point. As it stands for me, I have bought my last Tesla unless something materially changes with this company and I've already advised all of my friends and neighbors to avoid the company as well which has cost Tesla at least two sales. Tesla doesn't care at all.

When I get asked about my Tesla I simply respond "Transcending cars, corrupt and incompetent company"...

Jeff