Is Tesla allowed to review Sentry/Dash cam footage?

[TesFan1981]

I searched but I couldn't find an answer.

I am wondering if a Tesla service center, Tesla body shop or Tesla insurance would be allowed to review an owners USB drive if the car was in for something. I feel like it falls into the realm of privacy so probably not but it could be up to each state too. I'm not sure. Do you know?

 

[ewoodrick]

If you don't want them to review it, remove it. If you don't trust them, don't carry your car there.

I'm sure that most of the techs are WAY TOO BUSY to watch hours of cars driving on a road.

 

[TesFan1981]

If you don't want them to review it, remove it. If you don't trust them, don't carry your car there.

I'm sure that most of the techs are WAY TOO BUSY to watch hours of cars driving on a road.

If I had thought about it I would've removed it. I didnt think about it and my car is now in for service. I am worried they are going to blame the repair on me.

Its in for a 12v battery. They made me sign a form saying that I will pay $400 for the new battery. They wouldnt touch the car if I hadnt signed. I am concerned because I did leave a FWD open by mistake which leaves the car on with the radio playing. However it still turns off after 30 minutes. Later that day the battery died. The door was only open for maybe 2 hours. I didnt cause the failure but I worry they are going look at the footage and try to blame me.

 

[TesFan1981]

If you don't want them to review it, remove it. If you don't trust them, don't carry your car there.

I'm sure that most of the techs are WAY TOO BUSY to watch hours of cars driving on a road.

I think you are being snarky but if you want warranty work done, hell, ANY WORK DONE, you have no choice but to take it to Tesla. There are no authorized repair facilities and even Electrified Garage's abilities are limited. Im looking forward to their new place in North Carolina but Tesla still holds all the cards, they own the playing card manufacturer AND the casino. They are the new Apple.

 

[Silicon Desert]

If I had thought about it I would've removed it. I didnt think about it and my car is now in for service. I am worried they are going to blame the repair on me.

Yup as Ewoodrick says, I agree they are WAYYYYYYYY to busy to even look at it even if it is legal or not. Being that some people wait weeks to even get an appointment, I doubt they even have time to eat

 

[Silicon Desert]

... if you want warranty work done, hell, ANY WORK DONE, you have no choice but to take it to Tesla.

Well, not always true. There are authorized repair centers for some things and I have used one of them a couple times for the "any work done" part.

 

[TesFan1981]

Well, not always true. There are authorized repair centers for some things and I have used one of them a couple times for the "any work done" part.

What work did you have done? Sure shocks, struts, brakes, wiper blades, tires, balancing, all that stuff. Normal car stuff. But no one on the planet has hacked MCU2 so most Tesla components cannot be swapped. It all requires trips to Tesla. Only Tesla service centers and Tesla approved body shops have access to Tesla Toolbox.

 

[Silicon Desert]

What work did you have done? Sure shocks, struts, brakes, wiper blades, tires, balancing, all that stuff. Normal car stuff. But no one on the planet has hacked MCU2 so most Tesla components cannot be swapped. It all requires trips to Tesla. Only Tesla service centers and Tesla approved body shops have access to Tesla Toolbox.

Well, you said "Any work done" so I was responding to that. I had collision work done on several components, so your original comment is still not correct with regard to my car. Tesla didn't want to do it. Yet, I generally agree that Tesla has to do many things that others can't.

 

[mswlogo]

I think you are being snarky but if you want warranty work done, hell, ANY WORK DONE, you have no choice but to take it to Tesla. There are no authorized repair facilities and even Electrified Garage's abilities are limited. Im looking forward to their new place in North Carolina but Tesla still holds all the cards, they own the playing card manufacturer AND the casino. They are the new Apple.

I think his post is dead on and not snarky.

I can guarantee they won’t look at your videos. You really think Tesla wants their techs at $150/hr digging through private videos to justify charging $400 on something that is either clearly covered or not in the fine print. They can probably tell more from a log file anyway (door open 2PM, battery error 4PM).

If your car is newish they will probably cover it under good faith.

 

[Eno Deb]

Its in for a 12v battery. They made me sign a form saying that I will pay $400 for the new battery. They wouldnt touch the car if I hadnt signed. I am concerned because I did leave a FWD open by mistake which leaves the car on with the radio playing. However it still turns off after 30 minutes. Later that day the battery died. The door was only open for maybe 2 hours. I didnt cause the failure but I worry they are going look at the footage and try to blame me.

Uhm, if leaving a door open for two hours killed the 12V battery, the car may have a bigger problem (faulty DC-DC converter or similar). Normally it should automatically recharge the 12V battery from the HV battery when necessary.

Also, if you have already signed that you'll pay for the battery (which you shouldn't have to if the car is still under warranty), I don't understand what the issue is even if they watch the video.

 

[mswlogo]

Uhm, if leaving a door open for two hours killed the 12V battery, the car may have a bigger problem (faulty DC-DC converter or similar). Normally it should automatically recharge the 12V battery from the HV battery when necessary.

Also, if you have already signed that you'll pay for the battery (which you shouldn't have to if the car is still under warranty), I don't understand what the issue is even if they watch the video.

They won't work on your car unless you sign. It's been reported it's that way many times on the forum.

 

[Eno Deb]

They won't work on your car unless you sign. It's been reported it's that way many times on the forum.

Even if it's clearly a warranty case? That's weird. I don't see how damage to the battery caused by leaving the car's door open can be construed as the owner's fault.

 

[brkaus]

I’ve never had a 12v battery covered by an other another auto brand.

 

[mswlogo]

Even if it's clearly a warranty case? That's weird. I don't see how damage to the battery caused by leaving the car's door open can be construed as the owner's fault.

I didn’t write their policy. They don’t know if it was abused and out of warranty until they look at it. So the policy is sign first, warranty claim later. Nobody is saying it’s not covered.

 

[mswlogo]

I’ve never had a 12v battery covered by an other another auto brand.

You probably would if it was 6 months (no idea how old OP battery is). Many folks have had premature 12V battery die and was covered under good faith.

12V Batteries have warranties too. Something is wrong if it dies in less than 2 years.

 

[Eno Deb]

I’ve never had a 12v battery covered by an other another auto brand.

Other cars also don't have HV batteries that the 12V one can be replenished from. So when you leave the light on or something it is actually possible to deep discharge them. It shouldn't be possible on a Tesla (unless the HV battery is also dead).