Is Tesla changing warranty terms again, reducing coverage retroactively? [Website Error]

[RAW84]

Guys; the warranty in question is the drivetrain warranty. The warranty when we bought these cars was "8 years / unlimited miles".

A person selling a 2015 85D with 120,000 miles, before, could point to the warranty and say "see, tesla has you covered for years" to the prospective buyer.

Now they'd be selling a moldy black banana.

Tesla needs to fix this.

And the current warranty document (that which is legally binding) still states that the warranty for the battery and drivetrain unit is 8 years [with no mileage restriction listed]. Screenshots/copy & pastes from that document have been posted multiple times in this thread.

It is clear that the website is just erroneously pulling the warranty information for the long range model 3 on the accounts of S and X owners. It’s a mistake that has no bearing on your actual warranty.

 

[Ostrichsak]

Alas, it wasn’t, and isn’t. This is plain as day in the current warranty text:

View attachment 486681

There’s a post in the main forum from this evening with someone finding this out the hard way...

What to do?!?!? 2013 Model S 60 Battery fail

Current is the operative word in that statement. The website also currently shows that ALL cars only have a 120k mile powertrain (or 8-years, whichever comes first) warranty and we all know that is also false.

 

[cduzz]

And the current warranty document (that which is legally binding) still states that the warranty for the battery and drivetrain unit is 8 years [with no mileage restriction listed]. Screenshots/copy & pastes from that document have been posted multiple times in this thread.

It is clear that the website is just erroneously pulling the warranty information for the long range model 3 on the accounts of S and X owners. It’s a mistake that has no bearing on your actual warranty.

Tell that to the (hypothetical) person who is thinking of buying your (hypothetical) car from you.

They would observe the verbiage displayed in your "my tesla" web page, look at some wrinkled pieces of paper you pulled out of a binder, and think "who should I trust, the vendor or this guy trying to sell me a car?"

The same thing goes for my car that was rear-ended; in theory it was fixed perfectly, in practice it has lost value.

It doesn't matter who's "right" it only matters that you're going to be harmed by the confusion and conflict. This business of putting confusing and incorrect information on the web site / account causes real harm and needs to be fixed. The longer it goes on the more harm it does, if indeed it is actually an "innocent mistake"

 

[cduzz]

And the current warranty document (that which is legally binding) still states that the warranty for the battery and drivetrain unit is 8 years [with no mileage restriction listed]. Screenshots/copy & pastes from that document have been posted multiple times in this thread.

It is clear that the website is just erroneously pulling the warranty information for the long range model 3 on the accounts of S and X owners. It’s a mistake that has no bearing on your actual warranty.

I have a document that says that the level of streaming service with my car when I bought it remains with my car; I also have a message from Tesla saying that my streaming service is expiring and I need to give them $120 if I want to keep it. Which should I believe, and who has the leverage here?

 

[ucmndd]

Current is the operative word in that statement. The website also currently shows that ALL cars only have a 120k mile powertrain (or 8-years, whichever comes first) warranty and we all know that is also false.

The language in question has always been there. It’s not new or changed.

 

[ucmndd]

I have a document that says that the level of streaming service with my car when I bought it remains with my car;

I’d love to see that document.

 

[RAW84]

Tell that to the (hypothetical) person who is thinking of buying your (hypothetical) car from you.

They would observe the verbiage displayed in your "my tesla" web page, look at some wrinkled pieces of paper you pulled out of a binder, and think "who should I trust, the vendor or this guy trying to sell me a car?"

The same thing goes for my car that was rear-ended; in theory it was fixed perfectly, in practice it has lost value.

It doesn't matter who's "right" it only matters that you're going to be harmed by the confusion and conflict. This business of putting confusing and incorrect information on the web site / account causes real harm and needs to be fixed. The longer it goes on the more harm it does, if indeed it is actually an "innocent mistake"

How would they observe the verbiage on my account page? I’m not giving a prospective buyer my login credentials.

I’d gladly give them a pdf of the warranty document....which accurately reflects the applicable warranty. So what’s the problem here?

 

[Rogue Synapse]

I have a document that says that the level of streaming service with my car when I bought it remains with my car;

Yeah I’d love to actually save a copy of your document! I can’t find anything with mine, though I was told verbally repeatedly that my drivetrain warranty was unlimited miles and my cellular data would always be unlimited.

 

[Ostrichsak]

The language in question has always been there. It’s not new or changed.

You're right and I stand corrected.

I bought a used 2013 60kwh and was told by my sales "expert" that my car had an 8-year unlimited mile warranty on the drive unit and battery pack. I know because I asked this specifically along with dozens if not hundreds of other things prior to purchase. That "expert" told me a lot of BS so I'm not surprised. Forutnately for me I sold that car before I ever had to find out about the mileage cap on that drive and battery warranty. I'm pretty sure that it's still under 100k so the new owner is still covered for a while.

After my previous post I tried to dig up my paperwork for that car but all is says is "the balance of the drive and motor warranty applies" but doesn't get into specifics of what that entails. You can see where I might be confused if I never knew there was a difference between the various kwh size cars and I had a sales "expert" telling me it was unlimited and paperwork that only mentioned the balance of said warranty.

When I was unable to produce anything in my cursory search of old documentation I went to the source & I think I see the confusion here. You're right, the 60kwh battery vehicles had a drive and motor warranty that was 8-years or 125k miles, whichever comes first. All other Model S are 8-year unlimited miles.

I think some are confusing the Model 3 terms with the Model S which is starting a fuss around the forum lately.

Here's Tesla's official warranty page: Click Me

(for those too lazy to click)
*Model S and Model X – 8 years (with the exception of the original 60 kWh battery manufactured before 2015, which is covered for a period of 8 years or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first).
*Model 3 - 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, with minimum 70% retention of Battery capacity over the warranty period.
*Model 3 with Long-Range Battery - 8 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, with minimum 70% retention of Battery capacity over the warranty period.

tl;dr Unless you own a Model 3 or a Model S that's a 60kWh built before 2015 ignore all of the 120,000/125,000 mile talk as it applies to the powertrain (battery pack and drive motors) warranty. It doesn't apply to the rest of us.

 

[RAW84]

I have a document that says that the level of streaming service with my car when I bought it remains with my car; I also have a message from Tesla saying that my streaming service is expiring and I need to give them $120 if I want to keep it. Which should I believe, and who has the leverage here?

I, too, would love to see that document. Sucha document would absolutely have the leverage here. It would be very beneficial to the community at large as many others are surprisingly being asked to pay for connectivity.

FWIW, my 2014 P85D still says I have free unlimited. Who knows what it’ll say next year, though.

 

[Rogue Synapse]

I, too, would love to see that document. Sucha document would absolutely have the leverage here. It would be very beneficial to the community at large as many others are surprisingly being asked to pay for connectivity.

FWIW, my 2014 P85D still says I have free unlimited. Who knows what it’ll say next year, though.

The problem with my 2014 P85D is that I bought it used, after the July 2018 cutoff. I presume you are the first owner of yours? (Or bought prior to July 2018 anyway)

 

[RAW84]

The problem with my 2014 P85D is that I bought it used, after the July 2018 cutoff. I presume you are the first owner of yours? (Or bought prior to July 2018 anyway)

Yes, I’m the only owner.

I still don’t think I’ve ever received anything in writing stating that the data connectivity was free and unlimited for life. The concept of “premium” vs “standard” connectivity was created after I bought my car. I was just verbally told that the car had free data connectivity. I can’t even say for sure that any salesperson or delivery specialist ever claimed it was free for life.

 

[cduzz]

I, too, would love to see that document. Sucha document would absolutely have the leverage here. It would be very beneficial to the community at large as many others are surprisingly being asked to pay for connectivity.

FWIW, my 2014 P85D still says I have free unlimited. Who knows what it’ll say next year, though.

google cache

Frequently Asked Questions - Connectivity

Specifically it says

My chain of logic says: "My car is a 2016 S; was sold with premium connectivity; the service level will remain active and transfer to new owner (me)". The salesperson who sold me the car said as much. I was given nothing to indicate that I would not retain the same (free) premium connectivity as the car had when it was originally sold (prior to the 2018 change).

The new connectivity policy explicitly states that when tesla acquires a car, it strips the lifetime connectivity. Tesla may argue that it is a "clarification" of the above policy, I would say it is a "change".

 

[iRia]

google cache

Frequently Asked Questions - Connectivity

Specifically it says

View attachment 486777

My chain of logic says: "My car is a 2016 S; was sold with premium connectivity; the service level will remain active and transfer to new owner (me)".

The new connectivity policy explicitly states that when tesla acquires a car, it strips the lifetime connectivity. Tesla may argue that it is a "clarification" of the above policy, I would say it is a "change".

That seems crystal clear to me.

The car was sold with premium connectivity and will transfer to the new owner of the car.

 

[iRia]

I also have not gotten an email but I see the “trial” expiring on 12/31, along with the reduced warranty on drive unit.

 

[SSonnentag]

Our S and X have had several minor issues fixed under warranty and EVERY SINGLE TIME the invoice says GOODWILL. I don't really care as long as it's free. Tesla can call it a birthday present if they want, it makes no difference to me.

 

[Huachipato]

I bought my car from a used car dealer back on 7/11/2019. Tesla screwed me out of the FUSC - but I think since I didn't purchase it directly from them I still have it listed as free unlimited premium connectivity. I *think* those who purchased directly from Tesla are the ones losing the premium connectivity.

 

[cduzz]

How would they observe the verbiage on my account page? I’m not giving a prospective buyer my login credentials.

I’d gladly give them a pdf of the warranty document....which accurately reflects the applicable warranty. So what’s the problem here?

I ask you to log into your tesla account (on your computer) and show me the features of your tesla, according to tesla.

I'd also look at the car, not pictures of the car. We're not talking about buying a $3000 honda fit with a fart can exhaust; I'd do as much due-diligence as I can and walk away if I can't do it.

Once I buy the car, my support comes from tesla, not your 4 year old pieces of paper. If tesla says those pieces of paper are no good, what am I supposed to do, drag you into court so you can swear that they're real?

 

[RAW84]

google cache

Frequently Asked Questions - Connectivity

Specifically it says

View attachment 486777

My chain of logic says: "My car is a 2016 S; was sold with premium connectivity; the service level will remain active and transfer to new owner (me)". The salesperson who sold me the car said as much. I was given nothing to indicate that I would not retain the same (free) premium connectivity as the car had when it was originally sold (prior to the 2018 change).

The new connectivity policy explicitly states that when tesla acquires a car, it strips the lifetime connectivity. Tesla may argue that it is a "clarification" of the above policy, I would say it is a "change".

I agree that it constitutes a change in policy. You absolutely have a valid argument imo, but it may take legal action to get Tesla to agree.

But when you said you “had a document”, I thought you meant an actual document, not a previous iteration of a webpage. An actual document would be pretty irrefutable. As is the case with the warranty, which is why I say the website error is nothing to worry about. Because there are multiple iterations of that warranty document (including the current one that’s linked in our account pages) that state the battery and drivetrain unit are under warranty for a period of 8 years for the S. A website error will not supersede those documents, so it’s nothing to worry about.

 

[Ken7]

Our S and X have had several minor issues fixed under warranty and EVERY SINGLE TIME the invoice says GOODWILL. I don't really care as long as it's free. Tesla can call it a birthday present if they want, it makes no difference to me.

Yup, I just tracked down my invoice for the yellow screen repair and it does say 'Goodwill' (which I didn't think it said). My attitude, like yours, is who cares as long as they fix the issue.