Here we go again. We have a 2015 Model S that we bought just under a year ago. Starting a week ago, dashboard displays "key fob battery low". Replace battery in fob. Now it doesn't work at all. Try second fob. Also says battery low. Replace battery in that fob. It doesn't work now either. Fortunately, we have a third fob. Call mobile service. They succeed in fixing second fob. First fob still doesn't work. Dashboard displays "key fob battery low" at all times. At least mobile service doesn't charge us, but to get it fixed we have to go to the Dedham, MA service center. They don't seem to have any idea what is wrong. They tell us that they will first try to fix or replace the first fob at a cost of $450. if this doesn't work they will have to replace the body controller at a total cost of $1630.
I thought electric cars were low maintenance, but now they will have charged us almost $4000 in service costs over less than a year. This includes fixing a door handle and replacing the MCU, which was working fine until we took it in for the eMMC recall. The problems (except the door handle) are mysterious software issues, and the solution is always to replace the computer instead of having any idea what's wrong. We are completely at their mercy. We have no way to know whether these replacements are necessary and no way to get anything fixed other than going to Tesla and paying whatever they demand.
This is very different from the problems you get with a gas car. You have a hole in your exhaust pipe. Anybody can see there's a hole there and it has to be replaced. You can go to any mechanic and get it done.
It's a great car to drive and it suits our needs well. But continual service problems are driving us crazy and we're getting to be sorry we bought it.
I thought electric cars were low maintenance, but now they will have charged us almost $4000 in service costs over less than a year. This includes fixing a door handle and replacing the MCU, which was working fine until we took it in for the eMMC recall. The problems (except the door handle) are mysterious software issues, and the solution is always to replace the computer instead of having any idea what's wrong. We are completely at their mercy. We have no way to know whether these replacements are necessary and no way to get anything fixed other than going to Tesla and paying whatever they demand.
This is very different from the problems you get with a gas car. You have a hole in your exhaust pipe. Anybody can see there's a hole there and it has to be replaced. You can go to any mechanic and get it done.
It's a great car to drive and it suits our needs well. But continual service problems are driving us crazy and we're getting to be sorry we bought it.