Loud Pop

[CheleG]

Greetings, Tesla Family
I have a 2021 S, long range.
While on the freeway, I heard a VERY loud pop. This pop was so loud that I thought either someone has shot a gun in my car or one of my tires had blown out. I pulled over to assess the situation and noticed there was a hole in my rear passenger fender right in front of the rear tire(between fender and in front passenger door). the car material/fender is split. However, the plastic protective film on top remains intact. Went to the Tesla dealership but unfortunately, there were no appointments available. Someone came out and took a three minute look and assumed a rock must have hit the car while driving. I did review the camera, and nothing appeared to be in site. Any suggestions? Recommendations?

 

[richrootes]

Insurance - you got hit by a rock on the freeway

Very bad luck old chap

 

[zoomer0056]

It looks like there's no exit wound into wheel well so it was a glancing blow. Maybe it was a flat piece of metal kicked up by your or another car. Are there any marks on the door? Wow, I've never seen damage like that. You say the PPF is intact, else I'd pull open the wheel well looking for the projectile. This is one for the books.

 

[PCMc]

Photos confirm it looks like it was hit by something. Body shop time and comprehensive insurance claim, depending on if the cost of the repair warrants it.

 

[DerbyDave]

Something external to your Tesla. A projectile from the road, another car, another person. This is a comprehensive insurance claim, or likely better you just pay to get it fixed. It won't be too bad, under $1000. Glad it didn't hit the windshield or side window.

 

[ucmndd]

You obviously hit something - or something hit you. Don’t bother with the Tesla service center as they don’t do collision repairs. Find a body shop and file an insurance claim.

 

[Ken_Y]

Recommendations? Go to the highest rated body shop around the area. Since it's body only, I wouldn't necessarily go to a tesla certified shop. One of those things you close your eyes and get it fixed and dont think about it. Chart it off to bad luck and move on.

 

[CheleG]

Insurance - you got hit by a rock on the freeway

Very bad luck old chap

That’s me…bad luck ok will call insurance! Thank you

 

[CheleG]

You obviously hit something - or something hit you. Don’t bother with the Tesla service center as they don’t do collision repairs. Find a body shop and file an insurance claim.

Thank you. I reviewed the cam footage and didn’t see anything

 

[CheleG]

Recommendations? Go to the highest rated body shop around the area. Since it's body only, I wouldn't necessarily go to a tesla certified shop. One of those things you close your eyes and get it fixed and dont think about it. Chart it off to bad luck and move on.

Thank you

 

[CheleG]

It looks like there's no exit wound into wheel well so it was a glancing blow. Maybe it was a flat piece of metal kicked up by your or another car. Are there any marks on the door? Wow, I've never seen damage like that. You say the PPF is intact, else I'd pull open the wheel well looking for the projectile. This is one for

 

[CheleG]

No exit wounds!

It looks like there's no exit wound into wheel well so it was a glancing blow. Maybe it was a flat piece of metal kicked up by your or another car. Are there any marks on the door? Wow, I've never seen damage like that. You say the PPF is intact, else I'd pull open the wheel well looking for the projectile. This is one for the books.

Thank you! No exit wound.

 

[Gadget-X]

Sorry for your loss...

As members said, something was kicked up or maybe even fallen off another vehicle.

Someone said less than $1K. IMHO, it will more than that. And real sure it will be collision coverage not comprehensive on your insurance. So there maybe a deductible.

Please let us know what part of your insurance covers it and how much it cost.

Good photos.

M

 

[The Lorax]

I'd check the local veterinary hospitals to see if any squirrels checked in with a concussion.

 

[vcor]

Agree with others. The video is unlikely to capture a fast rock strike as it likely happened in less than one frame of video.

 

[tldickerson]

@ Gadget-X
Someone said less than $1K. IMHO, it will more than that. And real sure it will be collision coverage not comprehensive on your insurance. So there maybe a deductible.

It would not be a collision loose because there wasn't any accident. He got hit by a unknown object so it would be a comprehensive claim. I'm sure he still has a deductible but it won't go against his record.

 

[ucmndd]

It would not be a collision loose because there wasn't any accident. He got hit by a unknown object so it would be a comprehensive claim. I'm sure he still has a deductible but it won't go against his record.

It’s not that simple. Collision coverage isn’t just for “accidents”. It’s for, well, collisions. Doesn’t have to be with another car.

In a case like this, how OP describes the claim could make a difference. If you hit a stationary object in the road, that’s generally a collision claim. For example, a rock in the middle of the road.

If a moving object strikes YOU - for example a rock falling out of the back of a pickup and bouncing around the road, that would generally be a comprehensive claim.

 

[DerbyDave]

OP didn't strike a stationary object with his right rear fender. An object hit him. This is obvious comprehensive.

 

[ucmndd]

OP didn't strike a stationary object with his right rear fender. An object hit him. This is obvious comprehensive.

I tend to agree that’s most likely what happened, but it’s 100% possible that damage is the result of hitting a stationary object and kicking it up into the fender.

 

[Gadget-X]

Based on where the damage is IMHO insurance companies will say it is was kicked up (collision). If the damage would have been say on front of vehicle then you could have said it was "a flying object" (comprehensive).

M