I have since read the thread, and the majority didn't get it back, the one I noticed that was actually successful was a private party deal from an original owner of a 2013 85kwh Model S. Obviously that thread doesn't cover all the people that still have it, but it pretty clearly highlights a pattern of those that do lose it, 2 to 12 months later, it gets dropped off their account with no warning from Tesla.
That thread doesn't cover it but I have seen other threads where people have done what this seller/buyer did, contact a human at Tesla, who then tells them it will transfer. A few months later it gets removed and the buyer is left angry. This is an issue with buying and selling Tesla's and I feel it's risky to advertise a car as "it will transfer" even if it's listed as code SC01 in the options list. It should transfer, and as I explained to my recent buyer, this is the situation and that I have no control over Tesla or what actions they will take post sale. I explained the research and logic in why I thought it would be fine, and the risks that they are assuming by buying the car and let them make the decision. I obviously do not sell cars for a living, as I would starve doing it the way I do. But the buyer is informed and better prepared for life with a Tesla.
I didn't post this earlier in this thread as while I did want to post the data, I didn't want to post my opinions that might further affect his deal. Now that the car is sold I feel like I am free to post this. I will also say I don't fault the seller for thinking what he thought. He has no reason to believe it won't work out. I am some random guy on a forum, and he spoke to a human at Tesla. He hasn't spent the last few years reading up on Tesla and their policies and it isn't reasonable for him to know every nuance of their unpublished policies that even their employees don't understand. I honestly hope that the buyer has free supercharging forever and this is never an issue, but I wouldn't bet my paycheck on it either. His best hope is that Tesla let's it slide as it was a private party transaction. If this transaction went through the dealer though, then I would think his chances are greatly diminished.
This IS an issue Tesla should really address with clearly published policies. It drives customers insane to have stuff removed post sale, and I believe is opening Tesla to legal action. If the policy was clear then their chances of legal action would be reduced as sellers wouldn't be setting a false expectation for buyers or at least buyers would be immediately notified upon registration of their situation. Waiting two months or more and then fixing it in an audit is a certain way to make anyone unhappy. I realize that they are probably basing their decision on car fax or whatever and since car fax isn't instant they can't easily make a change right away. The whole policy of setting a car's features based on what's on carfax is a bit insane too. (Rebuilt cars have supercharging disabled?)
Off my soap box
