First, my original service appointment was to replace a fog lamp that was flickering a few weeks ago. Tesla sent a mobile tech to fix that, and he had to remove the bumper partially to access the fog lamp assembly. When he finished the work, he said that more than likely the car would show an error about the radar needing to be calibrated afterwards, and that would require an appointment at the service center. He stated it was a 15 minutes fix and a fairly common service request after a bumper removal. Seemed easy.
It took me 10 days to get an appointment at the service center because the app would only allow for a mobile tech. I made one appointment thinking someone at the service center would see it was for a radar calibration and change it away from a mobile visit, but they kept trying to send mobile techs who would cancel when they realized they could not handle it. During this time, I kept leaving VMs for the Renton service center to get the correct appointment scheduled, but nobody would call me back...probably because the phone system says to only use the mobile app to make an appointment, but that was clearly not working. I finally called the Bellevue service center who answered, booked the appointment at Renton, and confirmed it was a 30 minute appointment.
I arrive on the appointment day thinking it will be a short wait for service. I get a text to wait in my car until a service advisor comes to the car (there's 5 cars in line). Everyone else gets helped within 10 minutes, and then I am left sitting there for 30 minutes. I chatted with some service techs painting body panels outside in the parking lot (yeah, I know). One went inside twice to find an advisor to help me. I finally get checked in, and they tell me to take a Model S loaner because it will take a day. The loaner has no data service (or at least no streaming music or maps enabled). Halfway home in the loaner, both screens turn off and then repeatedly restart until I get home while occasionally flashing a warning message about power being reduced despite being at 80% charge.
30 minutes later I go to pick up my wife from work. The loaner won't turn on. It's stuck in "Off" and won't go into drive. I spend 20 minutes trying to get someone at the Renton service center to answer, but it goes straight to VM without even ringing. But...the Bellevue service center answers, and they do a remote keyless start which works. I get to my wife's work and get out to help load something into the car (she's very pregnant). Car won't start again. I try the Renton service center multiple times but nobody answers as always. I call Bellevue who does answer, and they again remote start the car. During this time, I pull up the service notification log on the main screen and see it has endless "Power reduced", "Car may not restart", and "Car needs service" errors. Around 30 every day. Seems like it's had better days!
While driving home, the Renton service center calls me and says they got a message from Bellevue about my car having issues. They say I was given a very old car, and someone just returned a much newer S that does not have a caved in rear bumper (as this one did), and it's mine if I come back. Instead of dealing with a car that may not start again, I head back to Renton. Halfway there, the AC quits and begins blowing hot air while flashing "Car may not restart" errors. At one point while stopped at a traffic light, there was a very heavy THUD that shook the car to the point that my vision blurred. Not sure what caused that.
The "newer" loaner is a year older and also in poor condition and looks like the interior has never been cleaned. It does drive though! The AC never gets cold, but it's better than hot air. Fast forward five days, and my car is still sitting in the lot at the same location as when I dropped it off. If it's moved, I have not caught it on the app yet. No ETA, no communication, and nobody at the service center will answer the phone nor respond to my texts or VM asking for an update.
But....the Bellevue service center did answer late this afternoon and told me that Renton broke the radar unit while doing the calibration and they don't have an ETA on the repair. I think the moral of the story is to take your Tesla to the Bellevue service center if you want to be treated like a valued customer.
It took me 10 days to get an appointment at the service center because the app would only allow for a mobile tech. I made one appointment thinking someone at the service center would see it was for a radar calibration and change it away from a mobile visit, but they kept trying to send mobile techs who would cancel when they realized they could not handle it. During this time, I kept leaving VMs for the Renton service center to get the correct appointment scheduled, but nobody would call me back...probably because the phone system says to only use the mobile app to make an appointment, but that was clearly not working. I finally called the Bellevue service center who answered, booked the appointment at Renton, and confirmed it was a 30 minute appointment.
I arrive on the appointment day thinking it will be a short wait for service. I get a text to wait in my car until a service advisor comes to the car (there's 5 cars in line). Everyone else gets helped within 10 minutes, and then I am left sitting there for 30 minutes. I chatted with some service techs painting body panels outside in the parking lot (yeah, I know). One went inside twice to find an advisor to help me. I finally get checked in, and they tell me to take a Model S loaner because it will take a day. The loaner has no data service (or at least no streaming music or maps enabled). Halfway home in the loaner, both screens turn off and then repeatedly restart until I get home while occasionally flashing a warning message about power being reduced despite being at 80% charge.
30 minutes later I go to pick up my wife from work. The loaner won't turn on. It's stuck in "Off" and won't go into drive. I spend 20 minutes trying to get someone at the Renton service center to answer, but it goes straight to VM without even ringing. But...the Bellevue service center answers, and they do a remote keyless start which works. I get to my wife's work and get out to help load something into the car (she's very pregnant). Car won't start again. I try the Renton service center multiple times but nobody answers as always. I call Bellevue who does answer, and they again remote start the car. During this time, I pull up the service notification log on the main screen and see it has endless "Power reduced", "Car may not restart", and "Car needs service" errors. Around 30 every day. Seems like it's had better days!
While driving home, the Renton service center calls me and says they got a message from Bellevue about my car having issues. They say I was given a very old car, and someone just returned a much newer S that does not have a caved in rear bumper (as this one did), and it's mine if I come back. Instead of dealing with a car that may not start again, I head back to Renton. Halfway there, the AC quits and begins blowing hot air while flashing "Car may not restart" errors. At one point while stopped at a traffic light, there was a very heavy THUD that shook the car to the point that my vision blurred. Not sure what caused that.
The "newer" loaner is a year older and also in poor condition and looks like the interior has never been cleaned. It does drive though! The AC never gets cold, but it's better than hot air. Fast forward five days, and my car is still sitting in the lot at the same location as when I dropped it off. If it's moved, I have not caught it on the app yet. No ETA, no communication, and nobody at the service center will answer the phone nor respond to my texts or VM asking for an update.
But....the Bellevue service center did answer late this afternoon and told me that Renton broke the radar unit while doing the calibration and they don't have an ETA on the repair. I think the moral of the story is to take your Tesla to the Bellevue service center if you want to be treated like a valued customer.
