Trading in your Tesla? Be sure to factory reset! I didn't....

[Hookemhorns]

Traded in my MS for a MY last month. When I arrived at the delivery center, I went in, did the paperwork, and said I'l be right back because I wanted to do a factory reset. She said fine...well, I got in the car, and it wants your Tesla credentials to do the reset. Didn't work, it was already off my account! I could not reset the car, so all of my personal settings and information were still there. The delivery specialist assured me they would do the factory reset for me.

Nope!! I found my car for sale by a used car dealer (it had enough miles so Tesla just sent it to auction). Their ad had some screen shots, one with the name I had given my car, another with my music favorites.

I (finally) was able to contact Tesla (that hassle is for another thread), and they assured me my personal information had been removed. I doubt it though, given the screens I could see on the used car dealer ad. I had, on a hunch, removed my home address and favorite locations in the GPS before I traded it. Good thing. I believe my browsing history and web favorites are still there (one website I use that has a password I've already changed), and my homelink will still open my garage. I changed my Netflix and Hulu passwords.

Anything else I should do? Be warned, do your own reset. Despite the assurance of the delivery person that they would reset my car, they did not. This put me at some risk, I am so glad I found the car for sale so I knew to make the changes to my accounts that I did.

 

[YNoVA]

I recently sold my car and made sure to factory reset it before remove it from my account.

If you also used Spotify make sure to change the pasword for it as well.

 

[240vPlug]

Tesla should have a policy that when there is an account change or removal that it automatically performs a factory reset to protect customer information. Always reset beforehand until such time as they implement it. If they ever do.

 

[Freshness]

Why not just call the dealer and ask them to reset it?

I’m sure someone will be nice enough.

 

[240vPlug]

Why not just call the dealer and ask them to reset it?

I’m sure someone will be nice enough.

It will require Tesla account login and it’s already been removed from his account. Sounds like one will not be able to factory reset until it’s assigned to another Tesla account.

 

[Mike_TV]

At what point do you reset to factory? When you park it for the trade in? Before the drive over or pickup from a third party? Not sure when would be the best time to do it.

 

[240vPlug]

Would reset it before delivery day. If you wait until the day of you risk not being able to reset if its already been removed from your Tesla account. For me personally 2-3 days before is what I would do.

 

[Hookemhorns]

For me it was a several hour drive to the delivery center, i wanted the nav favorites for stops along the way and music presets to listen to. I should have done the reset when i arrived, before i spoke to anyone.

 

[joe.smith]

It will require Tesla account login and it’s already been removed from his account. Sounds like one will not be able to factory reset until it’s assigned to another Tesla account.

That's a good point (the OP also mentioned). It begs the question, when a NEW Buyer purchase the car and sets up his Tesla account, will it clear out (reset) the old data? I mean, I know it doesn't help the OP's case because his stuff is still out there until it's purchased. I was just wondering.

 

[joe.smith]

For me it was a several hour drive to the delivery center, i wanted the nav favorites for stops along the way and music presets to listen to. I should have done the reset when i arrived, before i spoke to anyone.

There's a lot going through your mind when purchasing a car so don't beat yourself up about forgetting to reset; it happens.

 

[Hookemhorns]

Why not just call the dealer and ask them to reset it?

I’m sure someone will be nice enough.

They seemed to want to help, but since they don't have a Tesla account they have no credentials to enter for a factory reset. Evidently when it goes through auction/used car dealer the Tesla ownership is "in limbo" until a buyer gets it and sends proof of purchase to Tesla.

 

[Kofther]

Does resetting the car affect your cloud profile at all or when you got in your new Tesla did it configure correctly?

 

[Heckraiser]

I just bought a used Model S from a dealership. My wife told me to ask it to "navigate home." Now I know where the PO lives! I'm going to stalk him if the car gives me trouble, lol.

 

[Mike_TV]

I just bought a used Model S from a dealership. My wife told me to ask it to "navigate home." Now I know where the PO lives! I'm going to stalk him if the car gives me trouble, lol.

Same with any rental car. The number of addresses left in the nav or people's phones still configured with Carplay is crazy.

 

[redpoint5]

I bought a reconstructed title Prius plug-in once, and it didn't come with the factory EVSE and was missing the 2nd keyfob. I looked up "home" in the infotainment screen and found the home phone number of the original owner, who then gave me the EVSE and 2nd keyfob.