A Tesla owner says he got a $14,000 repair bill one day after buying a Model Y. A new report suggests it's part of a much bigger problem.

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The reason for these huge repair bills is the manufacturer only wants to replace the entire battery. They make no attempt to replace the individual bad/damaged cell(s). There are shops that can repair the battery and return it to service, but you never hear of that option.
And the insurance companies are making it worse by totaling cars with minor damage if it involves the battery. Guess who's premiums will be going up to cover their losses as this becomes a larger issue?

What's really going to get interesting is now that enthusiasm for EV's is cooling off, but the gov't mandate to limit ICE new production in a few years is still there. What's that going to do to the price of used ICE cars?
You are probably going to see an emerging industry centered on if not restoring, at least maintaining older cars that peeps were junking a few years ago.
 
The reason for these huge repair bills is the manufacturer only wants to replace the entire battery. They make no attempt to replace the individual bad/damaged cell(s). There are shops that can repair the battery and return it to service, but you never hear of that option.
And the insurance companies are making it worse by totaling cars with minor damage if it involves the battery. Guess who's premiums will be going up to cover their losses as this becomes a larger issue?

What's really going to get interesting is now that enthusiasm for EV's is cooling off, but the gov't mandate to limit ICE new production in a few years is still there. What's that going to do to the price of used ICE cars?
You are probably going to see an emerging industry centered on if not restoring, at least maintaining older cars that peeps were junking a few years ago.
This isn't a battery problem (this time). It's a suspension (breaking) problem. And a search will reveal it's not a one-off incident with the Tesla suspensions.
 
Guess who's premiums will be going up to cover their losses as this becomes a larger issue?

My son bought himself a "fixer" BMW that he is ready to register. As he did not want me knowing about it (I have cooled off a bit ;) ), it is titled in his name. But not registered yet which will require insurance. Right now he is driving "my" car under my policy. 21yo male with "ok" driving record is still an expensive policy on its own. He was shocked by some of the quotes he was getting and didn't initially understand that HIS demographic are the ones most likely to get in an accident therefore pay the most... :rolleyes:

You are probably going to see an emerging industry centered on if not restoring, at least maintaining older cars that peeps were junking a few years ago.

There are a number of other issues related to EVs that need to be addressed like "right-to-repair" and "right-to-charge". "Rich Rebuilds" on gootoob documents these issues while rebuilding a wrecked Tesla. He's doing a lot more now as a popular goo-toober but his early videos get into the difficulty getting repair parts from Tesla and then once repaired, the inability to connect to the Supercharger network (ie: "locked" out).
 
I don't have dog in the EV fight but reading this article one blurb raises an eyebrow:

Jain later learned he was expected to pay the $14,000 repair bill after Tesla sent him a letter indicating the issue was the result of "prior" damage, the publication reported.

I don't buy the Reuters story being 100% factual. I also noticed the most lefty news outlets made hay about this dude in the UK and his Tesla that suddenly just broke. I also read that the suspension issues were a known defect that goes back go back to 2017 models and Tesla owned it.

The part left out of the article was Tesla reported that the telemetry on that car referenced in the article suggested he crashed into something prior to the day of his alleged sudden suspension failure. Did the owner let anyone else drive this car? Did he run up over a curb himself and trying to make that somebody else's fault? Hard to say for sure.

This story doesn't pass the sniff test. The reason I am suspicious is 1. The swamp which includes the media hates Musk and they print all kinds of lies about him and his enterprises. American carmakers and the Chinese who are making a lot of EVs now want him out of the way. 2. I know several people who have Teslas from each generation that they have produced and ALL these friends tell me it's the best car they ever owned. One just took delivery of his third Tesla. The only complaint I have heard from actual owners is that the ordering and delivery lead time took forever. I trust a personal referral a lot more than internet news, which is 50% fake news on a good day.

My objection to EVs is that the charging process has a lot of challenges. The urban grids can't handle the load, there aren't enough charging stations and it takes too long to do a full charge. Although the latter especially with Tesla is really not a big deal. But those fast charge stations are far and few between.
 
I also read that the suspension issues were a known defect that goes back go back to 2017 models and Tesla owned it.
While I'm VERY suspicious of the media at this point, in general.... What I have read is the opposite of Tesla "owning" the suspension problem.

In any case... $14k for a broken suspension?!?? That's crazy.

Musk is an interesting character. And I actually like the way he talks and bucks the system. But I would never buy a car from him. EV or otherwise.

I'll never own an EV made by any car company.
 
Musk is an interesting character. And I actually like the way he talks and bucks the system. But I would never buy a car from him. EV or otherwise.

I'll never own an EV made by any car company.
Agreed on both counts.

IF I were to ever consider an electric car, which at the present time is out of the question due to the cost, the lack of charging infrastructure where I live, and lack of range, it would not be a factory built EV. As mentioned above, repairing these cars is problematical once they are out of warranty. Instead, I would look at what Richard Morgan at Electric Classic Cars is doing. He converts classic cars to electric using industry available components and batteries. If a battery module goes bad, you replace that one module and keep driving.

There are still drawbacks, such as having enough room in some cars for enough battery to get much more than 120 miles, ie; VW Beetle, which otherwise is a very straightforward easy conversion that he has demonstrated can be done in one day. In the case of the Beetle, you wind up with 2 to 3 times the H.P., and about the same range. The downside is the batteries take up very nearly all the luggage space.
A better choice is an early 90's or older VW Golf. Another shop does this conversion. These end up with 290 h.p. and 200 miles of range and you still have the luggage space behind the rear seat.

One of his more in depth videos involves converting a Ferrari Testarosa. The conversion worked out so well, and improves every aspect of the Ferrari driving experience that he now has four more owners lined up to convert theirs. With gas at about $7 gallon in the UK, one can see the logic. And if your pockets are deep enough to own a Ferrari, the cost of the conversion is affordable.

The price of the conversion is still an issue at about $35K for the Beetle and $65K for the Golf. This on top of the cost of the donor vehicle. When you consider that this is one off custom work in most cases, (he actually has kits fabricated for the Beetle for certified EV conversion shops to buy). Everything is designed to be bolt in. So all his conversions are reversible if desired.
Richard's work is impeccable and looks for all the world like a factory installation.

I like to watch his videos and see the cool old cars he converts, but until the battery energy density gets to where 300+ miles of range is not only possible, but easily doable, and the price becomes affordable, I'll just watch from the sidelines.
 
Agreed on both counts.

IF I were to ever consider an electric car, which at the present time is out of the question due to the cost, the lack of charging infrastructure where I live, and lack of range, it would not be a factory built EV. As mentioned above, repairing these cars is problematical once they are out of warranty. Instead, I would look at what Richard Morgan at Electric Classic Cars is doing. He converts classic cars to electric using industry available components and batteries. If a battery module goes bad, you replace that one module and keep driving.

There are still drawbacks, such as having enough room in some cars for enough battery to get much more than 120 miles, ie; VW Beetle, which otherwise is a very straightforward easy conversion that he has demonstrated can be done in one day. In the case of the Beetle, you wind up with 2 to 3 times the H.P., and about the same range. The downside is the batteries take up very nearly all the luggage space.
A better choice is an early 90's or older VW Golf. Another shop does this conversion. These end up with 290 h.p. and 200 miles of range and you still have the luggage space behind the rear seat.

One of his more in depth videos involves converting a Ferrari Testarosa. The conversion worked out so well, and improves every aspect of the Ferrari driving experience that he now has four more owners lined up to convert theirs. With gas at about $7 gallon in the UK, one can see the logic. And if your pockets are deep enough to own a Ferrari, the cost of the conversion is affordable.

The price of the conversion is still an issue at about $35K for the Beetle and $65K for the Golf. This on top of the cost of the donor vehicle. When you consider that this is one off custom work in most cases, (he actually has kits fabricated for the Beetle for certified EV conversion shops to buy). Everything is designed to be bolt in. So all his conversions are reversible if desired.
Richard's work is impeccable and looks for all the world like a factory installation.

I like to watch his videos and see the cool old cars he converts, but until the battery energy density gets to where 300+ miles of range is not only possible, but easily doable, and the price becomes affordable, I'll just watch from the sidelines.
IMG_3825.jpeg
 
The reason for these huge repair bills is the manufacturer only wants to replace the entire battery. They make no attempt to replace the individual bad/damaged cell(s). There are shops that can repair the battery and return it to service, but you never hear of that option.
And the insurance companies are making it worse by totaling cars with minor damage if it involves the battery. Guess who's premiums will be going up to cover their losses as this becomes a larger issue?

What's really going to get interesting is now that enthusiasm for EV's is cooling off, but the gov't mandate to limit ICE new production in a few years is still there. What's that going to do to the price of used ICE cars?
You are probably going to see an emerging industry centered on if not restoring, at least maintaining older cars that peeps were junking a few years ago.
That's the idea Winston. Do you really think they will allow the sale of Gasoline at that point 🤣😂🤣😂 That's why I'm deciding on a wood Gassifyer design.
 
While I'm VERY suspicious of the media at this point, in general.... What I have read is the opposite of Tesla "owning" the suspension problem.

In any case... $14k for a broken suspension?!?? That's crazy.

Musk is an interesting character. And I actually like the way he talks and bucks the system. But I would never buy a car from him. EV or otherwise.

I'll never own an EV made by any car company.
I read a similar article that a man with a Rivian got a dent the size of a bowling ball in the tailgate/bumper area. $24k to fix it. I noticed CNBC didn't pick up that story off the wire. Or that it can cost $10k to get the premium charging system for the F150E installed at your home. Yet Musk farts, and it's national news. I used to be in marketing and advertising. I quit. Went to carpentry school for a year. It doesn't pay nearly as well but now I sleep at night.

Everything in mass media and the subjects of those stories is bought and paid for. Advertising, so-called news and commentary, consultants, advisors, doctors, scientists, politicians, protesters and marchers, reviewers, social media and influencers, and on and on. Everybody is on somebody's payroll.

I don't believe a word I see online. Not one. I may agree with the narrative, but that still doesn't make it true or factual. Sorry to get off on a tangent. The good news is tomorrow, I'm going to dig into that P80 frame. I've put one together with a friend but it was serialized.
 
The part left out of the article was Tesla reported that the telemetry on that car referenced in the article suggested he crashed into something prior to the day of his alleged sudden suspension failure. Did the owner let anyone else drive this car? Did he run up over a curb himself and trying to make that somebody else's fault? Hard to say for sure.

People forget many new cars, particularly Teslas, will "phone home" if there is an accident. They also record excessive driving habits in a black box just like a plane. Uncle Elon IS watching you... :D

I would guarantee there is a blurb in the Owner's Manual (or .pdf or however they distribute it) that cautions "Do not launch the Tesla off ramps or otherwise make it airborne as serious damage, fire or explosion can result!" :D

PS: maybe you've seen this VIDEO... :D

flyawayplaid.JPG
 
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Agreed, up to a point.
Any of the 50's, 60's, 70's classic muscle cars, no.

VW Beetle or Kharman Ghia, Thing, VW Bus, Golf, Corvair, etc., yeah, go ahead. There's millions of them, no big deal. These platforms actually benefit from the conversion with better performance, handling due to battery placement improving weight distribution, etc.
 
Agreed, up to a point.
Any of the 50's, 60's, 70's classic muscle cars, no.

VW Beetle or Kharman Ghia, Thing, VW Bus, Golf, Corvair, etc., yeah, go ahead. There's millions of them, no big deal. These platforms actually benefit from the conversion with better performance, handling due to battery placement improving weight distribution, etc.

Speaking of Rich Rebuilds, I think you'll like some of the conversions in this gootoob VIDEO. The Cadillac is impressive, about 2min in. :)
 
Speaking of Rich Rebuilds, I think you'll like some of the conversions in this gootoob VIDEO. The Cadillac is impressive, about 2min in. :)
Yes, things are getting interesting. When the battery chemistry gets the energy density to where the batteries don't consume too much space, that's when conversions will really take off. And the price, the battery is currently the lion's share of the component cost.
 
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