As of recent, Tesla is attempting to boost its sales figures and move more cars out the doors by slashing the prices of its most popular models — the Model 3 and Model Y. Although Tesla ownership sounds very enticing to most buyers, issues with build quality are just some of the qualms that owners have to deal with.
In a case of buyer beware, Tesla (TSLA) -) owners in Scotland recently discovered a new weakness with Elon Musk's cars: the rain.
Edinburgh couple Johnny Bacigalupo and Rob Hussey told the Scottish news outlet Edinburgh Live that they were billed £17,374, or around $21,175 after their Model Y left them stranded.
Related: Why Tesla shares are faltering heading into Q3 earnings
"I honestly can't believe that this has happened. When I first got the call, I thought we would get a bill for £500 or £1,000," Bacigalupo told Edinburgh Live. "When they said over 17 grand — it's absolutely obscene. My heart missed a beat, honestly."
Bacigalupo said that the trouble came when they brought their cherry red Model Y into Edinburgh’s city center for dinner out on the town on Saturday, Oct. 7. Despite the roads still being wet from prior rainy weather, Bacigalupo said that they did not traverse any “huge puddles,” but said that the trouble started after they shut off the car.
“After dinner the car just wouldn’t move. Eventually we had to contact the Tesla Roadside Assistance - around 10pm,” said Bacigalupo. “After a few annoyingly difficult further calls, and one failed collection attempt, our car was collected by a firm suitable for Tesla collection and delivered to Tesla Edinburgh about 1 AM.”
The couple received a call on Wednesday, Oct. 11 informing them that the battery was "damaged due to water ingress.” Tesla’s eight-year warranty didn't cover such damage, and they were asked whether they wanted to proceed with the five-figure repair.
"Did I wish to proceed? I was flabbergasted and couldn't really find my words," Bacigalupo said.
Additionally, he pressed the Tesla service representative on the phone, claiming that the he was told that it was a weather issue.
“They said that the battery is effectively submerged in water. How can that be our fault?,” said Bacigalupo. “After finally getting to speak to a manager, he told me it had water in it due to the fact the weather in Scotland has been so bad. That was the issue. They said it’s not necessarily my fault but it’s not Tesla’s to pay under warranty.”
The ordeal has left the couple with a bad taste in their mouth with Tesla, and given their naturally rainy environment, the situation left them second guessing their EV buying decision.
More Business of EVs:
- A full list of EVs and hybrids that qualify for federal tax credits
- Here’s why EV experts are flaming Joe Biden’s car policy
- The EV industry is facing an unusual new problem
“To date, it’s been a disaster of a service and the stress and worry of this is excruciating. I said to the manager, ‘so, my understanding is, Teslas are unfit for purpose in Scotland?,” said Bacigalupo. “I’ve been driving for 30 years and this is my most premium car to date and this is what it does when Edinburgh’s roads get puddles or a little wet!”
According to Tesla’s own documents detailing terms of its new vehicle limited warranty, the “Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty” does not cover what they call “Flooding the Battery.” In the document, Tesla does not dive into any details what constitutes a “flooded battery,” nor any explicit types of scenarios or situations that their vehicles may face that they do not cover.
Tesla did not immediately return a request for comment.
Action Alerts PLUS offers expert portfolio guidance to help you make informed investing decisions. Sign up now.
