A new Tesla Model S Plaid for over DKK 1 million was delivered with so many hidden paint and panel damages that the government is charging up to DKK 40,000.
A new Tesla Model S Plaid has been delivered with so much damage that Tesla is now refusing to cover the bill. And this even though the car is brand new.
This happened to a Norwegian customer. The car had paint and body damage worth around 40,000 Danish kroner.
The delivery took place on Christmas Eve 2022. The customer was supposed to pick up his new electric car. A car that in Denmark costs over 1 million kroner.
This is what Norwegian Motor writes.
Upon arrival at the Tesla facility, the car was frozen. It was covered in snow and ice. The employees simply gave the customer the keys. He had to find the car outside himself.
The customer chose not to drive the car away. He transported it on a trailer. The car was actually taken straight to the repair shop.
At the workshop the car thawed out. The snow and ice disappeared. Something that only revealed even more defects. There were scratches, dents and paint damage.
Workshop assessed damage to Model S Plaid
At the workshop, it was noted, among other things, that the rear doors were very difficult to open, even though the car was now cleaned up.
The repairs would cost approximately 62,000 Norwegian kroner. That's about 40,000 Danish kroner. And a car body shop looked at the car.
And here it was believed that the damage had occurred before delivery. Either during assembly at the factory. Or during the transport of the car.
The workshop also pointed out another thing. The paint on the car was and is so thin that the car is extra exposed to stone chips and other minor damage.
Tesla agreed to repair some of the defects. However, they would not cover any body or paint damage under any circumstances. Tesla also believed that the defects were only cosmetic.
Tesla customer wins appeal
According to Tesla, the damage did not affect the car's functionality – i.e. its ability to drive safely on the road. Tesla also did not believe that the obvious damage reduced the car's value.
The owner, however, was far from agreeing with this.
He therefore chose to report the case to what in Denmark is the equivalent of the Car Appeals Board.
The consumer agency ruled in the customer's favor, considering both the extent of the damage and the price of the car.
– The damages are beyond what is expected when purchasing a new car in this price range, was the conclusion from the Consumer Council.
The Tesla Model S Plaid is known for its acceleration and high performance. It has 1,020 horsepower. But this case shows that Tesla also has quality problems.
However, it's not just the quality that's lacking. In this article, you can read , for example, why the brand refuses to trade in its own cars.
