Photo: Tesla
Earlier today, we published a story regarding an ongoing investigation of the NHTSA that focuses on Tesla Motors.
It all started with a Model S owner whose front suspension had failed. The MY2013 vehicle had over 70,000 miles on the clock, and the owner complained to the NHTSA that the suspension had failed and that the company asked him to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement in exchange for a discount on the out-of-warranty repair.
Naturally, the Internet had its way with Tesla, and the company felt the need to answer the accusations brought to it.
Unfortunately for everybody involved, Tesla published a reply in an unusual style, and suggested we take those claims with “a grain of salt,” as the title of the post referring to the situation suggests.
While Tesla is not a conventional car brand, and we understand its need to be different, this reply (you can read it below by pressing “Show Press Release”) does not fair as “acceptable” in our view.
Tesla’s communication team says the owner of the affected model lives on “such a long dirt road,” that it took two tow trucks to retrieve the car from his home. Furthermore, the company again pointed the finger at the client by explaining that the defective Tesla Model S was “caked in dirt” when it arrived for the suspension repair it required.
Tesla fixed that vehicle’s front suspension, and claim the rust issue discovered at the ball joint is “very abnormal.” In other words, the American automaker claims that the customer is at fault for living on a road that isn’t paved, and that gets cars “caked in dirt” if they drive on it.
Since Tesla does not have conventional dealers, the American automaker claims that it is aware of any repair and fault that comes into its service departments. They also declare that they to check every incident in detail, especially if it is a severe one or if the problem is repeated in several models.
Tesla even addressed the second part of the allegations it is facing - the dreaded Non-Disclosure Agreement that would forbid customers from complaining about problems with their vehicles, all in exchange for a significant discount on out-of-warranty repairs.
Tesla officials called the allegations “preposterous,” and said they would never ask customers for such things. The company claims the “Goodwill act,” is for preventing it from getting sued after they perform repairs at a reduced cost. Tesla officials even claim this happened to them before, but fail to mention when and why.
Tesla did not miss the opportunity of pointing the finger at the client that complained in the first place, saying that it is “deeply ironic” that the only customer who complained about this document as if it forbid him from speaking with the NHTSA is also the same one who contacted the authority.
In spite of this rather ironic observation, the American automaker has pledged to discuss the matter with the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration, and will change or modify it if the NHTSA suggests it.
Naturally, the Internet had its way with Tesla, and the company felt the need to answer the accusations brought to it.
Unfortunately for everybody involved, Tesla published a reply in an unusual style, and suggested we take those claims with “a grain of salt,” as the title of the post referring to the situation suggests.
While Tesla is not a conventional car brand, and we understand its need to be different, this reply (you can read it below by pressing “Show Press Release”) does not fair as “acceptable” in our view.
Tesla’s communication team says the owner of the affected model lives on “such a long dirt road,” that it took two tow trucks to retrieve the car from his home. Furthermore, the company again pointed the finger at the client by explaining that the defective Tesla Model S was “caked in dirt” when it arrived for the suspension repair it required.
Tesla fixed that vehicle’s front suspension, and claim the rust issue discovered at the ball joint is “very abnormal.” In other words, the American automaker claims that the customer is at fault for living on a road that isn’t paved, and that gets cars “caked in dirt” if they drive on it.
Since Tesla does not have conventional dealers, the American automaker claims that it is aware of any repair and fault that comes into its service departments. They also declare that they to check every incident in detail, especially if it is a severe one or if the problem is repeated in several models.
Tesla even addressed the second part of the allegations it is facing - the dreaded Non-Disclosure Agreement that would forbid customers from complaining about problems with their vehicles, all in exchange for a significant discount on out-of-warranty repairs.
Tesla officials called the allegations “preposterous,” and said they would never ask customers for such things. The company claims the “Goodwill act,” is for preventing it from getting sued after they perform repairs at a reduced cost. Tesla officials even claim this happened to them before, but fail to mention when and why.
Tesla did not miss the opportunity of pointing the finger at the client that complained in the first place, saying that it is “deeply ironic” that the only customer who complained about this document as if it forbid him from speaking with the NHTSA is also the same one who contacted the authority.
In spite of this rather ironic observation, the American automaker has pledged to discuss the matter with the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration, and will change or modify it if the NHTSA suggests it.
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