Owning a Tesla can be difficult. Mario Zelaya, a Tesla owner in Canada, shared his frustration about being locked out of his car because of a dead battery. The dealership told him a new battery would cost $26,000. Zelaya posted a video saying, “Locked out of a car. Recalls are needed.”
Zelaya wanted to sell his Tesla but couldn’t get the necessary documents inside the car, so he paid $30 for replacement papers. He bought the Tesla in 2013 and mentioned a design flaw that causes fluid leaks onto the batteries, ruining them over time. “I got Transport Canada involved,” he said, indicating an investigation. Zelaya criticized Tesla for its poor handling of battery issues and said, “I’ll never buy another Tesla again.”
Tesla has faced many complaints and legal issues. In July, a German court ruled against Tesla for its unreliable driver assistance systems. In February 2022, Tesla recalled 578,000 cars for not meeting safety standards. Complaints about expensive battery replacements are common; a Finnish owner even blew up his car instead of paying $23,000 for a new battery.
A viral TikTok video got a lot of sympathy. One user said, “I’ve had nothing but issues with mine.” Another commented, “A mint 2005 Honda Civic would have still been running.” Zelaya eventually sold his car and said, “That’s the end of my Tesla journey. It’s out of my life. Keep it out of yours.”