A first-time Tesla and a first-time EV purchaser here. Hopefully unlike many others, I had a very rocky start with Tesla. And I thought I could use some of your advice.
Right after last year's big September discounts for Tesla Model S/X, I finally had the courage to jump ship to EVs with Tesla, which I perceived as the benchmark for EVs.
About a month after paying the deposit for a 2023 Model X Long Range in Ultra Red color, I was scheduled for delivery end of October at Tesla Colma delivery center.
Unfortunately, the first VIN had a major paint defect, a chunk of paint missing on the lift gate with the shiny bare aluminum underneath showing with all its glory.
This is the type of paint defect that is simply impossible to miss if there was any resemblance of QC in the factory or pre-delivery inspection at the delivery center.
Although the delivery team suggested repainting the lift gate, I did what most would do and rejected the car on the spot.
Because of my inexperience with Tesla's ordering process, I had already made the payment and sold my car at this point.
I thought getting a loaner would be a breeze as I wait for the second VIN since technically I had already paid for the car.
But to my surprise, the request for the loaner was rejected and I was left without a car until the second VIN.
After a month, I got a call to take delivery of the second VIN early December at Tesla Colma delivery center.
Unfortunately, the second VIN also had paint defects, a rock chip, dust nibs, and other imperfections on the hood.
There was intense pressure to accept delivery this time around and I was told that I cannot reject the second VIN.
Ultimately, I accepted delivery after Tesla Colma delivery team promised a factory painted hood replacement.
They also claimed they ran this by Tesla Van Ness service center and that this would be taken care of as promised.
After some struggle, Tesla Van Ness service center agreed to hood replacement and I dropped off the car in January.
Unfortunately, things got even worse after this.
Two weeks later, they called me to pick up the car after polishing the hood and calling that it's within "Tesla spec".
After I told them I will not be accepting the car in this condition, they said they will not replace the hood, but send the car to a body shop for repainting instead.
As the body shop, they specifically mentioned European Collusion Center and told me not to worry as "this is a quality shop that paints Porches and Ferraris".
Regardless, since I had only accepted delivery on the promise of a factory painted hood replacement, I tried reaching out to Tesla Colma delivery team to no avail.
Despite previously communicating European Collusion Center, Tesla Van Ness service center then sent the car to Karry's Collusion Center without my approval.
AFAIU, Karry's Collusion Center is not a Tesla certified body shop and it is a very small shop without the proper facilities. And the quality of their work shows that.
After a botched repainting by Karry's Collusion Center and multiple attempts to save the situation afterwards, the car ended up in a much worse state than before.
Understandably, I was very disappointed after seeing the car in this condition and I have requested a repurchase, which has been denied.
Then they asked me to retrieve the car from the service within 24 hours after my request was denied despite these unresolved paint issues.
This concluded my first ever Tesla service after 5 visits to the service center and 33 days in total in the service.
On the "positive" side, they later reached out to me and offered sending the car to European Collusion Center as originally intended for the remaining issues.
Additionally, they are offering to pay one of my monthly loan payments for the time the car has been in service. Though I'm not sure if I can take their word for it.
At this point, I'm not sure if I have the patience to go through another month long service visit.
Even then, it's unclear how good of a job European Collusion Center will do. But I guess it can't be worse than Karry's Collusion Center.
So, I'm looking forward to your advice in case you have been a in a similar position with Tesla.
Right after last year's big September discounts for Tesla Model S/X, I finally had the courage to jump ship to EVs with Tesla, which I perceived as the benchmark for EVs.
About a month after paying the deposit for a 2023 Model X Long Range in Ultra Red color, I was scheduled for delivery end of October at Tesla Colma delivery center.
Unfortunately, the first VIN had a major paint defect, a chunk of paint missing on the lift gate with the shiny bare aluminum underneath showing with all its glory.
This is the type of paint defect that is simply impossible to miss if there was any resemblance of QC in the factory or pre-delivery inspection at the delivery center.
Although the delivery team suggested repainting the lift gate, I did what most would do and rejected the car on the spot.
Because of my inexperience with Tesla's ordering process, I had already made the payment and sold my car at this point.
I thought getting a loaner would be a breeze as I wait for the second VIN since technically I had already paid for the car.
But to my surprise, the request for the loaner was rejected and I was left without a car until the second VIN.
After a month, I got a call to take delivery of the second VIN early December at Tesla Colma delivery center.
Unfortunately, the second VIN also had paint defects, a rock chip, dust nibs, and other imperfections on the hood.
There was intense pressure to accept delivery this time around and I was told that I cannot reject the second VIN.
Ultimately, I accepted delivery after Tesla Colma delivery team promised a factory painted hood replacement.
They also claimed they ran this by Tesla Van Ness service center and that this would be taken care of as promised.
After some struggle, Tesla Van Ness service center agreed to hood replacement and I dropped off the car in January.
Unfortunately, things got even worse after this.
Two weeks later, they called me to pick up the car after polishing the hood and calling that it's within "Tesla spec".
After I told them I will not be accepting the car in this condition, they said they will not replace the hood, but send the car to a body shop for repainting instead.
As the body shop, they specifically mentioned European Collusion Center and told me not to worry as "this is a quality shop that paints Porches and Ferraris".
Regardless, since I had only accepted delivery on the promise of a factory painted hood replacement, I tried reaching out to Tesla Colma delivery team to no avail.
Despite previously communicating European Collusion Center, Tesla Van Ness service center then sent the car to Karry's Collusion Center without my approval.
AFAIU, Karry's Collusion Center is not a Tesla certified body shop and it is a very small shop without the proper facilities. And the quality of their work shows that.
After a botched repainting by Karry's Collusion Center and multiple attempts to save the situation afterwards, the car ended up in a much worse state than before.
- Damage down to basecoat on the edges of the hood, requiring the basecoat to be reapplied.
- Left and right fenders now have to be blended in because of the reapplication of the basecoat.
- Oversprays on the driver's side left roof rail and the lift gate, which potentially requires a repaint.
- Excess and uneven topcoat on the front of the hood in an attempt to fix a chip that they caused.
- Scuff mark on the driver's side fender, which they caused (among others) and missed to "polish" it.
- Excessive swirl marks all over the car (including the newly repainted hood) due to improper detailing.
Understandably, I was very disappointed after seeing the car in this condition and I have requested a repurchase, which has been denied.
Then they asked me to retrieve the car from the service within 24 hours after my request was denied despite these unresolved paint issues.
This concluded my first ever Tesla service after 5 visits to the service center and 33 days in total in the service.
On the "positive" side, they later reached out to me and offered sending the car to European Collusion Center as originally intended for the remaining issues.
Additionally, they are offering to pay one of my monthly loan payments for the time the car has been in service. Though I'm not sure if I can take their word for it.
At this point, I'm not sure if I have the patience to go through another month long service visit.
Even then, it's unclear how good of a job European Collusion Center will do. But I guess it can't be worse than Karry's Collusion Center.
So, I'm looking forward to your advice in case you have been a in a similar position with Tesla.
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