Tesla has been forced by the New Zealand courts to reimburse a customer’s Model 3 following a technical defect that cannot be repaired. The company initially denied the problem despite 6 unsuccessful repairs within a few months.
In August 2022, Shaun Baker, residing in New Zealand, acquired a Tesla Model 3 Performance for the tidy sum of $104,643 precisely. Barely has he driven a few meters at the wheel of his new car when he notices a problem: it constantly veers to the right. Without waiting, the driver returns to see Tesla who indeed confirms the problem and proceeds to a wheel alignment to fix it.
In November the same year, rebelote: the Model 3 pulls right and it goes back to the garage. The manufacturer realigns the wheels again, indicating that several parts were not in the expected standards, which he corrected. A few days later, Shaun Baker must have his vehicle examined again. This time around, the wheel alignment looks fine, but “further improvements needed to be made”. They only last a while since in February 2023, it starts again. Tesla confirms again, repairs and returns the car to its driver.
After 6 unsuccessful repairs, Tesla is ordered to reimburse the driver $100,000
In total, the firm will repair the Model 3 5 times from Shaun Baker for the same concern. The 6th time, he entrusts her to a independent repairer who finds that the automobile steers to the right “even if the steering wheel is straight” and that “constant pressure must be applied to the left side of the steering wheel to keep the car straight”. This is too much for the owner who contacts Tesla New Zealand in asking for a refund.
Read also – Tesla Model 3: the power steering is out of whack, an investigation is open
Except that Tesla refuses and replies that no manufacturing problem was detected : “the numerous wheel alignment ratios reflect the normal variation to be expected in a regularly used vehicle”. An explanation that obviously did not delight the buyer. He goes to court and the latter agrees with him. Tesla is ordered to take back the Model 3, reimburse the purchase price and pay the various costs advanced by the plaintiff. We still don’t know what was really wrong with the electric car.
Source: Stuff