Tesla Owners Shocked At Astronomical Costs And Estimates For Minor Accident Repairs

As more and more Tesla Model S electric sport sedans hit the road—50,000-plus at last count—some of their drivers are naturally starting to have accidents.

They are bumping into other cars, colliding with deer, scraping telephone poles, and backing up into poles and trees. Their cars are suffering all the other dents, scratches, and dings that are an almost inevitable part of a car's life.

A growing stream of owner reports of downright shocking Tesla repair bills and estimates for scratches, dents, and minor collisions.  “Cost of repair crazy high” is how one Model S owner puts it in a thread on the Tesla Motor Club online owners forum.
 

Sciros - 1/19/2015 12:02:56 PM

+6 Boost

That's what happens when your vehicle is made of "nonstandard" (higher labor cost) materials that have inherent repair-ability issues.

Repair costs for other high-end sedans like BMW 6 are probably fairly high as well, just because, so I wonder whether it's really that big a difference practically speaking and how the insurance rates compare.

MDarringer - 1/19/2015 12:26:02 PM

+2 Boost

When a car company whose only experience was with bolting batteries into a Lotus designs a vehicle from scratch, anyone with a brain should have been able to see this outcome.

Agent009 - 1/19/2015 12:41:08 PM

+1 Boost

Expect to see this with new F-150 repairs too. Until the industry adapts

Sciros - 1/19/2015 12:49:21 PM

+1 Boost

Which is a bigger deal. 700000+ F-150s sell per year.

Dexter1 - 1/19/2015 9:11:51 PM

+1 Boost

There's a reason Elon Musk is a billionaire . . .