Tesla: its method of calculating mileage before the courts

A Class Action Lawsuit Opens in California Where Tesla Owners Accuse Manipulation of Odometer Readings.

Not a day goes by without Tesla being at the center of controversy. Over time, it becomes suspicious. Is this manufacturer abusing its customers or is it simply capturing all the hate? Now, the new allegation against Tesla concerns the manipulation of its vehicle odometers to shorten warranty periods. This practice would aim to reduce warranty repair obligations and encourage customers to purchase extended warranties. This has led to the opening of a large-scale class action lawsuit which, if proven true, could cost Tesla very, very dearly.

Unusually High Mileage Records

The lead plaintiff, Nyree Hinton, bought a used Tesla Model Y in December 2022 with an odometer reading of 36,772 miles. Soon after, he noticed that the vehicle was recording an average of 72.35 miles per day, well above the 20 miles he estimated based on his habits. Between March and June 2023, the vehicle recorded 13,228 miles, whereas Hinton estimates he had driven about 6,086 miles. This sudden increase caused the vehicle to exceed the 50,000-mile threshold of Tesla’s basic warranty, leading to its early expiration.

Unlike traditional odometers, Tesla apparently uses a system based on predictive algorithms, taking into account energy consumption, driving habits, and other factors. According to the complaint, this system assigns lower efficiency coefficients to aggressive driving, such as rapid acceleration, which artificially increases the displayed mileage.

Financial Consequences for Owners

The complaint alleges that this practice leads to accelerated depreciation of vehicles, premature expiration of warranties, and encourages customers to buy extended warranties. It also claims that Tesla is aware of these inaccuracies and either tolerates or even encourages them to reduce warranty costs.

The class action aims to obtain compensation for all California residents who purchased or leased a Tesla vehicle for personal use. It argues that these systematic inaccuracies violate consumer protection laws and undermine trust in the brand.

Tesla has not yet publicly commented on this matter, and none of the allegations have been confirmed in court.

For more information about the motives of this Class Action, you can consult the article by clicking here.

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