Tesla ownership presents challenges, as Mario Zelaya from Canada discovered when his car battery died, locking him out. He faced a staggering $26,000 replacement cost. Zelaya lamented, “$26k for a new battery. Locked out of a car. Recalls are needed.”

Unable to retrieve essential documents for selling his Tesla, Zelaya spent $30 on replacements. He attributed the battery failure to a design flaw causing fluid leaks, prompting Transport Canada’s involvement in an ongoing investigation. Criticizing Tesla’s handling of battery issues, he vowed, “I’ll never buy another Tesla again.”

Tesla’s history of complaints and legal issues includes a German court ruling against its driver assistance systems’ reliability and a massive recall for safety standards violations in 2022. Expensive battery replacements are common grievances; a Finnish owner opted to blow up his car rather than pay $23,000 for a new battery.

Zelaya’s viral TikTok video resonated with users sharing their Tesla woes. One commented, “A mint 2005 Honda Civic would have still been running.” Eventually, Zelaya sold his Tesla, concluding, “That’s going to be the end of my Tesla journey. It’s out of my life. Keep it out of yours.”