A Tesla owner found himself in an embarrassing situation after discovering that his newly acquired electric vehicle was prohibited from using Superchargers.
In September, Daniel Boycott acquired a 2022 Tesla Model 3, a midsize electric sedan, from a used car dealership. Initially thrilled with his purchase, Boycott’s excitement turned sour when he realized he couldn’t charge the car at a Tesla Supercharger.
In a conversation with CBS News, Boycott shared, “That’s when I found out it didn’t work. I tried multiple stations. It’s just not working.”
Concerned that it might be a temporary issue, Boycott contacted Tesla headquarters. A representative informed him of the unfortunate news: his seemingly brand-new car was burdened with a salvage title.
A salvaged vehicle is one deemed unroadworthy by insurers, often due to damage, as explained by ASM Auto Recycling. These vehicles typically undergo restoration following weather-related damage or accidents and are labeled a ‘total loss’ by insurance firms.
Boycott was informed both via phone and email that his Tesla was “currently unsupported for supercharging, and warranties are voided due to salvaged vehicle.”
Reflecting on the situation, he expressed, “I was told it was clean. The CARFAX said it was clean, and I trusted that.”
Upon closer inspection of the car’s history, Boycott discovered that it had been involved in a ‘minor incident.’ A Tesla technician allegedly informed him that the repair work was subpar and that using a Supercharger could be hazardous.
“It was bad enough where they flagged it,” Boycott candidly admitted.
Boycott expressed his immense frustration at not being able to utilize any of the 70,000 Tesla Supercharger stations across the United States. The convenience of the fast-charging network was a major factor in his decision to purchase the Tesla Model 3, and now he has had to postpone long-distance road trips because it’s just not feasible.
Currently, Boycott is working on repairing the EV and collaborating with Tesla to hopefully regain access to the Superchargers.
He stated, “I want access to the Supercharger network. You know, I don’t want to pay like, $10,000 extra on a car that I already agreed to.”
Negotiations are reportedly ongoing with the used car dealership that sold him the vehicle. According to CBS News, the dealership claimed that the Illinois Secretary of State Police investigated and confirmed the car has a clean title without any record of being salvaged.
While dealing with this predicament, Boycott issued a cautionary message to others considering purchasing a used EV: “I would just take a deeper look into what you’re buying, especially with EVs. People should trust what they’re being sold.”