An Illinois man says he was blindsided after discovering the used Tesla Model 3 he purchased last month had been banned from Tesla’s Supercharger network due to an undisclosed prior repair.
A Seemingly Clean Purchase
Daniel Boycott bought the pre-owned 2022 Model 3 from an Illinois dealership, believing the car had a clean history based on the vehicle report he was shown at the time of purchase.
Charging Attempts Fail
Attempting to charge at a Tesla Supercharger station repeatedly failed. After contacting both the dealership and Tesla directly, Boycott learned the vehicle had previously carried a salvage title tied to what its history report described only as a “minor collision.”
“I was told it was clean. The Carfax said it was clean, and I trusted that,” Boycott told CBS News. When he reviewed the vehicle’s history more closely, he found a reference to a minor accident. According to Tesla technicians, the previous repair work did not meet the company’s safety standards, which triggered the Supercharger network ban.
Tesla’s Policy on Salvaged Vehicles
Tesla’s policy restricts Supercharger access for vehicles with a salvage title or significant prior damage, citing fire safety concerns. Owners can pay for a reinspection to potentially restore charging access, though Boycott says he’s reluctant to spend additional money on a vehicle he believed was undamaged when he purchased it.
“The whole reason I wanted a Tesla was the Supercharger network,” he said. “Now I basically can’t take road trips.”
Conflicting Records
The dealership has said it was unaware of the vehicle’s history, and Illinois state records reportedly showed no salvage designation for the car. Boycott is continuing to work with the seller in hopes of resolving the issue or restoring access to the charging network.