Tesla speeding up odometers to avoid warranty repairs: Claim

Tesla has also faced litigation that has accused it of inflating vehicle driving ranges.

Tesla faces a lawsuit claiming it speeds up odometers on its electric vehicles so they fall out of warranty faster, saving the EV company from paying for repairs.

The plaintiff, Nyree Hinton, alleged that Tesla odometer readings reflect energy consumption, driver behaviour and "predictive algorithms" rather than actual mileage driven.

Hinton, a Los Angeles resident said that the odometer on the 2020 Model Y he bought in December 2022 with 36,772 miles on the clock, ran at least 15% faster, based on his other vehicles and driving history. For a while, it even showed that he drove 72 miles a day when at most he drove 20.

He said that this caused his basic 50,000-mile warranty to expire well ahead of its due date leaving him with a $10,000 suspension repair bill that he thought Tesla should cover.

"By tying warranty limits and lease mileage caps to inflated 'odometer' readings, Tesla increases repair revenue, reduces warranty obligations, and compels consumers to purchase extended warranties prematurely," the complaint said.

Hinton is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for Tesla drivers in California, potentially encompassing more than 1 million vehicles, court papers show.

Tesla and its lawyer have denied all material allegations in the lawsuit and have refused to comment on the matter. The company has moved the lawsuit to Los Angeles federal court this month from a state court in that city.

Tesla has also faced litigation that has accused it of inflating vehicle driving ranges.

Source: Reuters