Throughout most of history, large luxury vehicles had at least one big advantage over, say, sports cars or lesser models: they were quiet inside. That’s typically part of the premium experience. However, according to several Cybertruck owners, Tesla’s latest creation seems to have missed that memo.

One owner took their concern about excessive wind noise to their local Tesla service center, and the proposed solution was surprisingly low-tech: tape. Yes, plain old tape, the same stuff you might use to wrap gifts or patch a torn page, was suggested as the fix for a high-tech, futuristic vehicle.

The customer in question anonymously posted about their experience on a Facebook Cybertruck group. “Is it just my truck?! They said nothing [sic] to do about it. Is that normal? Only from the driver side,” they wrote. Their comment was specifically aimed at the response they got to their request.

Read: Cybertruck Gets Magnetic Wraps That Let You Change Color In Minutes For $2K

In the document from the service center the customer details their complaint. “Wind Noise – I already service this issue and was said this is standard. After driving your loaner, I found that the noise in my car is much stronger then in others.” They had tested another Cybertruck and found it to be noticeably quieter, confirming that the noise wasn’t just a quirk of the model but a specific issue with their vehicle.

This is where the tape comes into play. The tech working on it says in the document that they’ve verified it is a problem. However, due to the “body fitment specifications,” no adjustment to the panels is possible. The tech noted that “the noise heard is normal air turbulence that is expected with higher speed. No further action required at this time.”

The only action they performed is described as “found that taping off the panel gap between driver front fender and frunk reduced the noise.” Does that mean that the frunk is no longer accessible? That wouldn’t be too good. Of course, being that this is a post from an anonymous source, the whole thing could be fabricated, but the comments on the post suggest that it isn’t.

Several Cybertruck owners report the same wind noise issue. “The wind noise on mine is super loud, especially on windy days like yesterday,” said one commentator. “I bought decibel meter. About 50mph sound is 70db. Goes to 73 at 80mph,” said another.

On the other hand, some in the comment section said they didn’t have issues. Still, we’ve documented them in the past here as well. Clearly, not every Cybertruck is within the 10 micron accuracy window Elon Musk once called for.

Notably, wind noise complaints go beyond the Cybertruck when it comes to Tesla. Model 3 and Model Y buyers often complain about similar issues and have even taken to forums to discuss solutions that involve other DIY measures.

It’s worth pointing out that EVs can sometimes exhibit what sounds like excessive wind noise when in reality it’s comparable to what one gets in an everyday ICE car. The difference being that an ICE drivetrain can muffle that wind noise to a degree.

Honestly, I can see where the service technician is coming from here. They have no other way to satisfy the customer and taping panel gaps or transitions is a proven and effective way to eliminate some wind noise. I did it to my very own Ford Flex over some worn-out trim pieces a month ago. It works quite well and is hard to spot when done right. 

In early February, a curious line item appeared on the State Department’s largest contract of 2025: “Armored Tesla (Production Units)” with a staggering price tag of $400,000,000. The entry showed up on an official procurement document, sparking immediate denials from the Trump administration, which insisted that the deal originated under Biden. But now, newly surfaced evidence suggests that might not be entirely accurate.

According to a report from NPR, which says it obtained a new document from the State Department, the budget breakdown for the 2025 fiscal year tells a different story. It shows just $483,000 allocated for electric vehicles, along with an additional $3 million designated for support equipment like chargers, for a total of nearly $3.5 million. No mention of hundreds of millions for armored Teslas.

More: Cybertruck Crushes Safety Tests With 5-Star Rating (Updated)

NPR says it also spoke to a former White House official who believes the Trump administration did intend to buy $400 million worth of Teslas. “I don’t think this is a clerical error. It was likely someone who is new in [the] State [Department] who decided, ‘OK, we’re gonna do this with Tesla,'” they said on the condition of anonymity.

Interestingly, a spokesperson for the State Department told NPR on Monday that the $400 million was “an estimate” and that “the Department of State has no intention to move forward with the solicitation.” They also pointed out that the proposal was in its early stages and was not yet a full contract but was meant “strictly to gather information.”

For his part, Elon Musk also claims to know nothing about this deal so it’s plausible the truth is in the middle.

I’m pretty sure Tesla isn’t getting $400M. No one mentioned it to me, at least.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025

Perhaps someone in the Trump administration genuinely believed Tesla was the best choice for armored vehicles, and the plan was quietly dropped after public scrutiny. Or maybe the budget line was just an ambitious placeholder. Either way, the deal seems to be off the table for now—but given the rapid twists in this saga, that could change at any moment.

For what it’s worth, the document submitted to the White House from the State Department listed several concerns about converting an EV to an armored personnel carrier. Beyond just protecting the battery to the point that assailants couldn’t pierce or damage it, the department wrote “finding an electric vehicle that can hold the weight of armor and have viable range for protection driving are other initial challenges.”

For now, it seems the State Department’s armored Tesla fleet is on ice. But as the political narrative continues to shift, this story might not be over.

“We will press charges for vandalism at Superchargers,” says Tesla. Those are the first words from an automaker dealing with a spate of issues including protests, property damage, and more. What’s worse is that the brand can’t do anything for countless owners who have also suffered from the trend. That includes at least one Cybertruck defaced in Lower Manhattan with a swastika.

The last few months have seen the ire grow against Elon Musk and the electric brand he helms. Both customers and critics have open—and loudly—called for the public to ditch Tesla’s cars. On top of that, radical activists have threatened owners and vandalized vehicles as well as Supercharger stations. On Sunday, one Tesla owner found their local charging station with the word “Nazi” painted over the Tesla logo and a Swastika symbol at the bottom.

Read: TikTokers Are Hunting Cybertrucks With Anti-Musk Messages

“This graffiti at my local Supercharger would suggest that perhaps Elon Musk is damaging Tesla’s brand,” the poster wrote. Within just three hours, the official Tesla Supercharger account saw the post and responded, stating that the graffiti would be removed by the next morning. In fact, it went even further.

When another commenter pointed out a security camera that might have captured the vandal in the act, Tesla made it clear that it would press charges for such behavior. In fact, this was the second instance of vandalism it responded to within the past week. In another case, someone sprayed foam into the charging plugs at several Supercharger stations.

This graffiti at my local Supercharger would suggest that perhaps Elon Musk is damaging Tesla’s brand. pic.twitter.com/LLL5AcDeOE

— Quinn Nelson (@SnazzyLabs) February 23, 2025

Targeting More Than Just Tesla Property

There’s a separate issue, though, as vandals aren’t only targeting Tesla property but private vehicles too. It’s unclear who owns the Cybertruck recently painted with a swastika in Lower Manhattan, but many people saw the vehicle and posted about it online. One person simply captioned their post, “Not a great car to own in NYC these days.”

More: We Compare The 2026 Tesla Model Y Side-By-Side With Its Predecessor

The threads about the angular pickup drew a mix of grim humor and political commentary including “Look, it’s the new SS package,” and “it draws the eyes away from the panel gaps.”

The humor was dark, but the implications were serious. No matter how one might feel about Musk or Tesla, it does appear that the groundswell of anger toward one or both is increasing. A recent poll made it clear that Musk’s popularity has swung wildly from one side of the aisle to the other over the last year. While Musk and Tesla could be well within their rights, there is little doubt at this point that public perception is shifting.

The Musk Effect on Tesla’s Brand

Since being brought on board Donald Trump’s administration as a Senior Advisor for the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has become an increasingly polarizing figure. His controversial statements, perceived ties to far-right ideologies, and alleged dog-whistle moments have fueled strong reactions which cause some critics to argue that Tesla’s brand is suffering not because of its cars but because of its CEO. 

The Cybertruck defacement and Supercharger vandalism highlight the volatile intersection of technology, politics, and public perception. With Musk at the helm, Tesla isn’t just an EV company – it’s a symbol in an increasingly divided conversation. One thing is clear though: the discourse around Tesla and Musk doesn’t look to be cooling down anytime soon.

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In a sweeping policy shift, Donald Trump’s administration has just reportedly ordered the shutdown of all electric vehicle charging stations at federal buildings across the United States. This decision effectively flips the switch on hundreds of EV chargers across the country, with approximately 8,000 charging ports, managed by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

This directive also includes plans to offload recently acquired EVs from the federal fleet. Combined, these moves signal a sharp reversal from the sustainability initiatives championed by the previous administration.

Read: Trump’s Budget Cuts Threaten Biden’s $6.6B Rivian Loan For EV Factory

An internal GSA email, reportedly viewed by Colorado Public Radio, reveals that the agency now deems all GSA-owned charging stations as “not mission critical.” As a result, the agency will shut down these chargers at which point they’ll be inoperable to all users.

This includes both federal workers with a federally owned EV and federal employees who could previously charge their own personal vehicle at these same stations. Some regional offices have already begun taking chargers offline, with a formal announcement expected soon.

The GSA is responsible for managing federal assets including a fleet of approximately 650,000 vehicles. Under the Biden administration, it embarked on a plan to transition to zero-emission vehicles. That included the procurement of over 58,000 EVs and the installation of more than 25,000 charging ports. It never came anywhere close to achieving those figures though and this new directive puts that plan to a swift end.

The GSA is preparing to offload the EVs it currently has in the fleet but it’s unclear where they’ll go. Technically, it could simply take the vehicles out of the fleet and put them into storage rather than sell them. In addition, the GSA manages some chargers for separate federal agencies so those departments might need to ditch their EVs.

It’s also uncertain how the agency will replace the vehicles being phased out; possibilities include purchasing new gas-powered models or reallocating older ones from retirement.

This development follows Trump’s recent suspension of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, a $5 billion initiative aimed at expanding the nation’s EV charging network. Taken together, these decisions could slow the overall adoption rate of electric vehicles in the US as a whole. One thing is for sure, it certainly won’t speed it up.

Tesla has been keeping busy over the past year, updating its two best-selling vehicles, the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, while also launching the much-anticipated Cybertruck and teasing upcoming products like the Cybercab.

Now, the company appears poised to continue this momentum with updates to its longest-running models, the Model S and Model X, which have been in production since 2012 and 2015, respectively. This hint came from none other than Tesla’s VP of Engineering, Lars Moravy.

Speaking on Ryan McCaffrey’s Ride the Lightning podcast, Moravy said, “Just give it a minute. We’ll get there. The upgrade a few years ago was bigger than most people thought in terms of architecture and structure. We’ll give it some love later this year; we’ll make sure it gets some of the stuff we’ve been putting in 3 and Y. Everyone here has a little place in their heart for S/X. They are not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Read: We Compare The 2026 Tesla Model Y Side-By-Side With Its Predecessor

This sparked speculation online that a full update to both models might be on the horizon. To a degree, Tesla would do well to refresh the vehicles to look more like the rest of the lineup. Despite that, Moravy’s words on the Ride the Lightning podcast seem very measured. “Some of the stuff we’ve been putting in 3 and Y” could simply refer to features like ambient lighting and a front-facing bumper-mounted camera, , rather than a complete overhaul.

Many are hoping that Tesla will go beyond minor updates and deliver a more significant styling refresh, as both models clearly show their age. The Model S and Model X have maintained largely the same exterior design for years, and a visual update could help them stay competitive.

The possibility of upcoming updates raises the question of how this news might impact current sales. After all, Tesla made just 94,105 Cybertrucks, Model X, and Model S examples last year combined. That sounds like a big number but is dwarfed by the 1,679,338 examples of the Model Y and Model 3 built in the same period.

Should You Wait to Buy?

While nothing is confirmed, Moravy’s comments suggest that changes are indeed coming. For those considering a Model S or Model X, it might be worth waiting to see what Tesla announces later this year. If the updates are substantial, the wait could be well worth it.

Very few automakers sit in the same position as Rivian. Smaller EV startups hope to be as successful as the Normal, Illinois-based company someday. On the other hand, larger brands don’t have to worry too much about Rivian stealing their customers just yet. In 2024, the EV automaker sold just over 51,000 cars in a market that included well over a million total sales. 

For Rivian to continue gaining market share, this vehicle, the R1S has to continue to convert customers from other brands. Externally, this middle-size SUV stands out just as much as its parent company does. The shape isn’t wholly boxy or completely square. The headlights are a clear and direct reminder that this isn’t something from Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, or even Tesla. 

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What it is, though, is a well-equipped SUV regardless of the trim one might pick. In fact, it’s one of the most configurable, most capable, and most eclectic SUVs this side of a super-luxury six-figure brand like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or Maybach. 

QUICK FACTS

To get a real sense of just how good Rivian’s flagship SUV truly is, we put it through its paces in the unforgiving streets of New York City and across the varied terrain of western New York State. Along the way, we uncovered both strengths and shortcomings—because no vehicle is without flaws—but overall, the R1S stands as a promising glimpse into the future of electric SUVs.

YMMV

For those unfamiliar, YMMV is the cool, hip shorthand for “Your Mileage May Vary” – and trust me, it certainly did in the Rivian R1S. One of this SUV’s biggest selling points is its claim of up to 410 miles of range when buyers opt for the Max Pack and Dual Motor setup. In reality? Let’s just say that number is more of a best-case scenario than a guarantee.

“Up to” are incredibly crucial words here, as we never even came close to hitting that figure on a single charge. Whether you blame it on a heavier right foot that the R1S probably wasn’t too fond of, or the fact that New York’s temperatures barely crept above freezing, the truth is we couldn’t count on getting anywhere near the miles the R1S predicted.

For example, in one trip that would take us 91 minutes and 59 miles according to Rivian’s in-car navigation, the R1S estimated we’d arrive at our destination with 144 miles of range. That’s all well and good, but according to the exact same screen at the exact same time, we had 213 miles of range available – so where are those extra miles going? 

Consistently Inconsistent Range

That sort of behavior was very consistent. In another case, we left a charging station with 350 miles of estimated range to go to a destination just 39 miles away. I might have gone to school in Mississippi but even I can do the simple math on that one. We should’ve, in theory, had 311 miles remaining when we arrived. Instead, the R1S told us to expect to reach our destination with 274 miles of range remaining. 

Despite this discrepancy, I’ll also make it clear that at no point did I have range anxiety or worry about charging despite not staying anywhere close to a charging station. In fact, I made it to my destination with 296 miles of range. That hasn’t always been my experience with electric SUVs either. Nevertheless, the R1S and R1T both have access to Tesla’s Supercharger network which makes charging up all over New York an absolute breeze. 

In addition, Rivian’s own Adventure network wasn’t far off either and provided a great experience. Simply plug the charger into the car, confirm that the charge started, and walk away. There wasn’t any need to pull out a payment card, download some silly charging station app, or anything else. In reality, it was easier than pumping gas. Across all trips, we managed 2.67 kWh per mile, which is well within reason given the variables at play. 

The Charging Experience

Charging itself was a bit of a mixed bag though. On the plus side, the R1S accepts up to 300 kW of charging speed, which meant I never needed to stay plugged in for hours at a time. In most cases, simply plugging it in for 30 minutes would be enough to pull the battery up to 80 percent or more. In one instance, the car went from 26 to 80 percent in 37 minutes on a Tesla Supercharger that had basically every other stall filled. 

That charging excursion cost $46.06 by the way, which isn’t great compared to a gas car, but had we had the chance to charge at home it wouldn’t have even been close. The electric Rivian would’ve been colossally cheaper to run day in and day out and I would’ve never even needed to hit a public charging stall. 

Speaking of stalls, that’s another concern that Rivian owners should consider. Charging at a Supercharger is easy and convenient aside from the physical position of the Rivian itself. Because the charge port is on the front driver’s side, the only way to avoid taking up an extra charging space is to park on the far left side of the row of chargers. 

In any other space (save for some very creative parking on the far right side) you’ll take up an extra charging space. That can be uncomfortable when several drivers are waiting to use a charger for their EVs and you and your six-figure SUV have essentially iced one out til you’re done. 

Interior Segment

While the cabin of a car is often just a place for spending time while occupied with the journey itself, the Rivain also has to house folks while they sit idling at a charger. To that end, the R1S is beautifully appointed with excellent attention to detail. As just one clear example, Rivian has possibly the most luxurious third row in the business when it comes to fit and finish. We’re getting a little ahead (or perhaps behind) ourselves though. 

The dash is what most buyers will appreciate first. The real wood accents are a significant step above what you’ll find in a Tesla Model X, for example. The design is simple, elegant, and somewhat monolithic. It’s deeply consistent throughout the car too, which is somewhat rare. The huge panoramic glass roof makes the entire SUV feel more spacious even though it’s actually somewhat compact inside. 

Seating in the R1S is comfortable, though not as adjustable as one might expect from a car in this price range. That said, it was great that we could move the middle row forward or back based on how many people were in the car at any given time. 

Clever little touches like storage hooks, straps, and nets made carrying various items a breeze for everyone in attendance. The rear-seat infotainment system provides excellent functionality including heating for both the second and third-row seats, Bluetooth connectivity, lock functions, and a trip calculator so one’s passengers don’t have to ask how long it’ll be til we all arrive at our destination. 

Finally, let’s chat about cargo because the R1S can hold so very much of it. On our excursion, we had five adults with at least two bags per adult, and all of them fit in the cabin along with all of the people without the need for us to stuff things in the front trunk. 

Had we placed everything up front, it likely would’ve left us with essentially the entire cabin wide open. I hope we get a chance to test the new Quad Motor out in the middle of nowhere soon where I promise to take full advantage of all that storage. 

Cabin Controls: Rivian’s Biggest Misstep

This might be the biggest gripe of the entire Rivian experience. The brand is dedicated to minimizing physical controls wherever it can. We asked them about their choices, including the one to not have physical climate controls, and they basically told us they didn’t want to hem themselves in with choices they could go back on. 

For better or worse, this means that many functions are baked into the screen including the door lock and unlock mechanism, the heated seats, climate fan speed, and more. Changing the direction of airflow is a touchscreen setting. Moving the steering wheel requires hitting multiple buttons on the screen and then using the steering wheel rollers to position it. The same is true of the mirrors. 

Speaking of that, the few buttons and switches that do exist aren’t all that great either. In fact, the switchgear feels cheap when compared to the rest of the cabin. The window switches also sit inside a big slab of plastic that isn’t very attractive. It seems odd that in these places where hands, wrists, and fingertips will interact often the surfaces and materials aren’t as high-end as the rest of the cabin. 

Then, there’s the infotainment itself, which is a mixed bag. The graphics are crisp, bright, and even fun at times. The reactions are swift and some of the features are intuitively placed. On the flip side, there isn’t a way to leverage Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

Bluetooth connectivity somewhat saves the day but the navigation system leaves one wanting for something a little smoother and a bit more polished. Picking a destination isn’t always easy to manage when the choices are a bit vague and changing or adding a direction mid-journey can be tough too. All of that said, it’s a solid system that we expect will only improve with time. 

Headlights: The R1S’s Secret Weapon

An entire section on headlights might sound odd but these are the very best I’ve ever used bar none. The gap between these headlights and the next best ones in my personal experience is so big that I can’t even remember who sits in second place. The R1S is the first car in the USA to use Adaptive Drive Beam technology and it deserves even more praise than I’m about to give it.

Known by many as Matrix LED lights, the headlight tech in the R1S enables almost fluid-like real-time adjustment based on traffic. For example, most of us have experienced the automatic bright light setting on modern cars. Once engaged (and that’s an important point we’ll return to), it basically scans the road at all times and then flips the brights off if it notices an oncoming car or that you’ve caught up to a car in the same lane but ahead of you.

Those automatic high beams are akin to a caveman when compared to the R1S’s Einstein-like lighting situation. Instead of just flipping full on or full off, the car can selectively turn off LED elements in the headlight to avoid blinding surrounding traffic. That’s right, it works in both directions too so when you come up behind someone the lights carve out a perfect little box for them so that you don’t blind that driver. The entire rest of the field of view remains lit up with high-beam light.

Even more impressive, when the driver is oncoming, the light dynamically carves out a space and moves that space as the driver gets closer and ultimately passes the R1S. Essentially, these headlights provide the absolute most light possible and never blind drivers around you. Maybe the best part though is that you don’t have to turn them on, as they are completely automatic.

Suffice to say, I hope more automakers adopt this technology as quickly as possible. Being able to see is clearly a paramount safety feature and these headlights make it easy.

Driving Experience: Power Meets Weight

Having driven several electric vehicles over the years, I had a good idea of what to expect from 665 horsepower (495 kW) and 829 lb-ft (1,122 Nm) of torque. What I didn’t appreciate before stomping on the go pedal in the R1S is just how adept this SUV is at doing sporty things despite its weight. Remember from our quick facts sheet that this three-row people hauler tips the scales at 6,331 pounds (2,871 kg). 

That 665 horsepower is there just as much for just moving a beast this big as it is for performance, but it happily manages both. From a dig, the R1S feels a bit heavy off the line but it gathers speed at such a rapid pace that how heavy this thing is plays a role in making the experience feel all the more exotic. 

In just 3.4 seconds you’ll go from not moving at all to hurtling down a road at 60 mph in something that weighs 1000+ pounds more than an adult male white rhinoceros. It’s like an unholy combination of a rhino and a cheetah and you’re at the helm – but that’s just the party trick. 

It’s the rest of the driving experience that provides the clearest look at the depth and breadth of what Rivian has done here. For one thing, the R1S certainly doesn’t handle like I’d expect a rhino to. On the highway, it is calm, quiet, and serene. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are accurate and smooth. The one-pedal driving mode takes a little getting used to, especially when traffic speeds are inconsistent, but it works great in predictable scenarios. 

When needed, the brakes are strong and resilient. The steering is good too, with easy to perceive limits and clear communication without excessive vibration from the front tires. The two main areas of complaint in the R1S come down to the way it feels on occasion. Poorly maintained roads can cause a great deal more ride harshness than in any other six-figure SUV I’ve ever driven. Some of that is likely due to the gigantic 22-inch wheels and some could be related to the extremely heavy curb weight. 

The other noticeable niggle was the aggressive nature of initial regenerative braking. Put simply, it’s harder than most of my passengers preferred. In inconsistent traffic, it actually made a couple of folks nauseous. Sure, it’s possible to reduce the force of regen braking in the R1S, but that means less range so you’ll have to make a trade-off one way or another. At the same time, it’s possible that having only a week to truly learn the system’s behavior wasn’t enough to get really adept at its use and that more time would’ve resulted in a smoother experience for everyone onboard. 

Competition

When the R1S first arrived on the scene it was basically only rivaled by the Tesla Model X which is faster and better to drive on the road. Where Rivian beat the Tesla was off-road and in terms of overall range. Today, the Model X is the one trying to keep up as Rivian is set to launch a Quad Motor R1S this year that’ll likely smoke the Tesla on the road and continue its dominance when the pavement runs out. 

Where the Rivian is going to struggle most though is against new competition from Kia, Hyundai, Volvo, and BMW. For example, the Kia EV9 offers more interior space, tons of technology, and a much lower base price. Sure, it misses out on the power and luxury features of the Rivian, but saving tens of thousands of dollars is enough for many buyers to overlook that. 

The Ioniq 9 might just be the perfect blend since it leverages more luxury appointments. The BMW iX could be a good option too thanks to its supremely good on-road manners. Of course, none of these competitors offer the off-road chops of the Rivian and that’s a key selling feature that the brand leans on. 

Those who value supreme off-road capability over all else might be willing to cross-shop the GMC Hummer EV SUV since it has a similar price tag and even more impressive overlanding features. The Rivian is still the more practical choice between the two for now. 

Final Thoughts

It’s hard not to like the Rivian R1S after spending time in. Note that I didn’t say love, though. It is expensive and that feels like a very important aspect of it when considering how it sometimes rides rough and that other three-row electric SUVs offer much of the same experience for far less cash.

Nevertheless, technology often trickles downhill over time and that’s what makes the R1S so exciting. No other electric SUV on sale at this price point offers the mix of capabilities that this one does. It’s very comfortable in most circumstances. It handles well. It’s full of useful features. It’s sincerely good off-road. The cabin feels very high-end. And it has more than enough range for the average everyday user. No, it’s not perfect, but the issues it comes with are mostly those associated with production by a relatively new manufacturer. 

Give Rivian time to continue honing its craft, find new economies of scale it can pass on to the customer, and improve a few dynamics. If it does all that, there’s little doubt that it’ll be a major player in this space and one for other companies to continue to mimic in the years to come. 

Image Credit: Stephen Rivers / Rivian

GMC Hummer EV owners aren’t choosing it because it’s the best truck or EV on the market. They’re buying it for the fun factor. But that fun quickly fades when the vehicle doesn’t work properly. That’s where the manufacturer’s warranty is supposed to step in—and for a while, it did, covering Dustan Broom and his SoFlo Customs-modified electric Hummer. But then GM pulled the plug and canceled his warranty altogether.

More: GM Voids Warranty On Custom SoFlo GMC Hummer EV

After our initial coverage, Carscoops obtained documents from the owner showing that GM had actually honored the warranty for some time, even with SoFlo’s modifications. So what changed? Many questions still remain.

A Rough Start with Recurring Issues

Broom picked up his Hummer EV from SoFlo in April of last year. Almost immediately, he had issues with the My Modes settings and with the power tonneau cover. Hoping to sort that out, he took the pickup to the dealer for service. On his first visit in July, employees documented in his paperwork that they ordered new parts to fix his tonneau cover. However, they claimed they couldn’t replicate the issues with My Modes. So Broom waited. And waited.

More: Toyota Denies Warranty For GR Corolla Fire, Claims Tires Rated Below 85 MPH

Months went by according to Broom and then finally, in December, his MyModes replacement component arrived at the dealer. As part of the job, the service team said they’d need the truck for a few weeks as the high-voltage battery had to come out. When Dustan picked up his truck, “Nothing was fixed,” he tells Carscoops. In fact, he claims the My Modes functionality, which would occasionally work before, has been dead ever since this incident.

A Smoldering Problem

However, even if the suspension modes weren’t working, Broom was also supposed to have his power tonneau cover fixed. That issue wasn’t unique to him either. It was part of a service update “N232434060”, which includes swapping out the power tonneau cover motor as needed. Less than a month after the truck left the shop, things reportedly went from bad to smoky.

Broom reports that on December 5, his cover malfunctioned and made a loud popping sound. After going inside to research how he might remedy the issue, he came back out to find the cover smoking while the GMC sat in his garage. “I flipped out. Called a few dealerships no one was of help, one told me to drive it into the road so I didn’t burn my house down. I was able to unlock the cover, setting the top piece free which, thankfully seemed to stop the burning,” he says.

Less than two months later, Broom returned to the dealership to finally have the tonneau cover repaired under the same service update. Apparently, the necessary parts hadn’t been ordered back in July as originally promised, only after the near-fire incident. Ten days after dropping off the Hummer EV for the repair, Broom got a call that would kick off this entire ordeal.

Warranty Revoked—With No Explanation

According to Broom, the service manager informed him that while his tonneau cover had been fixed, GM had decided to void his entire vehicle warranty due to the modifications done by SoFlo Customs.

More: GM Penalizes Corvette, Hummer, And Escalade V Flippers By Cancelling Warranty

“I was told today GM did NOT perform any technical analysis of the truck, they STILL do not know what the problem is but claim because my truck ‘looks’ the way it does the entire warranty is void and they refuse to fix the service light issues and the My Modes issues, not to mention the lost value of the truck having a 100% voided warranty,” he says.

Documents shared with Carscoops indicate that GM specifically voided the warranty because it blames SoFlo for the My Modes issues. Across several work order items, the dealer writes “NO WORK DONE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP WHERE MODIFICATIONS WERE DONE.” That said, we’ve reached out to SoFlo several times and haven’t received any response. The same is true of General Motors who seemingly approved warranty work and then changed its mind after doing it for some time on this Hummer EV.

What’s Behind the Warranty Cancellation?

It’s possible that GM has a valid reason for the denial, but the lack of transparency makes it difficult to say for sure. Did the modifications contribute to the issue in question, or is GM applying its policy inconsistently? That’s the real debate here.

The Wrinkles Abound

There are two key aspects of this story that still leave lingering questions. First, Broom tells Carscoops that the service manager attributed the warranty cancellation to his bent ride height connecting rods. These aftermarket rods allow for adjustment of the factory ride height but do not alter the core functionality of the air ride system. One online retailer describes them as a simple modification that retains factory performance while enabling slight height adjustments.

Beyond that, Broom has other concerns. He suspects GM may be using the modifications as a convenient excuse to sidestep corporate liability. Specifically, he wonders if the tonneau fire is playing a larger role in this situation than the modifications themselves, with GM leveraging the aftermarket work as justification to deny coverage and avoid potential legal complications. Without responses from either GM or SoFlo, the situation remains murky, leaving only customer testimony and dealer documentation to piece together the puzzle.

More: Hyundai Denies $10K Warranty Repair For Elantra N, Blames Owner For Over-Revving

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that buyers of modified vehicles, especially high-tech EVs, should tread carefully. Factory warranties can be a gray area when aftermarket work is involved, and as this case shows, what’s covered today might not be tomorrow if someone other than an authorized dealer gets their hands on the vehicle.

Image Credits: Dustan Broom, Suspension Superstore, SoFlo Customs

A “long-time Rivian customer close to giving up” is how the owner at the center of this story describes themselves. And honestly, no one wants to feel that way after purchasing a car, especially not a luxury vehicle that starts at $70,000 and can easily climb past $100,000. Yet, that’s the reality for this particular customer after multiple purchases from Rivian. Here’s their story – and it’s certainly one worth telling.

Online forums are often filled with all sorts of commentary, but it’s rare to see someone write more than 1,600 words about their personal experience. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what a user named PortDirect recently did on RivianForums. Their post, partially titled “Why am I doing this to myself,” is still generating reactions more than 10 days after it was posted.

Read: Guess How Much It Costs To Repair This Rivian R1T

In the thread, they detail their experience as a buyer starting out with the purchase of an R1T pickup truck. “It was almost perfect except for one glaring issue: a paint defect spotted the moment I picked it up from the factory in Normal, IL. I nearly rejected delivery, but given the train ride out there (and Rivian’s assurance it would be a simple fix I could handle later), I went ahead and drove it home. That ‘simple fix’ turned into a months-long nightmare,” the owner admits.

Problems Just Kept Popping Up

In mid-2024, they dropped off the truck for paint correction. Initially, the shop said it would repaint the entire panel. The next month, when they called the customer, it was not because the truck was ready but because it fell off of the lift. While the shop said it would fix the damage, other issues kept popping up.

“The collision center called daily for almost a week with odd reports – a minor scratch during reassembly, waiting on parts, repainting and ‘baking for 48 hours. The whole thing felt unsettling and far from the simple fix Rivian had promised,” they wrote, and frankly, who could blame them? Things didn’t get better from there.

When the owner went to pick up the truck, they reportedly found the bed dirty, as though it had been used for work during its time at the shop. The camera that shows the bed no longer worked and every time they’d take the truck back in for a fix, something else would go wrong. Less than three months after the paint correction, it began to wrinkle and crack.

More: Rivian R1S Bricked After Minor Parking Garage Bump

The owner gave Rivian another chance, this time sending the truck to a different body shop. However, when that didn’t go well either, the automaker agreed to buy the truck back and offered a $10,000 goodwill credit toward the purchase of another R1T. But, as you might guess, the story doesn’t end there.

Second R1T Wasn’t A Charm Either

The new R1T, a second-generation model, arrived to the customer on December 13 of last year. They say “Rivian promised a “press-level” inspection – essentially the same scrutiny they’d give a vehicle destined for a big-name automotive review – which actually pushed our delivery back by over a week to ‘give them time to get it perfect’. I was hopeful, but that optimism vanished almost immediately.”

Evidently, the Gear Tunnel door fell off when the customer’s wife opened it. Then, the entire truck was stuck at 4 mph because it thought the Gear Tunnel door needed servicing. It took 30 minutes of service before the owner could drive the truck properly.

Issues, Issues And More Issues

Since then, they’ve had issues with the windows, the steering wheel, rattles from the doors, misaligned doors that were actually chipping the paint, camera issues, inconsistent braking, and software problems that require regular resets to function properly. Now, the owner says “I’m tired of feeling like a perpetual beta tester for build consistency and service quality.” What they do with their second-gen R1T is still something they’re figuring out.

Comments From The Community

What’s wild is just how many people in the Rivian community have popped up to empathize with this customer. “It took 10 months to resolve my issues, after going back and forth and scheduling appointments and what not. 60 days without my R1T. Can’t lemon law in AZ on a lease (I plan to buy out at the end of the lease assuming everything’s good),” said one viewer.

“Feel for you going through it multiple times. Mine is down too with suspension hydraulic line leaking and the earliest appointment is 2 months out. They say it’s drivable so no rush, I don’t agree it’s safe to drive so will sit in the driveway for the time being,” they wrote.

Related: A Rivian R1S Started Smoking As Driver Was ‘Trapped’ Inside, Couldn’t Open Doors

“The irony here is my EV is leaking oil with a drip pan below it and my ICE cars aren’t. They really need to fix service ASAP, waiting months for serious problems is nuts,” said another user.

None of this is to say that Rivian is a bad brand or that it isn’t doing all it can to improve its products. In fact, this same customer points out that part of why they’re sticking with the brand is that they have an R1S that is “a rock star.” It apparently “runs flawlessly.” No doubt, having that positive experience can temper the negative ones to a degree.

The reality though is that startup brands like Rivian—and many of the other EV companies cropping up left and right—don’t have the established network or track record of legacy brands. While buyers might want to get into something new and hip, accepting that you essentially sign up to become a beta tester can come with the territory – even if you’re not aware of it at first. As is the case with any large purchase, going into it with eyes wide open is paramount. 

R2 And R3 Implications

Being wide-eyed is going to be even more key for more buyers in the near future as Rivian launches the R2 and R3 platforms. The reason is that these cars are meant to be significantly more affordable, available to way more people, and ultimately end up in far more garages and households nationwide.

That sounds great for Rivian and its stock price, but how will it handle the increased need for service that will inevitably come with more cars on the road? To keep up, quality assurance at the factory will need to be tight enough that service calls for production-related issues are few and far between. Additionally, Rivian (and other brands in a similar position) will need to consider how differently their customers use their cars.

Ask Me Anything: We’re Testing the 2025 Rivian R1S, Got Questions?

R1S and R1T buyers likely have more than one extra car to drive around if their Rivian is out of commission. R2 and R3 buyers aren’t as likely to have that luxury. As one forum commenter put it: “My T is my only vehicle, so I knew from the beginning if I ended up in one the cycles of pain like yours that I read about occasionally, I would be forced to bail on Rivian regardless of how big a fan I am.”

As Rivian looks to expand its reach, the question remains: can it juggle growing demand with quality service and consistent production? Only time—and, likely, more forum posts—will tell.

Just over a month after debuting the 2026 Model Y, Tesla has rolled out the standard range of the facelifted electric crossover in Europe. This marks the end of the short-lived Launch Series Model Y, which spent just six weeks on the European market. Now, buyers can choose from three standard trim levels and customize features to their liking. As one of the biggest parts of Tesla’s success, the Model Y and this launch are very important.

Codenamed “Juniper,” the refreshed Model Y brings several upgrades, including improved efficiency, a redesigned interior, updated suspension tuning, and a refreshed exterior look. It first went on sale globally, including in the US, in early January as a fully loaded Launch Edition based on the Long Range AWD version.

More: 2026 Tesla Model Y Debuts With Cybercab Looks And Turn Signal Stalks

This limited edition Model Y came with nearly every available option box ticked, from the $8,000 Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package to all the exterior and interior color choices. While it’s still offered in the States, the Launch Edition is no longer available in Europe, where Tesla has introduced the standard versions—minus the Performance model, which has yet to be released.

Three Models to Choose From

European customers now have three trim options. The entry-level Model Y RWD (rear-wheel drive) is priced at €44,990 (about $46,980), the same as the previous version. Interestingly, the Long Range RWD model costs €49,990 ($52,300), which is €1,000 ($1,050) more than its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Long Range AWD version is priced at €52,990 ($55,450), making it €2,000 ($2,100) cheaper than the earlier version. Could we see a similar price drop in the States? It’s hard to say, but it’s certainly an encouraging sign.

More: Tesla Recalls 380,000 Cars After Some Drivers Reported Total Loss Of Steering Assist

Pearl White is the only color offered at no additional cost, while other colors start at €1,300 ($1,360). The premium shades Ultra Red and Quicksilver are priced at double that amount. All trims come standard with 19-inch wheels, but 20-inch wheels are available for the Long Range models at an additional cost of €2,200 ($2,300).

Basic Autopilot is standard but Enhanced Autopilot costs €3,800 while “Full potential for autonomous driving”, what Tesla calls Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in the USA, costs €7,500 ($7,850). Those interested in picking up one of these updated Model Ys can expect delivery sometime in May or June according to Tesla. 

What About The USA?

Given the near simultaneous global debut of the Launch Edition, it’s likely that Tesla will roll out the standard versions of the 2026 Model Y in North America in the coming weeks. This will give US customers more options and better pricing.

Currently, the Launch Edition is priced at $59,990 before taxes and the $7,500 federal tax credit for those who qualify. In comparison, the pre-facelift Model Y starts at $44,990 for the Long Range RWD, $47,990 for the Long Range AWD, and $51,490 for the Performance AWD.

Late in January, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Tesla for safety violations in a case involving a death at Giga Texas. The tragic accident happened back in August to a journeyman electrician. OSHA began an investigation at the time and has now concluded the case.

In a statement to Reuters, OSHA said that “The investigation is closed and citations have been issued.” Notably, the administration didn’t clarify exactly what the violations were or what the fines associated with those violations amounted to.

Read: From Cracked Sculls To Lost Fingers, Worker Injuries Pile Up At Rivian Plant

Reuters points out that OSHA already fined Tesla some $7,000 for two other violations at Giga Texas last year. According to the US Department of Labor, the maximum penalty for serious and other-than-serious violations is $16,550. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations is $165,514.

Reports from around the time of the incident indicate that the electrician, Victor Gomez Sr. was working for Belcan, a company hired by Tesla to work at Giga Texas. Gomez Sr. allegedly interacted with a hot electrical panel that he believed was inactive. Austin-Travis County EMS responded to Giga Texas and took him to Dell Seton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

His family sued Tesla and Belcan for what they claim were safety violations. It’s possible that this latest ruling from OSHA will only strengthen their case. This is far from the first time that Tesla has faced this sort of regulatory pressure over safety.

In 2023, OSHA fined it some $38,000 for workplace safety violations in California. Tesla isn’t the only one that has been fined for such violations. One notable example is General Motors‘ and LG Energy Solutions’ joint venture, Ultium Cells LLC, which faced a $270,091 penalty after a string of complaints and an explosion in March of 2023.

A new study from Hill Research and the EV Politics Project has officially confirmed what most of us already suspected: Elon Musk is a polarizing figure like few others before him. But what’s particularly revealing is just how sharply opinions split along political lines and automotive preferences. This 600-person survey offers some intriguing insights into where Musk stands in the eyes of voters and car owners.

Respondents are all voters with family incomes of $50,000 or more and they received the survey in November of 2024. According to the results, Musk enjoys a 42 percent favorability rating from gasoline vehicle owners. Among EV owners, only 35 percent view him in the same light.

More: “I Got Punched In The Face Because I Have A Cybertruck”, Says Owner Who Responds By Handing Out Free Cash

When it comes to political party lines, Musk is even more polarizing, with 76 percent of Democratic voters had an unfavorable opinion of him. On the flip side, 74 percent of Republican voters viewed him favorably. That could prove to be a serious concern for Tesla itself since Democratic voters are almost twice as likely (27 percent versus 15 percent) more likely to be “seriously interested in buying an EV” compared to Republicans.

Now, stack on top of these results from the EV Politics Project the fact that since November, Musk hasn’t exactly warmed up to Democrats as well as center- and left-leaning voters, and it’s easy to see why Tesla itself is facing lower sales and protests in one part of the world after another. Unfortunately, it’s not just Tesla itself that’s facing backlash, as private owners are bearing the brunt of vandals too.

Finally, it’s important to note that EV Politics Project is the product of Mike Murphy, a Republican media consultant. While the data from the survey appears legit, the source of the study and its relatively small sample size are worth keeping in mind. Whether or not Musk or Tesla can manage to regain a positive reputation with EV owners or the left-leaning public as a whole is something that only time will tell us. 

Lead image Whitehouse YouTube

Source EV Politics

The new Jaguar Type 00 is intended to spark off an entirely new chapter in the history of the British brand. After a somewhat tumultuous launch, the British automaker is deep into the development of its crucial EV and we just got our first look on public roads.

One of these prototypes, fully covered in camouflage, popped up in Spain on a sunny day, giving us a clear look at them from nose to tail in all of their heavily disguised glory.

More: Electric 2027 Jaguar Type 00 Sedan Caught Testing In First Real Spy Shots

No doubt, the heavy camouflage makes it difficult to pick out finer design details, but some key features – and its connection to the original two-door Type 00 Concept, are clear. This new model takes the concept’s design language and stretches it into a long, edgy sedan with should be a spacious cabin and a relatively short rear deck. The grille stays true to classic Jaguar shapes, while the lighting adopts a more streamlined, horizontal slit design rather than the brand’s traditional rounded elements.

Notably, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Type 00 out and about. Earlier this month, keen-eyed car spotters saw it in Sweden as it underwent winter testing. While it’s impossible to say if the cars we see in this new video are the same ones, it’s clear that they’re all Jaguar Type 00 prototypes. They do sport the same block five-spoke wheels as the ones in Sweden so there’s that.

Power, Range, and What Comes Next

Jaguar has yet to release full specifications, but the company has confirmed a target WLTP range of up to 770 km (478 miles). Charging speeds should be impressive as well, capable of adding 321 km (200 miles) in just 15 minutes on a Level 3 fast charger. Expect at least 550 horsepower for the base model, with higher trims pushing well beyond that.

As for the production name, Jaguar hasn’t made anything official. Speculation points to possibilities like Type 0, Type 1, or perhaps I-Type, though none have been confirmed. What is more clear is the price range, estimated between $150,000 and $200,000, which firmly places this EV in the ultra-luxury segment.

For a glimpse of what the Type 00 might look like without camouflage, check out this artist’s rendering. If it’s accurate, Jaguar’s new electric flagship will certainly look the part of a six-figure grand tourer, though not every fan may be on board with every design choice.

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Image Credit: NCars/YouTube

Robert Oneal, a longtime Tesla investor and Cybertruck owner, got a firsthand lesson in just how polarizing Elon Musk’s angle-shaped pickup can be. The LA resident shared a brief but wild account of his night on social media, writing: “I got punched in the face tonight because I have a Cybertruck. I feel bad for that guy. I tried to hug him after. That didn’t go well.” It turns out that Oneal is going to force it to go well though. He’s now turning that punch into an impetus for kindness.

According to Oneal, the assailant, a roughly 160-pound man, hurled some anti-capitalist rhetoric his way before throwing a punch, seemingly fueled by a mix of Tesla and/or Elon Musk hatred. Unfortunately for him, Oneal outweighs him by about 60 pounds and didn’t go down. Instead of escalating things, he tried to show some goodwill.

Read: Tesla Supercharger Vandalized With Nazi Graffiti, Driver Targeted In Massachusetts

“I forgive him,” Oneal said, noting that he felt bad for the attacker. Rather than let the experience sour his love for Tesla or the Cybertruck, Oneal came up with an unusual response: he now leaves a few bucks, and a dust-drawn heart on Cybertrucks he comes across, a small act of kindness to counterbalance the hate. 

Honestly, it’s somewhat ironic too. A guy gets punched for being a so-called “capitalist swine” and, in return, starts quietly redistributing wealth – one Cybertruck windowsill at a time.

I’m ok bro. He was about 160 pounds im 220. (He said something like “capitalist swine/rich” I think)…I’m sure alcohol was in his system. Only reason I can imagine someone acting that way…..I forgive him

oh, I asked if I was just punched fyi, friends said yes 😂I might have a…

— Robert Oneal (@Robdontstop69) February 10, 2025

Whether this will spark a larger “Cybertruck Pay-It-Forward” movement remains to be seen, but it’s a rare case of a Tesla-related controversy that doesn’t involve Musk’s Twitter X account, questionable hand gestures, exploding batteries, or semi-autonomous crashes. For Oneal, it’s just about turning an unnecessarily hostile moment into something positive.

Will this deter the next Tesla or Musk hater from throwing a tantrum or, even worse, a punch? Probably not. But at least some unsuspecting Cybertruck owners are getting a surprise cash bonus while people figure out how to feel about Tesla’s latest rolling controversy. All over the world, people are protesting both Musk and Tesla, and that includes threats against Tesla owners. Maybe this could serve as a reminder that everyone needs to calm down a little and focus that energy on something more productive. 

Let’s spread the love pic.twitter.com/IJXxzfultz

— Robert Oneal (@Robdontstop69) February 10, 2025

Image Credit: Robert Oneal

Mistakes happen. But most of the time, a small mishap rarely renders an entire vehicle immovable. That, however, is exactly what one Rivian R1S owner claims happened in a parking garage. After what he describes as a minor bump into a pillar, his high-tech luxury SUV turned into a brick. On top of that, Rivian reportedly told him this wasn’t a malfunction, it was a “safety feature.” His only option was to spend big bucks on an expensive tow.

According to the R1S owner, the accident in the parking garage was so minor that it only cracked his tail light and scratched his bumper. Annoying, for sure, but hardly the kind of accident that should leave a vehicle stranded.

More: Can You Believe This Rivian R1T Damage Repair Cost $21,000?

He hasn’t shared the repair costs yet, which, as we’ve seen many times with Rivian models, can be stratospheric even for minor damages, but that’s not the main concern. The real question is: how does such a minor impact leave a car completely undriveable?

Nevertheless, that’s exactly what owner JCarlosLima claims on Reddit. Here’s how they described the ordeal:

“After inspecting the damage, I returned to find the car wouldn’t shift into any gear – Drive, Reverse, or Neutral. After attempting multiple system reboots, I called Rivian support only to learn this was apparently a ‘safety feature’, requiring the vehicle to be towed. What followed was a several-hour ordeal involving multiple tow trucks just to extract it from the low-clearance garage. Now I need yet another tow from my house to the shop.”

They bring up some great points. Is Rivian’s so-called “safety feature” really all that safe? Had this happened far off-road or in the middle of higher-speed traffic, the occupants might be in more danger than if they could at least limp the SUV to another location.

My Rivian R1S turned into an 8,000lb brick in my office garage – A cautionary tale
byu/jcarloslima inRivian

All of this serves as a stark reminder of just how incredibly complex modern vehicles have become. The days of having full, unrestricted control over your car—shifting into any gear or mode at will, even if it wasn’t the safest choice—are largely behind us. Today’s vehicles are increasingly governed by software, automation, and safety protocols that, while often beneficial, can sometimes backfire in unexpected ways.

In many cases, these restrictions make sense, preventing drivers from making potentially dangerous decisions. But in a situation like this, where a minor accident completely immobilizes the vehicle, having some kind of manual override seems like a reasonable expectation.

Carscoops has reached out to Rivian for clarification on exactly what mode or system was responsible for this shutdown. If we get a response, we’ll update you with what the company has to say.

Image Credit: JCarlosLima

New cars keep getting more expensive, but there are still some great deals to be found. We thought Dodge’s sub-$300 monthly lease on the Charger Daytona was impressive until this came along. However, that’s nothing compared to this new low-mileage lease deal out of Colorado for a new 2023 (you read that right) Volkswagen ID.4 Pro. With just $1,299 down, you can drive one home for only $56 a month before taxes for 24 months.

That’s right, you can get a Volkswagen ID.4—an entire car with wheels, seats, and everything else—for far less per month than a YouTube TV subscription, which right now, costs $82.99. Notably, the $1,299 down includes the first month’s payment, acquisition fee, and dealer handling fees. Customers don’t even have to pay a security deposit to take the car home.

Related: VW Dealer Can’t Fix ID.4 After 7 Months In The Shop, Still Waiting On Tools

At the time of writing, Emich Volkswagen in Denver had a few examples available with the same deal, including in Silver Mist Metallic and Pure White. All have the same black-and-gray interior and are in the Pro trim. That means each one offers 275 miles of range from an 82 kWh battery, rear-wheel drive, and a single rear-mounted motor producing 201 horsepower, with a 0-60 mph time of just over seven seconds.

In addition, they come standard with 19-inch wheels, automatic headlights, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic glass roof, a 12-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, seven speakers, adaptive cruise control, and more.

More: Colorado Shoppers Can Drive Away In A New Fiat 500e For Just $62 Per Month

Now, there are a few important caveats to consider here. First and foremost, this deal is only available to Colorado residents who qualify for both the $7,500 federal tax credit and the state’s admittedly generous incentives.

Secondly, the ID.4 isn’t exactly the best car in its segment. Critics often complain about its infotainment system, bland driving dynamics, and cheap-feeling interior. On the other hand, when you’re paying so little for a car each month, it’s tough to be upset with just about any brand-new interior. 

Buying a used car almost always comes with its own set of risks. Many consumers try to mitigate those risks by buying directly from a dealer or automaker. In the case of one such customer, his dream car ended up arriving in less than pristine condition and he says that “Tesla failed to deliver what I paid for.” His tale is a cautionary one that reminds us all to be mindful of how we buy cars.

Tesla’s No-Photo, No-Refund Policy

Before diving into the details, it’s important to understand how Tesla handles vehicle sales. Whether you’re buying a brand-new model, a certified pre-owned unit, or a demo car, the process is the same: you place your order through Tesla’s app or website, without ever seeing actual photos of the specific car. Instead, all you get are stock images that look identical, regardless of the vehicle’s actual condition.

Read: New Mach-E Owner Says His Paint Looks Like An Orange Peel And Ford Dealer Won’t Help

On top of that, buyers have to pay a non-refundable fee upfront. For new cars, it’s $250. For used models, like the Model Y in this case, the buyer had to shell out a $500 non-refundable transport fee plus a $500 deposit. In theory, Tesla claims these vehicles go through an inspection process. In practice, many Tesla owners know that quality control is always left to the buyer—even for brand-new cars. The issue is so common that Tesla enthusiasts have created detailed checklists to inspect their new vehicles upon delivery, something virtually unheard of with traditional automakers.

A Dream Tesla Turns Into a Mess

The car in question is a 2022 Model Y with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) tech already installed. The buyer says that owning a Tesla was always a dream and that he thought he was initially getting a good deal. When the electric car that was under warranty arrived, things took a nightmarish turn though.

According to a Reddit user who posted their experience, the Model Y had scrapes and dings that were so bad that he wanted to reject the car outright. One scratch alone was over four inches long, bad enough that even the Tesla rep admitted it was outside the company’s standards for a used car. Still, the Tesla rep convinced him to move forward though by promising that the company would fix the issues. Keep in mind that had the buyer turned the car down, he would’ve been out $1,000 as he committed that money as a deposit and transport fee.

Photos u/TheStrandedMoose

It gets worse. The buyer claims that the Tesla representative also told him that he wasn’t allowed to look inside the car until he agreed to accept delivery at the dealership. When he did get a look in the cabin, things got disgusting. The visors both have what can only be described as gross leftovers from the previous owner on them. Those aren’t the only issues though.

A Laundry List of Issues, Including A Screw In The Tire!

Beyond the cosmetic damage, the car had several functional issues. According to the poster, the air conditioning is “barely functional” and the right side camera is dead. That non-functioning camera means that the Autopilot and FSD won’t work. To top off everything, one of the tires has a giant bolt or screw in it (!) and requires at the bare minimum a patch. “Had I known this would be such an ordeal, I would have leased a new Tesla or gone with a different car altogether,” the buyer said.

More: Tesla Suing Customers And Journalists To Silence Critical Reviews, And It’s Winning, Report Finds

To Tesla’s credit, it seems like it’s convinced the buyer that it will indeed clean, repair, and otherwise make right what is currently wrong with the car. At the same time, this sounds like a truly bad experience in the world of buying a used car from the automaker who made it. 

Buyer Beware

This is just one example of the risks of buying a used Tesla directly from the company. It also highlights the frustrations of Tesla’s hands-off sales process. The lesson for buyers is clear: when a purchase comes with non-refundable fees and no chance to inspect the car beforehand, you’re making a bet—hopefully, it pays off.

Image Credit: TheStrandedMoose

A decade ago, Elon Musk and Tesla were the poster children of innovation. No matter what they did, or in Musk’s case, tweeted, millions of fans adored them. Today, the mood around each has changed dramatically. While no doubt both continue to have their fans, a large swath of the population in the world appears eager to see both fail, simply by association.

The shift in sentiment is so profound that protests are now planned at Tesla showrooms across the United States, set to begin on Saturday, February 15. Organizers have even created a webpage to track where these protests will take place.

Called the Tesla Takedown or Tesla Takeover on social media, the protests aim to challenge Elon Musk, who has taken a very public and prominent role in Donald Trump’s administration. The organizing website lays out a few specific calls to action: “Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy,” it states. But what triggered this shift in attitude?

More: Tesla Supercharger Vandalized With Nazi Graffiti, Driver Targeted In Massachusetts

In the last few months alone, Musk has stirred up significant backlash, first over a gesture at a political rally that many interpreted as a siege heil salute, and then by backing a far-right political party in Germany called AfD. Now, he’s in the middle of a headline-grabbing dismantling of US government programs and agencies through DOGE. Actions like these aren’t sitting well with everyone, and as a result, protests are set to begin tomorrow.

The site helping to organize the protests claims events are scheduled in Boston, Sacramento, Seattle, and other major cities. Whether large crowds will actually show up is something we’ll only know once the events unfold.

What’s not up for debate is that some people are already taking retribution into their own hands, often crossing legal lines. Protesters projected Musk and his infamous hand gesture on a Tesla factory in Berlin already. In the USA, countless Tesla cars have become the victim of vandalism and more Tesla owners are receiving threats about the same sort of action.

Just a few days ago, the group Students Against Nazi Extremism (SANE) left notes on Teslas in California promising to damage the cars if the owners still had them on February 12.

It’s not just the car damage that’s a problem, as sales are way down for Tesla across the globe. The question now is whether Musk and Tesla will make an effort to repair their image and regain their former goodwill, or if they’ll simply ride out the storm, despite the growing protests and increasingly hostile public sentiment.

We have Musk protest events popping up at Tesla showrooms and plants all over the country and many more here and worldwide. Join or create your own event at Teslatakedown.com

[image or embed]

— Alex Winter (@alexwinter.com) February 13, 2025 at 1:37 PM

Hertz made headlines in October of 2021 when news broke that it was buying 100,000 Teslas worth $4.2 billion at the time, chiefly Model 3 sedans. Now, just a few years later, it’s clear to the rental company that it made a poor decision. At an earnings call on Thursday, it detailed the situation that contributed its part to the rental company losing $2.9 billion in 2024. It ultimately lost $1.18 per share, which was dramatically more than analysts expected.

“Our focus in 2024 was stabilizing the business and implementing fundamental changes to transform our company,” said Gil West, Hertz CEO. “With our new leadership team and organizational structure in place, we are well positioned to execute our strategy with rigor and at pace.” That strategy included selling off some 30,000 EVs, a plan it began implementing in 2023 and finished in the last quarter of 2024.

More: Hertz Offloading 2024 Toyota 4Runners, But Are They Worth The Price?

Despite those sales, Hertz says it has a GAAP net loss of $479 million in the fourth quarter. What’s even more shocking about that is that it could’ve been even worse. In 2023, the brand posted $245 million worth of losses attributed to the EV sell-off. It didn’t recur that same loss for 2024. But why did the plan to shift toward EVs fail?

Electric vehicles are often far cheaper to run than their gas-powered counterparts, but only when they’re actually in use. According to MarketWatch, “EVs are not popular with car renters given the limited network of charging stations across the U.S.” To that end, rental cars that sit idle in the parking lot do nothing but cost the rental car company itself more cash.

More: Hertz Slashes Prices On Shelby Mustang Mach-E, Some With Just 3K Miles

We recently spoke with Hertz, and they clarified that they’re not abandoning EVs entirely. Instead, they’re adjusting their fleet based on demand, moving more electric cars to regions with higher adoption rates and better charging infrastructure, such as California, where EV use is significantly more widespread.

For now, West believes that the brand is in position to turn the tide. Despite that, the market is less confident. Hertz shares were down some 11 percent after the earnings report came out. As the day has progressed, it’s jumped back up a touch but is still down some 8.4 percent as of this writing.

“Create enough shame to make it onerous for anyone to buy or operate a Tesla-branded vehicle.” That’s the mission statement of a group calling itself SANE for Students Against Nazi Extremists in California. How will they elicit such shame in their community? No, it’s not by telling owners how disappointed they are but resorting to violence, vowing to “inflict physical damage to Tesla-branded vehicles.” And according to them, it all begins today.

Read: Tesla Sales Crash Up To 63% In European Markets, Is Musk Or New Model Y To Blame?

So how did Tesla, a company that makes electric cars, become the target of an anti-Nazi movement? According to SANE, it all comes down to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s political actions and public behavior. From supporting far-right groups in the USA and Germany itself to making gestures that some believe to be the Seig Heil he’s stirred up more than a bit of controversy. Now, the SANE group is ditching ideals like tolerance and love for bricks and damage. They call out Musk as “an overt Nazi with a history of fascist, racist, misogynist and criminal behavior.”

Threats, Bricks, and a Deadline

According to the Lost Coast Outpost , the group sent in a manifesto and took responsibility for leaving threats on at least 13 Teslas in California. The group, which allegedly has just ten members, plans to begin damaging cars on February 12 through the end of the month. In notes left on the cars in question, it demanded that the owners sell the cars by the 12th or face vandalism. It evidently didn’t have a plan for whoever the owner might sell the car to.

Local police have been tracking the threats for over a week. The City of Arcata released this statement:

“During the week of February 3, 2025, several Tesla owners residing in the City of Arcata reported discovering suspicious flyers left on their vehicles. The messaging implied a threat if the Tesla owners did not trade or sell their vehicles by February 12, 2025. On one occasion, the flyer was accompanied by a brick which was left on the vehicle’s windshield with the message, “No Nazis in America.”

Law enforcement is aware of this type of activity occurring in communities across the state and APD is monitoring this situation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact APD, at 707-822-2424, or anonymously via the APD Crime Tip-Line, at 707-825-2558.”

More Than Just Arcata

Arcata is only one of four cities that SANE says it’s targeting. The others are Hayward, Seaside, and Rohnert Park. One resident targeted by the group sent a note to the Lost Coast Outpost in response to the threat left on their car wrapped in a brick.

“How ironic that this threat is directed at a community that overwhelmingly supports democratic ideals… In lieu of violence may I suggest the perpetrators donate to progressive causes, write postcards to encourage voting, call their political representatives in Congress, and support businesses engaged in fair practices. We are not the enemy and neither are our Teslas. In a final note of irony, I am of Jewish descent. Nazis indeed.”

SANE’s motivations may stem from political outrage—misplaced or otherwise—but their execution might not have the impact they’re hoping for. Musk-related protests and vandalism have already occurred worldwide, yet neither Tesla nor Musk has taken steps to de-escalate tensions. Regardless of their views on Musk, targeting private property is unlikely to win them any sympathy.

Lead image note via Local Coast Output

The Tesla Cybertruck is about as opinion-splitting as any vehicle of the last half-century. Whether it’s getting vandalized in parking lots, receiving glowing praise from diehard fans, shedding trim pieces, or allegedly driving itself straight into a light pole, the truck seems to inspire strong reactions everywhere it goes. Along with such strong opinions come a gigaton of attention and with it, the need to be skeptical about headlines involving the truck.

More: Tesla Cybertruck Allegedly On FSD Drives Itself Into A Light Pole

One such claim comes from an article on FuelArc by a writer named Kay Leadfoot—who, incidentally, appears to be working on the site alongside an adorable dog named Raymundo Leadfoot. The piece, focused entirely on statistics, runs under the attention-grabbing headline, “It’s Official: The Cybertruck is More Explosive Than the Ford Pinto”, and has somehow made its way across multiple platforms.

In the piece, the author claims that the Cybertruck is more explosive (an important word that we’ll return to) than the Ford Pinto. Leadfoot goes even further to say that it’s 17 times more likely to have a fire fatality than a Pinto. To back up the claim, they cite five reported fatalities in the Cybertruck across three reported fires.

The Numbers Behind the Claim

Leadfoot estimates that Tesla has sold some 34,438 Cybertrucks so far which means that on average, per 100,000 units sold, 14.52 people die in a fire fatality. To be clear, in the real world, that’s five total reported fire-related fatalities across three separate events.

Conversely, we know of only 27 fire fatalities in the Ford Pinto despite some 3,173,491 sales during its ten-year production run from 1970 to 1980. That means that only 0.85 people died in the Pinto due to fire per 100,000 units sold. That, in a nutshell, is the breadth and depth of the reporting Leadfoot does.

To put it simply, this is far from objective apples-to-apples data though. First, the Cybertruck delivery figure is so small when compared to the Pinto that comparing the data is deeply problematic. For example, let’s pretend that two companies are in the business of building and starting campfires.

Business A starts and builds just one campfire while Business B builds 1,000 campfires but can only start two. Technically, Business A had a higher success rate (100% vs 0.2%) although Business B built 100 percent more fires. Comparing them is completely meaningless because of the sample size.

Flawed Data and Misleading Categorization

Next, Leadfoot includes the Las Vegas explosion as one of the three “fires” in this data which should say a lot about the study as a whole. To their credit, the author writes “I understand that last inclusion is controversial, as the driver’s burns were reportedly postmortem, so feel free to rerun these statistics without the Las Vegas incident included.” Even without that data point included, point one, the dramatically different data set sizes are important.

Read: Someone Is Selling A Truckload Of Yellow Ford Pinto Wagons For $16k Each

In addition, FuelArc’s report treats all fires as the same, when in reality, the cause of a fire actually matters quite a lot. In the case of the Pinto, fires were specifically linked to a documented design flaw (a poorly placed fuel tank that ruptured in rear-end collisions). In one fatal Cybertruck accident, the driver ran into a tree. In another, the driver veered into a ditch. And the third, well, it doesn’t even count since it was a terrorist attack.

What Does “Explosive” Actually Mean?

Finally, and mostly because we’re here already, let’s discuss the claim that the Cybertruck is more “explosive” than the Pinto. That word is important because Leadfoot claims that the reporting is “honest” and the word explosive is a specific one. Explosions are, according to the Oxford Dictionary, “a violent expansion in which energy is transmitted outward as a shock wave.”

That’s not documented in any of the Cybertruck fires save for the one in Las Vegas where literal fireworks were used and the battery itself still remained intact. Does Leadfoot honestly point out that the fireworks would’ve also exploded in say, any vehicle ever made? No. In fact, even the gas tank ruptures in the Pinto weren’t true explosions. Fuel would end up everywhere after the accident and often catch fire. Here’s an example of exactly that.

None of this is to say that the Cybertruck is completely safe or that it’s not without flaws or faults. But it is to say that catchy headlines don’t always tell the full story. In a few years, once we have data on hundreds of thousands of Cybertrucks, perhaps a serious fatal flaw will arise, and comparing the two cars will make sense. For now, this report feels more like an outlier or anomaly than good hard data to draw any real-world conclusions from. 

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics

Mark Twain famously said that there are lies, damn lies, and statistics. That appears to be what we have here. If Leadfoot simply intended to get attention, they’ve surely done that. If they intended to write something genuinely insightful, it seems they couldn’t hit the side of a Cybertruck with a Ford Pinto if they tried. (Please don’t try this Ms/Mr Leadfoot as combined, the two cars are guaranteed to explode exactly 170% of the time they’re together… maybe.)

Additional Reporting by John Halas