dorylee
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2024
- Threads
- 5
- Messages
- 59
- Reaction score
- 104
- Location
- San Francisco
- Vehicles
- Cybertruck FS AWD
- Thread starter
- #1
Pains me to post this but we were involved in an accident right in front our apartment garage last night. A drunk driver driving in the wrong direction and side swiped us as we were turning into the apartment garage. The Cybertruck lost its side mirror, and suffered minor wheel fender damage. The first that hit me was most likely DUI (they switched driver immediately after the incident which was captured in another video, a lot of eye witness including apartment security team, valet & residents); I tried to call the SF police but they refused to come out because no one is injured even they were suspected of DUI. We had no choice but let them go.
Just when I thought it was not too big of an issue, I noticed the vehicle was not driving straight. Upon checking, I found the tie rod was bent on the side that has been hit.
Since I lived very close to the SF Tesla Service Center, I brought my car in right away. When I arrived onsite, the service rep told me that I cannot leave my truck here because I don't have an appointment. They also don't have the ability to fix Cybertruck. I explained that as an owner, I'm now in a situation where 1. I can't drive it 2. Tesla cannot take it but no other car shop is authorized or even know how to fix it 3. regular towing won't accept it. After about 30 minutes, the service rep came back and told me to tow it to the San Jose Tesla Collision center and leave it in the parking lot. The only place I can go to fix it is the San Jose Collision Center. I contacted towing company myself to arrange towing. When I arrived at the San Jose collision center, it's closed on weekends so had to just park the vehicle in their parking lot and hoping they contact me on Monday. The experience was painful. Having lived and owned a Tesla in another country for over 5 years, this reminded me that Tesla US still has frustrating service experience compare to its counterpart in other areas.
Here's the video - note it's a one lane two way street, the driver got confused and drove in the opposite lane.
Just when I thought it was not too big of an issue, I noticed the vehicle was not driving straight. Upon checking, I found the tie rod was bent on the side that has been hit.
Since I lived very close to the SF Tesla Service Center, I brought my car in right away. When I arrived onsite, the service rep told me that I cannot leave my truck here because I don't have an appointment. They also don't have the ability to fix Cybertruck. I explained that as an owner, I'm now in a situation where 1. I can't drive it 2. Tesla cannot take it but no other car shop is authorized or even know how to fix it 3. regular towing won't accept it. After about 30 minutes, the service rep came back and told me to tow it to the San Jose Tesla Collision center and leave it in the parking lot. The only place I can go to fix it is the San Jose Collision Center. I contacted towing company myself to arrange towing. When I arrived at the San Jose collision center, it's closed on weekends so had to just park the vehicle in their parking lot and hoping they contact me on Monday. The experience was painful. Having lived and owned a Tesla in another country for over 5 years, this reminded me that Tesla US still has frustrating service experience compare to its counterpart in other areas.
- Anything I can do about the diminished value on the car because of the accident? I was told by my insurance company (Geico) that in California, this was not possible. I'm not an expert on this.
- I think not a lot owners have experienced this but how long does take it to fix it? Based on my assessment, looks like just tie rod replacement + wheel alignment. Reading all these horrific stories about waiting over a month to have Teslas repaired, I feel sad that this might be a long long repair for the Cybertruck.
- Was sharing my experience with some of my buddies that do offroading a lot - does this tie rod seem too weak for a 7,000 lbs truck? They told me it will probably bend or break if I take the truck to a legit trail anyways
which I was planning to do next weekend before all this happened
Here's the video - note it's a one lane two way street, the driver got confused and drove in the opposite lane.
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