Something looks slightly off on my new Tesla. Is it normal?
From a description, nobody can tell you whether it is normal, and Tesla's pages we read do not define what is. What you can do is record it with a photo and a note, show it to the delivery advisor and ask them to log it before you accept the car. Then read what Tesla's warranty page says about your new car.
What this page can and cannot do
You have noticed something on your new Tesla and you are asking if it is normal. We would like to give you a clear yes or no, but we cannot. A description is not enough, and Tesla’s pages we read do not list what counts as normal. What follows is a practical way to handle the moment, with the little that Tesla says.
First: record it
Before you say anything to anyone, make a record. This is our suggestion, not Tesla’s.
- Photograph it from a normal distance, then close up. Take one with something familiar in the frame, such as a hand or a key card, so size is clear.
- Note where on the car it is, which side, and what you saw.
- Note whether it changes when you move, touch it or see it in different light.
- If it is a sound or a behavior, note when it happens.
That is the whole job. You are not deciding what it is, only making it easy to talk about.
Second: raise it before you accept the car
Tesla says that at check-in on delivery day you sign any available agreements, complete final payment and accept delivery in the Tesla app. Raising it before that point is simpler than afterwards.
Show your photo to the delivery advisor, say what you noticed and ask two things: what do they think, and can they record it. A written record at the center is worth more than a memory of a conversation. Ask for a copy or take a photo of what they write.
If you are not sure what to do next, you do not have to decide in the lot. What you can do depends on your contract, your order paperwork and local consumer law, so it is worth reading them before the day. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice.
Third: know what Tesla’s warranty says
Tesla has a Vehicle Warranty page on its support site. It says a new car is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which includes the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty, the Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty, the Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty, the Body Rust Limited Warranty and the Zero-Emissions Vehicle Limited Warranties. It says the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty covers your vehicle for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, and points you to the warranty provided with your vehicle for the terms. Read that document, because only it says what is and is not covered for your car.
Why this goes wrong at the center
The moment is not built for calm looking. You are excited, there may be a person waiting, the light may be poor, and you may not know what to look at. Things that would take a minute of attention on your own driveway get missed in the lot.
TSL Check is the iPhone app we make for that. Its delivery checklist takes you around the car area by area, and on any item you can add a photo and a note, then mark how serious it is (how it works). You can open it before the day, pick your model and read the list, and your photos stay on your iPhone.
If you only notice it after taking the car
Tesla’s support page says Tesla Assist in the Tesla app offers personalized support for your vehicle and energy products, and that you can also sign in and use a web form to ask about a variety of topics. Send your photo and note with your message so the first reply can be specific.
Before the day, if you are still waiting
If you are still waiting for your car, two things help. Find out what comes with a new car, so you know what you should be handed, and see why the delivery date keeps changing if your date has been moving. Both are things Tesla’s own pages cover, and both are easier to read before the day than during it.
You will also feel calmer if you decide in advance what you will do if something looks off: record it, show it, ask for it to be logged, and take your time reading before you accept. That plan is the same whatever the item is.
Whatever you find, ask the delivery advisor to record it before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Should I accept the car if something looks off?
That depends on what it is and on your contract, and we cannot decide it for you. Photograph it, write it down, show it to the delivery advisor and ask them to record it before you accept the car. Your order paperwork and local consumer law decide what you can do next.
How do I know if what I see is a defect?
You often cannot tell on the spot. What you can do is describe it precisely, with a photo and a note, and ask the advisor what they think. Tesla's warranty page says what Tesla treats as covered; read it with your photo in hand.
What does Tesla's warranty cover?
Tesla's Vehicle Warranty page says a new car is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which includes the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty, the Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty, the Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty, the Body Rust Limited Warranty and the Zero-Emissions Vehicle Limited Warranties. It says the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty covers your vehicle for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, and to view the warranty provided with your vehicle.
Who do I contact after I have taken the car?
Tesla's support page says Tesla Assist in the Tesla app offers personalized support for your vehicle and energy products, and that you can also sign in and use a web form to ask about a variety of topics. Send your photo and note with the message.
Does a photo with a date help?
It is our opinion that it does: a dated photo and a short note turn a feeling into something specific that you and the other person can both look at.
