Tesla
reviews and complaints

Hang up on me too. Just terrible customer service. The worst I have dealt with. Very unprofessional and rude. Almost feel like I owe him or something. He wasn't able to coordinate anything and ended having the cancel the order. Can't believe Tesla would have such a sales rep. Unsuitable for such a reputable company. Really bad experience.

Signed my agreement for Solar Panels and 2 batteries on Sept 9th of 2020. Received notification that I had been permitted on November 11/19 with an install date of January 11th, 2021. Upon crew arrival, I was informed that there was a delay in permitting and it would take a couple of weeks to be permitted but they would proceed with the install. Upon completion on January 12th still not permitted I became aware that Tesla had made available their own inverters. On the 13th I protested and asked why I was not offered the option to receive Teslas Inverter (s). It was explained to me that Tesla had chosen to Vertically Integrate all parts of the solar/battery items. I explained that I have been a Tesla customer since 2014 and wished to Vertically Integrate all my services. Now to the problem; upon signing my contract I was to receive Solar Edge SE7600 and I was permitted to receive this equipment on 11/19. On review of documents in my possession and review of the installed inverters, it became apparent to me why the re-permitting date 1/3/21 was necessary. Tesla without notice changed the configuration and installed two inverters SE3800 and SE1000, later models of Solar Edges line of inverters. In short order, permits were delivered indicating changes and an authorization date of 1/3/21. I make the claim that Tesla made the changes to my Purchase Agreement without notice for the purpose of clearing inventory of SolarEdge items. I am requesting that Tesla remove SolarEdge items and provide Tesla Inverters. Today it's two weeks and I have yet to speak to anyone. I have communicated with my Sales Coordinator who has told me that her manager would call to speak to me. Why just send me confirmation that changes will be made and re-permitting will be done ASAP. If forced to go to arbitration I will be requesting changes as stated and Tesla cover all utility cost due to their attempt to bait and switch and delays of my solar services.

We've been working with you for months. The problem is you don't send someone out to go over the plan - all done email and text. When I text back immediately you never answer back or a month goes by. This has created a very probable cancellation on my part as how can you trust you later.
It would be so simple to just send someone out to go over everything rather than spend months with redos. Why doesn't my planner not contact me back?

Tesla's (Incomplete) Solar Panels project:
(9 June - 18 November, 2020; five plus months and still counting!)

I am in the midst of a solar-panels installation project with Tesla. I have chosen Tesla, being the most reputed solar company and having vast experience in harnessing solar power with the latest technology. I enrolled with them on 9 June 2020 to install solar panels for about 4 kw power.

It took about five months, from June to October 2020, to complete all the paper work and getting the required permits from my electric company ComEd, local village authority, as well as the HOA.
On November 6, 2020 Tesla agreed to install the solar panels. The Tesla crew team came in the morning at the prescribed time and started the project in earnest. After working for a couple of hours on the back-side roof of my home, the team leader reported that his team would not be completing the installation as they find the roof too steep. They contacted the Tesla project coordinator who agreed with them and stopped the project on the pretext of not endangering the staff. Accordingly, the work was stopped and they uprooted the installed inverter and main switch board and walked off the job.

In this context, I must state that the Tesla team was assigned to install solar panels on a roof having a standard architectural design and a pitch of 45 degree which is most prevalent in the Midwest and NE parts the United States. Moreover, the roof was a relatively new one and was installed in November 2014.
I took up the issue with the Tesla company and asked them to re-consider their decision keeping in mind the standard roof design and this being a relatively new one. As of date, 18 Nov. 2020, Tesla has now agreed to re-schedule the incomplete project and install it, fully, this time. This all was made possible only after spending multiple hours on phone conversations as well as sending numerous emails to various sections of Tesla. Now, the new date given by Tesla for installation is December 14, 2020.

Problem with Tesla is that there is no single point of contact (SPOC) who I should be dealing with directly. In hindsight, it would have been much easier to deploy a local company having much better experience around your area and who you can contact directly with a single call.

I'll post my final report after getting the project completed by Tesla.

Till then!

Brij Kamboj

I have had my Solar City system for approximately 7 years and had a way of monitoring the output of the system until recently ( 2 years ). I do not think the system is performing at it's previous high level. Can you tell me how I can check the system from my computer.
This is a leased system.

Arnold Reed
16069 W. Roanoke Ave
Goodyear AZ 85395

[protected]@cox.net

In June 2015 I purchasedsolar panels and service for my home in Glendale, AZ from Solar City. About a year later, I was informed that their company was bought out by Tesla. I am now trying to contact Tesla to obtain a copy of the original service agreement. All phone numbers for Tesla and Solar City keep sending me to Tesla.com/contact which directs viewer to long page of frequently asked questions. NO WAY TO GET LIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE! I am frantic. How do I get to talk to a real live customer service agent? Bad way to do business!

We contracted with Solar City five years ago, and their customer service was equal to none. Always prompt and efficient. Since Tesla took over, it has been a nightmare. We had an electric fire the summer of 2018, and Solar City came to disconnect the equipment as soon as the fire department called them. The company transitioned to Tesla during the repairs, and once we were ready to reconnect, we called and it took them forever to come back, so our summer electric bill was huge. When Tesla came back to do the re-connection, they were supposed to take care of the whole process. They called us a week later saying that one of the controls needed to be switched back and explained all sorts of technicalities that they wanted my husband to walk him through. My husband is 75 years old and we do not understand what most of the things they wanted us to do mean, so we requested that one of their technicians came to do it because we didn't feel qualified to mess with their system. It's been more than a year and even after repeated calls and conversations with supervisors, they still haven't come to fix it. There's a red light flashing on the outside panel. I wish we had NEVER signed the contract and we still get a huge bill every month. We are thinking of taking legal action for lack of service.

Johnny hung up on me. I could not have been nicer! I only called after I got no reply to my email.

Johnny at first agreed to investigate marks in the last photo of the back seat of a car I was about to buy:
https://sc.pathmazing.com/tesla/details/@/5YJSA1E48GF177382 .
Alas, he changed and said the marks as he saw them were tear/scratches and told me to NOT to buy the car before hanging up.

All I want is to have someone that physically saw the car tell me about upholstery marks. Surely a call to the SD storage place is not too much to ask when I am willing to spend about $80, 000 (for a car unseen). Or, at least give me their phone number.

Hopefully the other Tesla folks are more friendly and helpful.

Best...Fried Heyn (*___*) "choice=responsibility"

wzn.[protected]@gmail.com [protected]

My Tesla windshield was break by itself, the technician told me it was stress. So Tesla replace my front windshield. I just got this car at the beginning of the year and just got all tinted. So I ask one of the guy about my tint, the guy told me just have the front windshield tinted again, Tesla will reimburse the expense. After I got it tinted and submit my charge, the service department told me they don't reimburse third party tint! Why did they told me they will reimburse the first time? They told the the expense was too much! This is the fourth Tesla that me and my husband owned. I am totally disappointed at Tesla. Probably will never buy a Tesla again.

I have tried in vain to find someone to talk to concerning removal of my solar panels to allow me to replace the shingles on my roof. One time I waited half an hour for a contact on the telephone before I gave up. Several times I have dialed numbers I have found on the web and in my paperwork and each time I am told I will receive a call back within 48 hours. Perhaps that will happen, but the chain of communications and the response is pathetic. Frankly, I am very happy with the results of the installation; I am getting what I was promised and am happy with that But I have the feeling that someone from Tesla has mandated percentage layoffs to improve the profit picture and the result is rapidly changing a well satisfied customer into a disgruntled customer. You get a lot of advertising from me; about 200+ people come to me place to buy Christmas trees each year, and about half are interested in the set-up. I have been very positive about it, but your attitude towards after care is naive and short sighted. Do better::::

John LaFountain--Solar Panel Customer

I applied for a job, under Tesla Motors, advertising a position of Channel Manager. In small print the the advertising said, The job is with SolarCity a subsidiary of Tesla, Inc.

Two Days Later I received a call from Joseph Diaz who said he was from Tesla. He then informed me that, The Channel Manager job does not exist and they are actually looking to fill the positions of Lead Manager. Like the ones you see at Home Centers, asking you if you want solar.

I find it difficult to believe that a company owned by Tesla allows advertising jobs that do not exist. Which in some sates is illegal.

I live in Oceanside Ca, my Electricity bill in the summer from SDG&E
were to costly my wife and I purchase panels from solar city in Nov. 2015
we had a contractor ENG, take a look and stated 18 panel would do the job.
solar city sales stated your payment to SDG&E would go away.
we would only pay solar city 117.00 at the most 123.00 per month at it's highest production, that didn't turn out that way, May cost 137.00 June, cost 147.00
July cost 157.00 and August is not over, my wife and I budget everything
we have had to cut cost in other places to make up the difference.
Now there is a new twist SDG&E has sent us a bill for over 200.00 due in November cause we didn't produce enough. We don't know what to do, we were sold something we now know we can't afford we under produce in winter so SDG&E collect, plus we pay solar city as well, in the summer we produce just right amount,
but that is considered over producing so we even pay more to solar city.
and still owe SDG&E we have lost in every ways.
we have not reduced anything and there is no relief in site, and empty promises from the sales rep. he got the bonus we got the bill, solar city
has not made good on this. we still live in a hot house no central air.
perhaps solar is not the present answer for lowering our cost that they promise they would, shame shame.

Started working for this company from home as an appointment Setter.Signed a contract! Worked 2 weeks and was to be paid bi-weekly on a friday. On thursday night my supervisor called me and stated that I never made an appointment. He said he called to verify this appointment. Well I have all my phone records of all my calls as well as tape recorded conversations with anyone that agreed to an appointment. I told him sometimes people wil agree to an appointment just to get you off their back. Its called a blow off. I have done this type of work for over 12 years and you get this now and then. I had all my proof of making this appointment, and to this day have not gotten paid for my work. Also the supervisor hardly ever communicated with me. Bad company to work for!

Customer service calls are horrible to get through. Wanted to make sure the forced automatic payment feature went through, but could not connect with anyone at solarcity. First they rejected calls on their 877 number, then days later you are left on hold. And they will claim that the automatic payments are not forced, but if you don't sign up they extort an extra fee on you.

tesla is trying to steal my deposit. I previously placed an order for one of there vehicles. I put my initial deposit but i canceled the order 6 days later well within there cancelation policy not to mention i never even confirmed my order on the site.
According to my sales rep she told me it was not a problem and i was able to cancel over the phone. I was forced to cancel due to false information provided to me about the vehicle pertaining to the charging stations that DONT exist yet and still have not been built. And i later found out these were plans to build and it was not something already done as stated by the sales rep. I live in a hi rise condo with no charger and it makes no sense to buy an car i cannot charge for the exception of charging the car at charging points that are not tesla stations there fore it would take a half of a day to charge as opposed to tesla claimed 60 min supercharging stations that are non existent in my city. Now am having to re-dispute my charge with american express a second time because tesla claims the deposit they told me was refundable was non refundable. This is nuts and completely screwed up that this company would even go that low for a car that was never confirmed or ordered nor was anything started with my order so no money was wasted. Hopefully this claim helps someone else avoid getting victimized by a company that seems more worried about the money then there own product.

I used the website www.solarcity.com in order to put solar panels in my house. I didn’t like the customer services, because the staff was rude and impolite. They couldn’t tell me anything precisely. I called them several times and argued, because they took money, but they were useless and lied about everything. I wonder if there are people, who had the same thing. Please post your ideas and comments. Thanks.

I called Solar City regarding a Pigeon problem under our panels, they replied they put up the guards around at the cost of $350.00 I agreed. The Government put us on leave for three weeks. They agreed after they send us a contract to be signed and sent back. I told them not on my e-mail because it wasn't working. The $350.00 was to be in three parts, $150.00, $100.00, $100.00 =$350.00 They still sent it e-mail it wasn't to easy to read. But what I could was that they're not responsible for any damage to our roof or panels. I sent a respond saying I would not let anyone go upon your roof without responsibility. Or take it down because of the pest problem here in Eastvale. It's well know through pigeon control here. I tried calling them leaving messages. They won't return my calls. The Solar Panels sit to high so the pigeon go under neath it. The pigeons could lead to health problems in the future. Talk with Jan Rathjen regarding the problem she said she'll work out with more panels and put the pigeon guard up., when they add the extra panels. But No reply. she won't even answer her cell phone. What should I do to next? Or is there any other recourse. Thank you for you time.

The owner of the business submits misleading quotes. Upon completion of the work the owner then advises the client of increased costs and demands payment. He is also not a licensed trade person to do solar installation or even supply quotes. Check with Department of Fair Trading before engaging this company and ensure a firm quote is supplied only by reputable dealers.