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Tesla Reviews, Complaints & Contacts

Tesla, Inc. is an Austin, Texas company that sells electric vehicles, a Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software subscription and energy products such as Powerwall directly to U.S. customers. BBB rates it F with 3,615 complaints, the CFPB database shows 720, and Trustpilot shows 1.7 from 2,116 reviews. Matters include the California DMV decision on Autopilot and FSD marketing, NHTSA investigations and recalls, FSD advertising suits, a 2025 Autopilot jury verdict now on appeal, and a Supercharger idle-fee settlement awaiting final approval; Tesla disputes the claims in these cases.

REVIEWS & COMPLAINTS1on USAComplaints · none in last 3 yrs · latest 2013
WEBSITEtesla.com
HEADQUARTERSAustin, TX
PROFILE CHECKED
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Contacts

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Verified unless marked otherwise.

Customer service & general contact

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Cancel, billing & returns

Official website

Settlements & legal notices

Reference numbers (not support lines)

VERIFIED

Locations

  • Headquarters1 Tesla Road Austin TX 78725
  • Mailing addressP.O. Box 15430 Attn: New Vehicle Limited Warranty, also arbitration opt-out letters with ZIP 94539-7970 Fremont CA 94539
  • Branch office1501 Page Mill Road Palo Alto CA 94304
  • Branch office45500 Fremont Boulevard Fremont CA 94538
EDITORIAL

Company Information

BBB, CFPB, ComplaintsBoard

Legal name
Tesla, Inc.
Founded
2003
Business type
Electric-vehicle, energy-storage and solar manufacturer and direct seller; Texas corporation (converted from Delaware on June 13, 2024), headquartered in Austin, Texas
Website
tesla.comSource: Company website, read
Headquarters
Austin, TXSource: Tesla Contact page and SEC EDGAR business address, read

Tesla, Inc. is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: TSLA) that files annual and quarterly reports with the SEC under CIK 1318605, including a Form 10-K for 2025 filed January 29, 2026 and, most recently, a Form 10-Q filed October 22, 2026. Its filings describe a Texas corporation headquartered in Austin. The California DMV's December 2025 and February 2026 releases refer to Tesla's manufacturer's and dealer licenses in California, and Tesla's warranty booklet names specific channels for service, recalls and disputes. Filings and licenses identify a company; they do not show how any particular customer was treated.

What the record also shows. The California DMV adopted a decision that Tesla's use of "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving Capability" was misleading, and Tesla then stopped using "Autopilot" in its California marketing; Tesla has gone to court to challenge that decision. NHTSA lists open investigations into FSD behavior and FSD crashes in low visibility, the effectiveness of an earlier Autopilot recall, door handles on the 2021 Model Y, the timeliness of Tesla's crash reports and the certification of the Cybercab; none of them is a finding of a defect (see Government actions: California DMV, NHTSA and recalls). BBB, a private nonprofit, says Tesla is not BBB Accredited, rates it F and has begun reviewing its business practices. A Florida jury returned a verdict against Tesla in an Autopilot crash case, and the resulting $242,570,000 judgment is stayed while Tesla appeals. Juries in two 2023 California Autopilot cases, Hsu and Molander, found for Tesla according to news reports, and in October 2026 the Ninth Circuit vacated the class certification in the main FSD advertising case (see Lawsuits and court records). Tesla says in its 10-Q that to its knowledge no agency in an ongoing investigation has concluded that any wrongdoing occurred.

How to check for yourself: read the warranty booklet and the order agreement you signed, search your VIN at service.tesla.com/en-US/vin-recall-search, and check NHTSA's recall and investigation pages for your model and model year.

EXTERNAL SOURCE

Independent Sources

Shown for context — not merged with USAComplaints' own numbers.

BBBComplaints in the last 3 years, not BBB Accredited
274 reviews · 3,615 complaints · BBB business grade F · average customer rating 1.1 / 5
Figures read
CFPBAll complaints filed under Tesla, Inc., mostly vehicle loans and leases
720 complaints
Figures read
ComplaintsBoardAll complaints and reviews on the Tesla page
3 reviews · 121 reports · average customer rating 1 / 5
Figures read
TrustpilotAll reviews on the tesla.com profile
2,116 reviews · TrustScore 1.7 / 5
Figures read
CONSUMER ALLEGATION

Reviews & Complaints on USAComplaints

USAComplaints currently maintains 1 historical complaint about Tesla, published in 2013. No approved complaints have been published on this site during the last three years. For a current reputation snapshot, see the independent sources on this page.

EDITORIAL

Complaint and review record

  • USAComplaints: 1 published complaint report is linked to this profile. A 2013 report titled "Tesla Service, University City, MO" describes a car left for bumper work and window tinting, with no word from the service center about the delay; a January 2013 Patch article reported that Tesla Motors was opening a service center at 8664 Olive Boulevard in University City. Reports about Tesla Consulting, Tesla Power Tools and Teslasecret.com concern other businesses and are not linked here.
  • BBB: the BBB profile for Tesla, Inc., 1 Tesla Rd, Austin, TX, says the business is not BBB Accredited and gives it an F rating. The reasons BBB lists are a failure to respond to 501 complaints filed against the business and a failure to resolve the underlying causes of repeated complaints. BBB shows 3,615 complaints in the last 3 years and an average customer review score of 1.1 out of 5 from 274 reviews. BBB opened its file on Tesla in February 2021 and gives a business-start date of August 26, 2011. A BBB alert says BBB began reviewing Tesla's business practices in 2026 after a large volume of complaints and reviews, and names the most frequent subjects: delayed repairs and service appointments, difficulty reaching customer support, warranty disputes, delivery delays, billing and unresolved refund requests. In a separate advertising review of the "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" names, BBB says Tesla responded in May 2026 but did not substantiate or discontinue the advertised claims, while noting that parts of Tesla's website carry disclaimers that drivers must stay attentive and that Tesla now uses the name "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)". BBB is a private nonprofit organization, not a government agency; its letter grades, alerts and advertising reviews are its own assessments, not legal findings.
  • Trustpilot: the claimed profile for tesla.com shows a TrustScore of 1.7 from 2,116 reviews, 404 of them in the last 12 months; 68% of reviews are 1-star and 21% are 5-star. Trustpilot notes that the company has not invited customers to review recently, so reviews may not be representative, and that it has not replied to negative reviews. A separate Trustpilot profile for www.teslamotors.com, listed as a car accessories store, shows 3,166 reviews and a TrustScore of 1.7.
  • ComplaintsBoard: the Tesla page shows 121 complaints and a 1.0-star rating from 3 reviews.
  • CFPB Consumer Complaint Database: under the company name "Tesla, Inc." the database holds 720 complaints. Most concern Tesla's vehicle financing: 449 are about a vehicle loan or lease, followed by credit reporting (122 across two product labels) and debt collection (49). The most common issues are getting a loan or lease (171), managing the loan or lease (119) and problems at the end of the loan or lease (101), with 37 about repossession. Tesla's recorded responses: 692 closed with explanation, 14 untimely and 14 in progress. The CFPB handles financial products only, not vehicle defects or FSD.
  • NHTSA owner complaints: NHTSA publishes owners' vehicle-safety complaints, which can be searched by make, model and model year at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

None of these figures shows how many Tesla customers had a problem. BBB, Trustpilot and ComplaintsBoard entries are written by people who chose to post them, they are not a sample of all customers, and the counts change daily.

Had an experience with Tesla? Tell other people what happened.

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EDITORIAL

Dealing with Tesla? Practical steps from Tesla's own pages

This page is about Tesla, Inc., the Austin, Texas company that sells Tesla vehicles, a Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software subscription and energy products such as Powerwall and solar. The steps on this page come from Tesla's own support and legal documents and from government sources. Complaints and lawsuits described on this page are allegations unless a court or agency says otherwise.

  • Contact channels. Tesla's support page points owners to Tesla Assist in the Tesla app for vehicle and energy products, or to a web form after signing in to a Tesla Account. The U.S. warranty booklet (effective September 1, 2026) gives Tesla, Inc., Attention: New Vehicle Limited Warranty, P.O. Box 15430, Fremont, CA 94539, phone 1-877-798-3752 (1 877 79 TESLA), and NHTSA's recall records give the same number for recall questions. For Powerwall, solar panels, Solar Roof and other energy products, Tesla's contact page says to call 877-798-3752 and select option 4, then option 2; Wall Connector and other home charging products are option 3. BBB lists a different number, (888) 765-2489, which does not appear on Tesla's own contact pages.
  • Orders and cancellation. Tesla's ordering page describes the order fee as "a one-time, non-refundable order fee" paid by credit card when you place an order, and its support page describes cancelling in the Tesla app under Vehicle Details, then Manage, then Request to cancel. The Motor Vehicle Order Agreement you signed sets the actual cancellation and refund terms, so keep a copy and read it before you cancel. If you believe a charge was wrong, the card-dispute route under "If a problem is not resolved" applies.
  • Warranty coverage. Tesla's warranty page lists a Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty of "4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first", a Supplemental Restraint System warranty of 5 years or 60,000 miles, a Body Rust warranty of 12 years and unlimited miles, and Battery and Drive Unit coverage of 8 years with a mileage cap that depends on the model (150,000, 120,000 or 100,000 miles) and "minimum 70% retention of Battery capacity". Warranty repairs must be done at a Tesla Service Center; non-warranty repairs may be done at another shop. The binding terms are the ones provided with your vehicle: a car bought before the date printed on the current warranty keeps the warranty in effect on its purchase date, and cars bought before February 1, 2019 have no Body Rust coverage. The booklet effective September 1, 2026 adds Zero-Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) warranties that apply only to model year 2026 and later, including a High-Priced Propulsion-Related Parts warranty of 7 years or 70,000 miles, and an Emissions Performance Warranty of 8 years or 80,000 miles that applies only to model year 2027 and later.
  • Service visits. Service is booked in the Tesla app (Service > choose a topic > follow the prompts). Tesla's service page says "All types of service appointments require you to review and confirm a cost estimate before service can be performed on your vehicle", and the warranty page says repairs expected to be covered "should appear as $0 on the estimate" while some need an in-person inspection first.
  • Written notice before a warranty or lemon-law claim. The warranty booklet says that, "to the fullest extent allowed by the law of your jurisdiction", Tesla requires "written notification of any defects you have experienced within a reasonable time to allow Tesla an opportunity to make any needed repairs before you pursue any remedy under these laws". For California it names [email protected], or certified mail to "Tesla, Inc. c/o CT Corporation, 330 N Brand Boulevard, Suite 700, Glendale, CA 91203", for a repurchase or replacement request. California's Department of Consumer Affairs summarizes the state lemon law this way: "If the dealer or manufacturer is unable to fix a warranty issue after at least two or more attempts, they must either replace the vehicle or refund its purchase price." That is a short summary; the statute is more specific. California Civil Code section 1793.22(b), the Tanner Consumer Protection Act, says it "shall be presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been made to conform a new motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties if, within 18 months from delivery to the buyer or 18,000 miles on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs first, one or more of the following occurs": the same nonconformity "likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven" has been subject to repair two or more times; the same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times (in both cases the buyer must have directly notified the manufacturer at least once); or the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair "for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days since delivery of the vehicle to the buyer." The statute calls this "a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of proof". Under section 1793.22(c), if a qualified third-party dispute program exists and you were told about it in writing in time, you must first take your claim to that program before you can rely on the presumption. Tesla's booklet offers California owners the California Dispute Settlement Program (see the related item), so ask the program or the Department of Consumer Affairs' Arbitration Certification Program whether it is state-certified before you skip it. The Department's New Lemon Law Procedures under AB 1755 and SB 26 apply only to manufacturers that opt in, and Tesla is not on the Department's published list of manufacturers that have opted in. Every state has its own lemon law and deadlines, often enforced through the state attorney general or a state agency (in Texas, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles), so check your own state's rules; this is not legal advice.
  • Tesla's dispute programs. The booklet describes an optional program run by the National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS), P.O. Box 515541, Dallas, TX 75251-5541, 1-866-629-3204, "free of charge to you"; a request must be filed "within 60 days (or 6 months in certain jurisdictions) of the expiration of the applicable warranty period", and "NCDS's decision is binding on Tesla but not on you." The booklet states what the program does not award: "NCDS decisions do not include attorney fees or punitive, multiple, or consequential damages, except incidental damages as required by applicable law." California residents are pointed to the California Dispute Settlement Program at the same address and number.
  • Arbitration clause and opt-out. Under the Agreement to Arbitrate reproduced in the booklet, you first send a written notice describing the dispute to [email protected]. If it is not resolved within 60 days, it goes to a single arbitrator under the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Consumer Arbitration Rules, held in the city or county where you live; class and representative claims are barred, and you may take an individual dispute to small claims court instead. For a vehicle purchase Tesla says it will pay all AAA fees. The FSD (Supervised), Premium Connectivity and Tesla Assist terms differ: you pay the AAA filing fee, Tesla pays the later AAA fees, and Tesla reimburses the filing fee if you win. To opt out, send a letter within 30 days after signing to Tesla, Inc.; P.O. Box 15430; Fremont, CA 94539-7970, with your name, Vehicle Identification Number and your intent to opt out of the arbitration provision. Which terms apply to you depends on the document you accepted.
  • FSD (Supervised) subscription. Tesla's FSD page says "You can subscribe to FSD (Supervised) for $99 USD per month" and "Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is not available for outright purchase and is only available as a subscription." On refunds it says "Refunds are not available for subscriptions. You can cancel your subscription at any time and you will continue to have access to FSD (Supervised) features for the remainder of the current billing period." The subscription agreement says you can cancel "through your Tesla Account" and "your subscription payment won't be prorated", and that FSD (Supervised) "requires active driver supervision with eyes on the road and does not make the vehicle autonomous." The page also states that the FSD (Supervised) Transfer Program "ended on March 31, 2026."
  • Recalls. Tesla's VIN recall lookup at service.tesla.com/en-US/vin-recall-search asks for the full 17-digit VIN. For questions about a recall, Tesla says to contact your preferred Tesla Service Center first and, if that does not resolve it, to use Tesla's support form and choose the Recalls topic. NHTSA takes safety-problem reports online and by phone at 888-327-4236 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET per its page). Recent recalls are summarized in the government-actions section.
  • Powerwall 2. On November 13, 2025 the CPSC announced a recall of about 10,500 Powerwall 2 AC battery systems. Its notice says to "ensure their Powerwall 2 system is online and check the Tesla App for a notification about whether their unit is included in the recall" and gives [email protected] or 877-961-7652 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT). The notice lists the remedy as replacement and says: "Tesla has remotely discharged (or removed energy from the battery of) affected Powerwall 2 systems that are online, to prevent overheating, until the replacement is installed."
  • Supercharger idle-fee settlement (California). In Shenkman v. Tesla, Inc. (Alameda County Superior Court, case RG21102833) a proposed settlement covers certain California owners of vehicles bought before December 16, 2016 with free lifetime Supercharging. The claim and objection deadline, September 25, 2026, has passed. The final approval hearing is set for December 2, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. PT, and the settlement takes effect only if the court approves it. The notice says class members who did nothing "will still receive the non-cash benefits" if the settlement is approved. Questions go to the administrator at [email protected] or (833) 421-7344.
  • If a problem is not resolved. Put your complaint in writing to [email protected] with your VIN or order number and the remedy you want, and keep the order agreement, service estimates and dated messages. For a warranty defect, use the written-notice, NCDS and arbitration routes on this page, or small claims court. For a charge you dispute on a credit card, such as an order fee or a subscription payment, write to the card issuer's billing-inquiry address; under the Fair Credit Billing Act the letter must reach the issuer within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the charge. Report safety defects to NHTSA. For a Tesla lease or loan, file with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. You can also complain to your state attorney general's consumer protection office, report deceptive practices to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and file a complaint with BBB.
EDITORIAL

Government actions: California DMV, NHTSA and recalls

California DMV: advertising of "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving Capability". On December 16, 2025 the California DMV "issued its decision in the Tesla administrative case (Case Nos. 21-02188 and 21-02189), adopting the administrative law judge's (ALJ) proposed decision, which concludes that Tesla's use of the terms 'autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving Capability' to describe its vehicles' Advanced Driving Assistance Features (ADAS) is misleading and violates state law." The DMV's release says the ALJ's proposed decision (issued November 20, 2025, after a hearing on July 21-25, 2025) ordered 30-day suspensions of Tesla's manufacturing and dealer licenses, and that the DMV adopted the findings but reduced the penalties, "immediately imposing a permanent stay of the suspension of Tesla's manufacturer's license and giving Tesla 60 days to take action regarding its use of the term 'autopilot.'" On February 17, 2026 the DMV said Tesla "successfully took the required action to stop using the term 'Autopilot' in the marketing of its vehicles in California" and therefore avoids having its dealer and manufacturer licenses suspended for 30 days. The same release notes that Tesla had already stopped using "Full Self-Driving Capability" and now calls the system "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" to signal that it needs driver supervision. These are findings about advertising terms, not about how the software drives. Electrek reported on February 23, 2026 that Tesla had sued the DMV to overturn the decision in a complaint dated February 13, 2026, arguing among other things that the DMV never showed consumers were actually confused; the court has not been reported to have ruled.

More on regulatorsShow less

NHTSA investigations. NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) publishes a resume when it opens or changes an investigation. An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists. NHTSA's investigation lookup lists PE25012, EA26002, RQ24009, PE25010, AQ25002 and AQ26002 as open investigations.

  • PE25012 (Preliminary Evaluation opened 10/07/2025): "Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ('FSD') is engaged"; estimated population 2,882,566. ODI says reports "appear to most commonly involve two types of scenarios": a vehicle with FSD engaged proceeding into an intersection against a red signal, and FSD commanding a lane change into an opposing lane. The resume adds that, for a Maryland intersection with repeated incidents, "NHTSA understands that Tesla has since taken action to address the issue at this intersection." Source: static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOA-PE25012-19171.pdf.
  • EA26002 (Engineering Analysis opened 03/18/2026, upgraded from PE24031 opened 10/17/2024): "FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions"; estimated population 3,203,754; nine crashes listed, one of them fatal. ODI describes the concern as "Failure of the FSD's degradation detection system, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect a degraded state and to warn the driver appropriately." The resume also records that Tesla's analysis "indicated that the update to the degradation detection system, had it been installed on the vehicles at the time, may have affected 3 of the 9 incidents identified by ODI." Source: static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-EA26002-10023.pdf.
  • RQ24009 (Recall Query opened 04/25/2024): evaluates "the adequacy of Recall 23V838, including the prominence and scope of Autopilot controls to address misuse, mode confusion, or usage in environments the system is not designed for"; estimated population 2,031,220. Source: static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INOA-RQ24009-12046.pdf.
  • PE25010 (Preliminary Evaluation opened 09/15/2025): "Electronic door handles become inoperative" due to low 12-volt battery voltage, 2021 Model Y, estimated population 174,290; ODI had nine owner reports when it opened the case and notes that vehicles have manual interior releases. Source: static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOA-PE25010-18817.pdf.
  • AQ25002 (Audit Query opened 08/19/2025): timeliness of Tesla's crash reports under NHTSA's Standing General Order; the resume says the timing "was due to an issue with Tesla's data collection, which, according to Tesla, has now been fixed." Source: static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2025/INOA-AQ25002-18184.pdf.
  • AQ26002 (Audit Query opened 09/03/2026): "Tesla Cybercab FMVSS Certification", about 1,000 vehicles. The resume says Tesla "notified the Agency that it certified those Cybercab vehicles as compliant with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)" and that NHTSA will examine "the process and technical data on which Tesla relied"; the resume notes the vehicles "lack permanently attached, conventional manual controls, such as a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel, and mirrors." It describes an audit of Tesla's certification process and does not announce a recall or a stop-sale. Source: static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-AQ26002-17078.pdf.
  • DP26010 (defect petition review opened October 9, 2026): a petition received September 23, 2026 alleges that model year 2026 Tesla robotaxis, Model Y and Cybercab, exceed posted speed limits in active school zones with the automated driving system engaged; NHTSA estimates about 1,000 vehicles and lists no crashes, injuries or deaths. A petition review decides whether to open an investigation; it is not an investigation itself.

Tesla's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 says it regularly receives requests for information from regulators including NHTSA and the NTSB, SEC and DOJ, and states: "To our knowledge no government agency in any ongoing investigation has concluded that any wrongdoing occurred." This is Tesla's own assessment, and the filing does not name the individual investigations.

Selected safety recalls. The dates on this page are the dates NHTSA received each recall report; each recall covers only the model years and conditions NHTSA lists, and NHTSA records the remedy as free of charge.

  • 26V558 (September 1, 2026): certain 2026 Model Y; front suspension lateral link fasteners may not have been properly tightened. 26V507 (August 5, 2026): certain 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y; low-beam headlights may exceed the maximum light output (FMVSS 108). 26V445 (July 7, 2026): certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 "originally built for a foreign market" that lack required U.S. equipment; NHTSA records that "Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge," with contact at 1-877-798-3752 or [email protected]. Other 2026 campaigns include 26V315 (certification label), 26V283 (rearview image delay, over-the-air update) and 26V255 (Cybertruck with 18-inch steel wheels, wheel stud separation).
  • Driver-assistance software recalls: 22V037 (January 27, 2022; FSD Beta "rolling stop" function disabled by over-the-air update); 23V085 (February 15, 2023; FSD Beta behavior at intersections and around speed limits, over-the-air update); 23V838 (December 12, 2023; Autosteer, where NHTSA's record says "the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature," over-the-air update). Tesla describes its FSD (Supervised) as requiring "active driver supervision".
  • Other examples: 25V690 (October 10, 2025; battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power, 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y) and 24V276 (April 17, 2024; Cybertruck accelerator pedal pad).
  • CPSC: recall 26092 (November 13, 2025) of about 10,500 Powerwall 2 AC battery systems; the CPSC notice says the firm had received "22 reports of overheating, including six reports of smoking and five reports of fire, resulting in minor property damage. No injuries have been reported." The remedy is replacement, and the notice says Tesla "has remotely discharged (or removed energy from the battery of) affected Powerwall 2 systems that are online, to prevent overheating, until the replacement is installed."

To check a specific car, use Tesla's VIN recall search or NHTSA's recall lookup; do not assume a current model is affected by a recall listed here.

EDITORIAL

Lawsuits and court records

Court records

The cases on this page are the ones most relevant to Tesla buyers and owners. A jury verdict or a class-certification ruling is not a final resolution of every claim, and Tesla disputes the claims in these cases. Its 10-Q says: "The Company intends to vigorously defend itself in these matters; however, we cannot predict the outcome or impact."

More on the lawsuitsShow less

FSD and Autopilot marketing. In re Tesla Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Litigation (N.D. Cal.) alleges that Tesla's statements about full self-driving capability misled buyers. In May 2024 the court dismissed all warranty claims but let fraud-based, negligence-based and related statutory claims proceed in part. In August 2025 it certified two California damages classes and an injunctive-relief class, but on October 16, 2026 the Ninth Circuit vacated all three certifications and returned the case to the district court, holding that the court could not assume every buyer saw the challenged hardware statement. The case is no longer a certified class action unless the court certifies a class again. Waller v. Tesla, Inc., filed June 4, 2026 in the same court, is a separate proposed class action about statements on driver-assistance capabilities. A securities class action filed August 4, 2025 in the Western District of Texas concerns statements to investors about Autopilot, FSD and Robotaxi; it is brought by people who bought Tesla stock, not by vehicle buyers.

Injury verdict. Benavides v. Tesla, Inc. (S.D. Fla.) is a wrongful-death and injury case from a 2019 crash involving Autopilot. On August 1, 2025 a jury awarded $129 million in compensatory damages, found the driver 67% and Tesla 33% at fault, and added $200 million in punitive damages. Because Tesla pays only its 33% share of the compensatory award, the judgment against Tesla is $242,570,000 (the itemized amounts are in the case row on this page). The judgment is stayed while Tesla appeals to the Eleventh Circuit (No. 26-10858), and Tesla says the facts and law do not justify the damages awarded.

Cases Tesla won or settled. Two California state-court Autopilot injury cases ended in defense verdicts after jury trials, as reported by Reuters (Hsu) and by Bloomberg Law and KTVU (Molander). In Hsu v. Tesla (Los Angeles Superior Court) the jury on April 21, 2023 awarded the plaintiff no damages, and in Molander v. Tesla (Riverside County Superior Court) a jury on October 31, 2023 sided with Tesla in a 2019 fatal-crash case. Mendoza v. Tesla (N.D. Cal.), over a 2023 crash into a parked fire truck, settled on undisclosed terms shortly before its October 2026 trial date. Verdicts in individual cases turn on their own facts and do not decide other cases.

Supercharger fees. Shenkman v. Tesla, Inc. (Alameda County) has a proposed settlement for certain California owners with free lifetime Supercharging; its claim deadline of September 25, 2026 has passed and the final approval hearing is set for December 2, 2026.

Tesla's position. Even before the Ninth Circuit ruling, the certified FSD classes were limited to California buyers who opted out of, or bought before, Tesla's arbitration agreement (the district court cited at least 3,595 and 212 people in the two damages groups). Of the Benavides verdict, Tesla's 10-Q says: "Although we believe that the facts and law do not justify the damages awarded, the Company has recorded an immaterial accrual." Workplace discrimination suits by the California Civil Rights Department and the EEOC are summarized under Who Tesla is and what it sells.

Arbitration. The Agreement to Arbitrate in Tesla's warranty booklet and the arbitration terms in its subscription agreements send individual disputes to arbitration or small claims court and bar class claims, unless the customer opted out by letter in time (30 days after signing, under the vehicle booklet; see Dealing with Tesla? Practical steps from Tesla's own pages). Arbitrations are not heard in public court, so the court cases on this page do not show how most individual disputes with Tesla end. The rows on this page give the dockets, dates and current status of each case.

PUBLIC RECORD

Court & Public Records

In re Tesla Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Litigation (LoSavio v. Tesla)

Appeal decided

U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., with a Ninth Circuit appeal of class certification, case 25-7927Filed Decided Docket 3:22-cv-05240-RFLSource ↗

Appeal decided

Putative class action by Tesla buyers over statements about full self-driving capability. Plaintiff Thomas LoSavio alleges violations of California's Unfair Competition Law, Consumers Legal Remedies Act and False Advertising Law and fraud, negligent misrepresentation and negligence. These are allegations. In an order of May 15, 2024 the court "dismissed all warranty claims but permitted Plaintiff's fraud-based, negligence-based, and related statutory claims to proceed to the extent they are premised on the Hardware Statement or the Cross-Country Statement" (Musk statements of October 2016 about self-driving hardware and a cross-country drive).

On August 18, 2025 Judge Rita F. Lin certified two damages classes under Rule 23(b)(3), a "California Arbitration Opt-Out Class" (FSD package buyers or subscribers from May 19, 2017 to July 31, 2024 who bought, leased or reside in California and "opted out of Tesla's arbitration agreement") and a "California Pre-Arbitration Class" (October 20, 2016 to May 19, 2017), plus an injunctive-relief class under Rule 23(b)(2). The order cites Tesla data of "at least 3,595" people in the earlier group and "at least 212" opt-outs in the later group.

The Ninth Circuit granted Tesla's request for permission to appeal the certification order. On October 16, 2026 a panel of Judges Gould, Bybee and Bress vacated the certification of all three classes and sent the case back to the district court for further proceedings. In an unpublished memorandum, the panel held that the district court erred in inferring that every class member was exposed to the Hardware Statement, so the predominance requirement was not met; it did not reach the damages model and did not decide whether Tesla's statements were misleading. The plaintiff's individual claims remain before Judge Lin. Tesla says it intends to defend itself vigorously.

Benavides v. Tesla, Inc. (Neima Benavides, personal representative of the Estate of Naibel Benavides Leon, and Dillon Angulo)

Judgment

U.S. District Court, S.D. Fla., appeal pending in the Eleventh Circuit, case 26-10858Filed Decided Docket 1:21-cv-21940Source ↗

Judgment entered

Product-liability and wrongful-death case over an April 2019 crash in which a driver using Autopilot hit a parked vehicle, killing Naibel Benavides Leon and injuring Dillon Angulo. The jury verdict of August 1, 2025 was for the plaintiffs, with compensatory damages of $59,000,000 (estate side) and $70,000,000 (Angulo), $129,000,000 in total, and punitive damages of "$200,000,000" (court minute entry); Tesla's 10-Q states the jury found the driver 67% at fault and Tesla 33% at fault.

The Final Judgment against Tesla (DE 538, signed August 1, 2025 and entered on the docket 08/04/2025; the court's February 19, 2026 order refers to August 3, 2025) applies the 33% share: $11,550,000 and $7,920,000 for the two parents of Naibel Benavides Leon, $23,100,000 for Mr. Angulo, and $200,000,000 in punitive damages, with post-judgment interest. The February 19, 2026 order gives the judgment total as $242,570,000.00 ($19,470,000 + $23,100,000 in compensatory damages plus $200,000,000 punitive).

Tesla argued in its post-trial motion that the verdict lacked reliable expert support and that Florida law and due process limit or bar the punitive award; the court denied the motion on February 19, 2026. Tesla filed a notice of appeal on March 16, 2026; on March 17, 2026 the court approved the parties' stipulation to waive the appeal bond and stay execution of the judgment pending appeal. Tesla's 10-Q reports its opening brief was filed July 2, 2026, and states: "Although we believe that the facts and law do not justify the damages awarded, the Company has recorded an immaterial accrual." Business and defense groups, among them the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Legal Foundation, filed amicus briefs supporting Tesla. The Eleventh Circuit has not yet decided the appeal. This is an injury case, not a finding about Tesla's advertising.

Shenkman v. Tesla, Inc.

Filed

Superior Court of California, Alameda CountyDocket RG21102833Source ↗

Filed — no final outcome recorded

Proposed class action settlement (not yet finally approved) over Supercharger "idle fees" and disabled Supercharger access for certain California owners of Tesla vehicles bought before December 16, 2016 with free lifetime Supercharging. The notice says the lawsuit alleges that Tesla "improperly charged 'idle fees'" and disabled or threatened to disable Supercharger access when customers refused to pay; "Tesla contends that its conduct complied with applicable law and its agreements with customers. Tesla denies that it did anything wrong and that the claims have any merit. The Court has not decided who is right."

Terms in the notice: eligible current owners keep Supercharger access and unpaid idle fees are waived; a claim form can bring a refund of idle fees paid, $50 if access was disabled for less than 30 days, or $350 if disabled for 30 or more consecutive days; a former owner may claim $10. The claim and objection deadline, September 25, 2026, has passed; the final approval hearing is set for December 2, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. PT. Administrator: Simpluris, [email protected], (833) 421-7344.

Waller v. Tesla, Inc., Tesla Finance LLC and Tesla Lease Trust

Filed

U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal.Filed Docket 3:26-cv-05350Source ↗

Filed — no final outcome recorded

These are allegations; the court has not ruled on them.

Case details: Waller v. Tesla, Inc., Tesla Finance LLC and Tesla Lease TrustShow less

Proposed consumer class action filed June 4, 2026 by David Waller against Tesla, Inc., Tesla Finance LLC and Tesla Lease Trust. Tesla's quarterly report describes it as alleging that Tesla made statements about the capabilities of its driver-assistance systems, and says it seeks damages and other relief on behalf of "certain consumers who purchased or leased a Tesla vehicle." The plaintiff later amended the complaint, and Tesla moved to dismiss the amended complaint on September 22, 2026.

Hsu v. Tesla, Inc.

Judgment

Los Angeles Superior Court (California)Decided Source ↗

Judgment entered

The details on this page come from Reuters' reporting of the trial and verdict.

Case details: Hsu v. Tesla, Inc.Show less

Defense verdict after a jury trial, as reported by Reuters. Plaintiff Justine Hsu sued Tesla in 2020 after her Model S swerved into a curb while Autopilot was engaged in 2019 and the airbag deployed, injuring her face; Reuters reported she sought more than $3 million. According to Reuters, the jury awarded her zero damages and found that Autopilot did not fail, that the airbag "did not fail to perform safely" and that Tesla "did not intentionally fail to disclose facts." Tesla argued in a court filing that Hsu used Autopilot on city streets despite a user-manual warning against doing so. The outcome favored Tesla; a verdict in one case does not decide other cases.

Molander v. Tesla, Inc. (Micah Lee crash)

Judgment

California Superior Court, Riverside CountyDecided Docket RIC2002469Source ↗

Judgment entered

The outcome favored Tesla; the details on this page come from news reports of the trial, and a verdict in one case does not decide other cases.

Case details: Molander v. Tesla, Inc. (Micah Lee crash)Show less

Defense verdict, as reported by Bloomberg Law and KTVU, after a jury trial in a wrongful-death and injury case over a 2019 Model 3 crash on Interstate 215 in which driver Micah Lee died. Passenger Lindsay Molander and her son sought $400 million; their lawyers claimed a manufacturing defect caused the swerve, while Tesla argued the driver had consumed alcohol and never activated Autopilot (Bloomberg Law). Bloomberg Law reported the jury sided with Tesla on October 31, 2023 and quoted Tesla's litigation director: "There was no evidence of a defect in our Autopilot technology." KTVU reported the jury determined "the autopilot feature was not the cause of the crash."

Mendoza v. Tesla, Inc.

Dismissed

U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal. (removed from Contra Costa County Superior Court)Filed Decided Docket 3:24-cv-08738-VCSource ↗

Dismissed

The settlement terms were not disclosed, and a settlement is not a finding of liability.

Case details: Mendoza v. Tesla, Inc.Show less

Injury and wrongful-death suit by Caleb Mendoza and others, removed to federal court by Tesla on December 4, 2024. The plaintiffs' state-court complaint alleges that on or about February 18, 2023 a Tesla Model S with "Autopilot" engaged collided with a parked fire truck on Interstate 680, killing Genesis Giovanni Mendoza Martinez and seriously injuring Caleb Mendoza; these are allegations. Electrek and CarComplaints.com reported in September 2026 that the parties had settled, less than two months before the trial set for October 26, 2026; the docket shows an order of dismissal entered on September 2, 2026 after the parties reported the settlement.

EDITORIAL

Who Tesla is and what it sells

Entity. SEC EDGAR lists "Tesla, Inc." (CIK 1318605) with state of incorporation Texas, business address 1 Tesla Road, Austin, Texas 78725, and the ticker TSLA on Nasdaq. Tesla's Form 10-K for 2025 says the company "was incorporated in the State of Delaware on July 1, 2003 and converted to a Texas corporation on June 13, 2024." EDGAR also lists a former name, Tesla Motors Inc, used from 2005 until January 2017. Quotes about legal proceedings on this page come from Tesla's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, filed October 22, 2026 (Note 11, "Commitments and Contingencies"). BBB lists "Tesla", "Tesla Motors" and "Tesla Energy Operations, Inc." as alternate names.

What it sells. Tesla's 10-Q says it has "two operating and reportable segments: (i) automotive and (ii) energy generation and storage." Tesla's ordering page says "Design your Model 3, Model Y or Cybertruck"; its Model Y page also lists a "Model Y L Premium", and its warranty page lists the Model Y L Premium Launch Series, Model S and Model X. Tesla also offers the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscription and, per its contact page, energy products including Powerwall, Solar Panels and Solar Roof. Orders are placed "online or visit a Tesla store", and financing options on Tesla's financing page are leasing over "24 to 36 months", financing "with a Tesla financier or a third-party financier over the terms of 36 to 84 months", or paying cash. According to NHTSA's audit resume, Tesla began commercial deployment of a small number of Cybercab vehicles, which have no steering wheel or pedals, in Austin on September 3, 2026 (see Government actions: California DMV, NHTSA and recalls).

More company historyShow less

Related entities. Tesla Finance LLC and Tesla Lease Trust are named with Tesla, Inc. as defendants in the two federal driver-assistance cases covered in Lawsuits and court records. The federal court's class definition refers to "any entity it directly or indirectly owns or controls, including but not limited to Tesla Lease Trust and Tesla Finance LLC." CFPB complaints filed under the company name "Tesla, Inc." are mostly about vehicle loans and leases (see Complaint and review record).

Locations. Tesla's contact page lists its headquarters at Gigafactory Texas (1 Tesla Road, Austin), an engineering headquarters at 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California, and a factory at 45500 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, California. Tesla's warranty booklet gives P.O. Box 15430, Fremont, CA 94539 for the New Vehicle Limited Warranty contact.

Other legal matters, briefly. These are workplace cases, not consumer cases. Tesla's 10-Q lists a California Civil Rights Department suit filed February 9, 2022 in Alameda County Superior Court alleging race discrimination, a hostile work environment and unequal pay at the Fremont factory, and an EEOC suit filed September 28, 2023 in the Northern District of California alleging race harassment and retaliation, which the 10-Q says "is in discovery with no trial date set." Tesla says it "intends to vigorously defend itself in these matters." The 10-Q also reports that a bench trial on equitable relief in the state agency's case began on September 21, 2026 and was scheduled to run until October 30, 2026; news reports place it in Oakland before Judge Peter Borkon. No decision in that trial has been reported.

VERIFIED

Company Relationships

  • Affiliated withTesla Finance LLC
  • Affiliated withTesla Lease Trust
  • Formerly known asTesla Motors, Inc.
EDITORIAL

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tesla, Inc.?

Tesla, Inc. is listed by SEC EDGAR (CIK 1318605) as a Texas-incorporated company with its business address at 1 Tesla Road, Austin, Texas 78725 and the ticker TSLA on Nasdaq. Its Form 10-K for 2025 says it "was incorporated in the State of Delaware on July 1, 2003 and converted to a Texas corporation on June 13, 2024", and its Form 10-Q says it has automotive and energy generation and storage segments. EDGAR lists "Tesla Motors Inc" as a former name used until January 2017. This page is not about unrelated businesses with "Tesla" in the name, such as Tesla Consulting or Tesla Power Tools.

How do I contact Tesla customer service?

The fastest routes are Tesla Assist in the Tesla app and the web form on Tesla's support page, which requires signing in to your Tesla Account. By phone, call 1-877-798-3752 (1 877 79 TESLA), the number in Tesla's U.S. warranty booklet; for Powerwall, solar and other energy products, select option 4, then option 2, and for Wall Connector and home charging, option 3. Warranty mail goes to Tesla, Inc., Attention: New Vehicle Limited Warranty, P.O. Box 15430, Fremont, CA 94539, and written disputes to [email protected]. BBB lists (888) 765-2489, a number that does not appear on Tesla's own contact pages.

Can I cancel a Tesla order, and is the order fee refundable?

You can cancel in the Tesla app: go to Vehicle Details, then Manage, then Request to cancel, choose a reason and confirm. Tesla's ordering page describes the order fee as "a one-time, non-refundable order fee" paid by credit card. The Motor Vehicle Order Agreement you signed sets the actual cancellation and refund terms, so read your copy before you cancel. If you believe a charge was made in error, write to your card issuer within 60 days after the statement showing it was sent.

What are Tesla's warranty, lemon-law and arbitration terms?

Tesla's current U.S. New Vehicle Limited Warranty, effective September 1, 2026, lists a Basic warranty of 4 years or 50,000 miles and a Body Rust warranty of 12 years with unlimited miles; Battery and Drive Unit coverage depends on the model. It states that "to the fullest extent allowed by the law of your jurisdiction" Tesla requires written notice of a defect and a chance to repair before a remedy is pursued, offers an optional free NCDS dispute program (1-866-629-3204; "binding on Tesla but not on you"), and reproduces an Agreement to Arbitrate with the AAA and a class-action bar. It says you "may opt out of arbitration within 30 days after signing" by letter to Tesla, Inc.; P.O. Box 15430; Fremont, CA 94539-7970, and "may instead take an individual dispute to small claims court." The warranty page adds that earlier vehicles keep the warranty "effective as of the date of purchase", and that vehicles purchased before February 1, 2019 have no Body Rust coverage. State lemon laws differ. In California, Civil Code section 1793.22(b) sets a rebuttable presumption of a reasonable number of repair attempts if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles (whichever occurs first), the same defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury was repaired two or more times, the same defect was repaired four or more times, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs for more than 30 cumulative calendar days. If a qualified third-party dispute program exists and you were told about it in writing, you must use it first before relying on that presumption; the Department of Consumer Affairs explains the law at dca.ca.gov/acp. This is not legal advice.

How much is Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and can I get a refund?

Tesla's FSD page says the subscription is "$99 USD per month", that FSD (Supervised) "is not available for outright purchase and is only available as a subscription", and that "Refunds are not available for subscriptions. You can cancel your subscription at any time and you will continue to have access to FSD (Supervised) features for the remainder of the current billing period." The subscription agreement says cancellation is "through your Tesla Account" and payments are not prorated. Tesla's page says FSD (Supervised) "requires active driver supervision and does not make the vehicle autonomous." Earlier purchases were made on different terms; the FSD transfer program "ended on March 31, 2026."

What did the California DMV decide about Tesla's Autopilot and FSD marketing?

On December 16, 2025 the DMV adopted an administrative law judge's decision that Tesla's use of the terms "autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving Capability" for its driver-assistance features is misleading and violates state law (Case Nos. 21-02188 and 21-02189). It permanently stayed the suspension of Tesla's manufacturer's license and gave Tesla 60 days to act on "autopilot". On February 17, 2026 the DMV said Tesla "successfully took the required action to stop using the term 'Autopilot'" in California marketing and so avoids 30-day license suspensions. The decision concerns advertising terms, not how the software performs. Electrek reported in February 2026 that Tesla has sued the DMV to overturn the decision.

How do I check whether my Tesla has a recall?

Enter your full 17-digit VIN in Tesla's recall lookup at service.tesla.com/en-US/vin-recall-search, or in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Tesla says to take recall questions to your preferred Tesla Service Center first and, if that does not resolve them, to use its support form and choose the Recalls topic. NHTSA's recall records list Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752, and recall remedies are free of charge. To report a safety problem, NHTSA offers an online form and its Vehicle Safety Hotline, 888-327-4236.

What is NHTSA investigating about Tesla's FSD?

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25012 on 10/07/2025 into FSD "traffic safety violations" such as running red lights and entering opposing lanes (estimated 2,882,566 vehicles), and on 03/18/2026 upgraded PE24031 to Engineering Analysis EA26002 on FSD collisions in reduced roadway visibility (estimated 3,203,754 vehicles). Recall Query RQ24009 (opened 04/25/2024) examines the Autopilot recall 23V838. An investigation is not a finding of a defect. NHTSA lists these investigations as open. Separately, on October 9, 2026 NHTSA opened a review of a petition (DP26010) alleging that Tesla robotaxis speed in school zones, to decide whether to investigate. Tesla's quarterly report says that to its knowledge "no government agency in any ongoing investigation has concluded that any wrongdoing occurred."

Is there a Tesla settlement I can still claim?

The cash-claim deadline in the Supercharger idle-fee settlement has passed. The Shenkman v. Tesla, Inc. settlement (Alameda County Superior Court, case RG21102833) covers certain California owners of Teslas bought before December 16, 2016 with free lifetime Supercharging; claims and objections were due September 25, 2026. The final approval hearing is set for December 2, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. PT, and the notice says Tesla "denies that it did anything wrong". If it is approved, eligible current owners keep Supercharger access and have unpaid idle fees waived without filing a claim. Ask the administrator about your situation at [email protected] or (833) 421-7344.

What charging options does Tesla offer?

Tesla's Charging support page lists home and office charging with a Wall Connector, which can be ordered online and installed by a Tesla Certified Installer, or a Mobile Connector that plugs into a standard three-prong, 120 volt outlet. On the road it lists Superchargers, Destination Charging locations at hotels, restaurants and other destinations, and third-party stations found through Plugshare.com. It says Tesla owns and operates its Superchargers and that they are accessible on a 24/7 basis and located on major routes. For Wall Connector and other home charging products, Tesla's contact page lists the customer line (877) 798-3752, option 3.

Is Tesla a scam?

Tesla, Inc. is listed by SEC EDGAR (CIK 1318605) as a Texas corporation with its business address at 1 Tesla Road, Austin, Texas 78725, and it files annual and quarterly reports with the SEC, most recently a Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. BBB lists Tesla as not BBB Accredited with an F rating, citing a failure to respond to complaints filed against the business. The California DMV issued a decision on December 16, 2025 that Tesla's use of the term Autopilot was misleading and violated state law, and NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation on October 7, 2025 into traffic safety violations while FSD is engaged. Tesla's responses are not recorded on this site.

Is Tesla legit?

Tesla, Inc. is an Austin, Texas company that sells electric vehicles, a Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscription and energy products such as Powerwall and solar, and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market as TSLA. The California DMV's February 17, 2026 release refers to Tesla's dealer and manufacturer licenses in California. Tesla's contact page lists its headquarters at Gigafactory Texas, 1 Tesla Road, Austin, TX 78725, and the U.S. warranty booklet gives the customer line (877) 798-3752 and a warranty mail address at P.O. Box 15430, Fremont, CA 94539.

Sources (45)

Tesla (own site)

Public records

Review sites

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