A US lawsuit spectacularly claims that Tesla odometers read far too high.
Tesla allegedly uses predictive algorithms and energy consumption to estimate mileage.
Mileage shown by Tesla odometers can reportedly be off by as much as 117%.
Tesla has been sued in California by an owner who claims that the odometers used in the carmaker’s EVs can exaggerate distances covered. According to the plaintiff, Tesla does this intentionally so it can allegedly avoid warranty repairs and exacerbate the depreciation of its vehicles.
The lawsuit alleges that Tesla does not use mechanical or electronic systems to measure distance. Instead, Tesla reportedly relies on “predictive algorithms, energy consumption metrics, and driver behavior multipliers that manipulate and misrepresent the actual mileage traveled by Tesla vehicles.”
By “tying warranty limits and lease mileage caps to inflated odometer readings,” Tesla can allegedly increase repair revenue and reduce its warranty obligations. It can also cause consumers to purchase extended warranties prematurely.
Nyree Hinton filed the lawsuit. They claim to have purchased a 2020 Tesla Model Y in December 2022 when it had traveled 36,772 miles. Hinton says that from December 14, 2022, to February 6, 2023, they averaged 55.54 miles per day, but between March 26, 2023, and June 28, 2023, this spiked to 72.53 miles per day, just as the Model Y was approaching its warranty expiration. Hinton estimates that the average mileage should have been roughly 20 miles fewer per day because of their consistent routine during this time.
Additionally, previous vehicles owned by the plaintiff averaged 6,086 miles over six months, but the Model Y reported 13,228 miles over the same period. The lawsuit claims the mileage shown by Tesla’s odometer can be inflated from 15% to as much as 117%.
The plaintiff notes that while Tesla can measure its vehicles using GPS with incredible precision, a patent from the EV maker apparently says the odometer readings are not direct measurements of distance traveled and use a “miles-to-electrical energy conversion factor” that varies dynamically based on road and traffic conditions.
These Complaints Aren’t The First
Many Tesla owners have queried the mileage readings of their EVs in recent years, suggesting that they frequently overestimate distances covered. Threads on Reddit and Tesla forums indicate that some owners have been dealing with these issues for over two years.