A MAN who spent £2,800 renting a Tesla Model Y was locked out of it for five days.
Lee Stuart, 49, couldn’t get access to the high-tech vehicle after the key card used to unlock it wouldn’t register.
GettyLEE Stuart, 49, couldn’t get access to the high-tech vehicle after the key card used to unlock it wouldn’t register[/caption]
The dad told of his frustration when he couldn’t drive the electric motor and had to make 40 phone calls to try and solve the issue.
However, he was told by Tesla and the car hire company that they couldn’t doing anything to help because it was rented, reports The Times.
After having no luck, he then arranged a breakdown recovery lorry to take the vehicle back to Heathrow Airport where he rented it from.
But it is advised not to tow the swanky car because there is no neutral gear and any movements in drive or reverse could damage the battery.
Instead it had to be loaded onto a flat-bed truck as the Tesla manual says no tyres should “spin at any time during transport” off the ground.
Hitching a ride with the recovery truck, Lee was given a replacement Tesla Y.
And while this seemed like the end of his car issues, his daughter’s car seat was still locked inside the original motor.
After not being able to drive for nearly one week, rental company Sixt were able to fix the faulty fob and Lee retrieved his belongings.
Tim Vetters, managing director of Sixt UK, said that Stuart had received a full refund and an apology.
He said: “There is a tried and tested procedure in place to unlock a vehicle remotely, which can usually be done in minutes.
“In this instance, as there was a malfunction with the key, the vehicle could not be driven, so the procedure was to recover the vehicle and send a replacement, which was arranged.”
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in the UK for March 2023.
It comes as more than two-thirds of local authorities have failed to install residential charging infrastructure.