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Tesla Owners Are Lying About These 5 Things (From a Former Owner)

November 10, 2025 6:22 am

Look, I get it. I was one of you. I owned a Tesla Model 3 for three years. I defended it online. I told people it was the best car I’d ever owned. I genuinely believed the hype.

But here’s the thing – Tesla owners lie. Not because we’re bad people. We lie because we spent $50,000+ on a car and admitting the problems feels like admitting we made a mistake. It’s psychology. We justify our expensive decisions.

I sold my Tesla six months ago. Now that I’m out of the ecosystem, I can finally tell you the truth. The stuff Tesla owners won’t admit. The things we whisper in private forums but never say to non-Tesla friends.

So here it is – straight talk from someone who’s been there.

Lie #1: “Autopilot Makes Road Trips Relaxing”

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This is the biggest lie in the Tesla community. Every Tesla owner says it. I said it too.

What we tell you: “Oh man, road trips are so easy now! I just turn on Autopilot and relax. It’s like having a chauffeur!”

The actual truth: You’re more stressed on road trips with Autopilot, not less.

Let me explain why.

The constant vigilance is exhausting. Autopilot works… most of the time. But that “most of the time” is the problem. You never know when it’s going to do something stupid.

I’ve had Autopilot try to drive into concrete barriers at highway splits. I’ve had it suddenly veer toward an exit I wasn’t taking. I’ve watched it get confused by shadows and slam on the brakes for no reason.

So you’re sitting there, hands hovering near the wheel, eyes locked on the road, ready to grab control at any second. That’s not relaxing. That’s the opposite of relaxing.

Real drivers get MORE tired, not less. Know what’s actually relaxing on a road trip? Regular cruise control where the car stays in its lane and you actively drive. Your brain knows what to expect. With Autopilot, your brain is in this weird half-engaged state that’s mentally draining.

I did a 6-hour drive with Autopilot. I arrived more exhausted than when I drove my old Honda with regular cruise control. But I told everyone “oh yeah, Autopilot made it so easy!”

That was a lie.

The nag screen is infuriating. Every 30-60 seconds, the car beeps at you to apply pressure to the steering wheel. Even if you’re paying full attention. Even if your hands are on the wheel.

So you develop this weird habit of yanking the wheel slightly every minute just to shut the car up. On a 4-hour drive, you’re doing this 240+ times. How is that relaxing?

And Full Self Driving? Don’t even get me started. I paid $12,000 for FSD in 2021. Know what it does? The exact same thing as basic Autopilot on highways. In cities, it’s a disaster – phantom braking, weird lane choices, dangerous maneuvers.

Elon promised robotaxis “by the end of 2021.” Then 2022. Then 2023. It’s 2025 and my Honda’s regular cruise control is more reliable than FSD.

But when people asked me if FSD was worth it? “Oh totally, it’s amazing!”

Lie.

Lie #2: “The Build Quality Is Fine”

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Oh man, this is the lie that gets Tesla owners the most defensive.

What we tell you: “Build quality? I don’t know what people are talking about. Mine is perfect. No issues at all.”

The actual truth: The build quality is inconsistent at best, terrible at worst. We just pretend not to notice because admitting it hurts.

Let me list what was wrong with MY Tesla:

Driver’s door had a 2mm panel gap you could see from across the parking lot
Passenger window made a weird grinding noise when rolling down
Trunk wouldn’t close flush – always sat about 3mm higher on the left side
Interior plastic trim piece near the door handle came loose after 8 months
Paint chips from NOTHING – I had 6 chips after 10,000 miles
Rear bumper wasn’t aligned properly (noticed it after 3 months)
Dashboard developed a creak that no service visit could fix

And you know what? That’s AVERAGE for Tesla quality. I’m not describing some lemon. That’s just normal Tesla ownership.

I visited the service center 7 times in 3 years. Seven! My previous car (a boring Toyota Camry) needed service twice in 8 years – both times for routine maintenance.

Here’s what Tesla service said:

Panel gap? “Within spec.”
Window noise? “Within spec.”
Trunk alignment? “Within spec.”
Dashboard creak? “Can’t reproduce the issue.”

Translation: “Yeah it’s messed up, but we don’t want to fix it.”

The forums are full of coping. Go to any Tesla forum and search for build quality issues. You’ll find thousands of threads. But the comments? “Oh that’s normal for EVs.” “Traditional cars have worse problems.” “You’re being too picky.”

No. A $55,000 car shouldn’t have visible panel gaps. Period.

But when my neighbor asked about my Tesla’s quality? “Oh it’s great! No problems at all.”

Lie.

The worst part? New owners see the problems, post about them, and the Tesla community gaslights them. “You’re looking too closely.” “All cars have issues.” “Stop being negative.”

I did the same thing. Someone would post a picture of their crooked bumper and I’d comment “looks fine to me, you’re being too critical.”

Meanwhile, my bumper was also crooked.

Lie #3: “Charging Is More Convenient Than Gas”

Close-up of an electric car being charged, highlighting eco-friendly transportation.

This is the lie that sounds the most believable because it’s partially true. But only partially.

What we tell you: “Charging at home is SO convenient! I wake up every morning with a full ‘tank.’ Way better than going to gas stations!”

The actual truth: Home charging IS convenient. But only if that’s ALL you do. The second you need to charge away from home, it’s a nightmare compared to gas.

Let’s talk about road trips. Everyone focuses on the Supercharger network (which is genuinely good). But here’s what we don’t mention:

Charging stops take 25-45 minutes. Not the “15-20 minutes” we claim. That’s only if you catch a perfect 10-80% charge at a high-speed charger that’s working properly and not cold.

Real world? You pull in at 8% because you pushed it. You need to get to 80% for the next leg. That’s 35-40 minutes minimum. Then you need to pee, maybe grab food. Now it’s 50 minutes.

Do that 2-3 times on a long trip and you’ve added 2+ hours to your journey.

Gas fill-up? 5 minutes. Every time. Consistently.

Winter charging is slower. Nobody mentions this. When it’s cold, charging slows down significantly. That “25 minute” charge becomes 45 minutes. Add that up over a winter road trip.

Chargers are in random places. Yeah, Superchargers exist. But they’re not always conveniently located. I’ve had to exit the highway, drive 3 miles to a Supercharger in a Walmart parking lot, charge, then backtrack to the highway.

Gas stations? Every exit. Easy.

The anxiety is real. Even with 250 miles of range, you’re always thinking about it. “Can I make it to the next Supercharger?” “Should I charge now or risk it?” “What if the chargers are all full?”

With gas, you don’t think about it until you’re under 50 miles of range. Then you fill up in 5 minutes and forget about it for another 400 miles.

Public charging (non-Tesla) is a disaster. Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint – they’re all terrible. Broken chargers, slow speeds, confusing payment systems, sketchy locations.

I spent 30 minutes once trying to get an Electrify America charger to work. Finally gave up and drove to a Supercharger 20 miles away.

But we tell everyone “charging is so convenient!”

At home? Yes. Anywhere else? Not even close.

Lie.

Lie #4: “I’m Saving So Much Money”

Oh boy. This is the lie we tell ourselves the most.

What we tell you: “I’m saving so much on gas! And no oil changes! And maintenance is so cheap! This car pays for itself!”

The actual truth: Most Tesla owners are not saving money. We just don’t do the real math.

Let me show you MY numbers from 3 years of ownership:

What I saved:

Gasoline: ~$4,200 (vs. my old car)
Oil changes: ~$300
Transmission service: ~$200
Spark plugs, filters, etc: ~$400
Total saved: $5,100

What I didn’t expect to spend:

Tires (2 sets in 3 years): $3,600
Insurance increase: $2,400
Home charger installation: $1,800
12V battery replacement: $185
Door handle repair: $650
Windshield replacement (rock chip): $1,200
Public charging on road trips: $850
Depreciation hit when prices dropped: ~$8,000
Total unexpected costs: $18,685

Net result: I LOST $13,585 compared to keeping my old car.

But when people asked? “Oh yeah, I’m saving tons of money!”

Lie.

Let’s talk about those costs:

Tires are expensive and don’t last. The instant torque and heavy weight destroy tires. My first set lasted 22,000 miles. My second set lasted 26,000 miles.

My old Camry? 45,000 miles per set.

Tesla tires cost more too – $1,800 per set installed.

Insurance is higher. I was paying $118/month for my Camry. Tesla? $168/month. That’s $600/year more. Nobody tells you this before you buy.

The depreciation is brutal. Tesla dropped the Model 3 price by $8,000 while I owned mine. My resale value dropped with it. I took a $16,000 hit selling after 3 years. My Camry depreciated $7,000 over the same period.

Things break that you don’t expect. 12V battery died at 28,000 miles. Door handle stopped working. Windshield is giant and expensive to replace.

Supercharging isn’t free anymore. Early adopters got free charging. Now? It’s $0.40-0.50 per kWh in many places. That’s not far off from gas prices.

On a road trip, I spent $85 charging. In my Camry, that same trip was $95 in gas. Minimal savings.

But the Tesla community pushes the “I’m saving money” narrative HARD. Because if we admit we’re not saving money, then what’s the point of all the compromises?

So we lie. To others. And to ourselves.

Lie #5: “I Don’t Miss [Feature] From Regular Cars”

This is the subtle lie. The one we tell with a straight face while secretly missing the thing we claim not to miss.

What we tell you: “I don’t miss having a spare tire.” “I don’t miss having physical buttons.” “I don’t miss the engine sound.” “I don’t need CarPlay, Tesla’s system is better.”

The actual truth: We miss ALL of that stuff. We just won’t admit it.

I missed having a spare tire. Got a flat on a road trip. Know what Tesla includes? A tire repair kit that works for small punctures only. My sidewall was damaged. Unrepairable.

Called Tesla roadside. “We’ll send a tow truck. 2-3 hour wait.”

Spent 4 hours on the side of the highway. If I’d had a spare, I’d have changed it in 20 minutes and moved on.

But did I tell people this story? Nope. I said “eh, flats are rare anyway, who needs a spare?”

Lie.

I missed physical buttons. Everything in a Tesla is on the touchscreen. Adjusting the mirrors? Touchscreen. Turning on the defroster? Touchscreen. Opening the glovebox? Touchscreen.

Sounds futuristic until you’re driving and need to adjust something. Now you’re taking your eyes off the road, navigating menus, tapping the screen multiple times.

My wife’s Honda has a button for the defroster. One press. Done. Eyes never leave the road.

But I told everyone “the minimalist interior is so clean and modern!”

Translation: “I hate navigating menus while driving but won’t admit it.”

I missed Apple CarPlay. Tesla’s built-in system is good. But it’s not as good as having my actual phone interface on the big screen.

My navigation apps, my music apps, my messaging apps – they all work better on my phone. But Tesla doesn’t support CarPlay or Android Auto because Elon wants you locked into his ecosystem.

I adapted. But I missed CarPlay the entire time.

Of course, when asked, I said “Tesla’s system is better anyway.”

Lie.

I missed engine noise. Yes, EVs are quiet. That’s nice… for about 2 weeks. Then the silence becomes kind of eerie.

You’re driving at 70 mph and the only sound is wind and tires. No feedback that you’re actually moving. It’s weirdly disconnected.

I never admitted this. Because it sounds dumb. “I miss my car making noise?” Yeah, actually.

Some EVs pipe in fake engine sounds. Tesla doesn’t. I ended up turning up the stereo just to have some audio feedback while driving.

I missed the simplicity of gas stations. One place. Quick fill-up. Universal payment. Easy.

With EVs, you’re juggling different charging networks, different apps, different payment systems. It’s fragmented and annoying.

But Tesla owners act like this is all fine. “Oh it’s so easy once you get used to it!”

No. It’s not easier. We just got used to the inconvenience and stopped complaining about it out loud.

Why Do We Lie?

Here’s the thing – I’m not trying to trash Tesla. The Model 3 was a good car in many ways. The acceleration is addictive. The tech is impressive. The Supercharger network is the best in the industry.

But it’s not perfect. And the Tesla community has this weird thing where we can’t admit the flaws.

Why do we lie?

Cognitive dissonance. We spent a lot of money. Admitting problems feels like admitting we made a bad decision. So our brains rationalize. “These aren’t problems, they’re just… different.”

The cult mentality. Tesla ownership comes with an identity. You’re not just a car owner, you’re part of a movement. Admitting flaws feels like betraying the tribe.

Elon worship. Some Tesla owners (not all) treat criticism of the car as criticism of Elon. They get defensive. So even when we see problems, we stay quiet to avoid the backlash.

The sunk cost fallacy. I paid $12,000 for Full Self Driving that barely works. Admitting I wasted that money is painful. Easier to just say “it’s still in beta, it’ll get better.”

Tribalism. It’s Tesla vs. everyone else. Admitting Tesla has flaws gives “ammunition to the haters.” So we circle the wagons and pretend everything is perfect.

I did all of this. For three years.

The Truth: It’s Okay to Love Your Tesla AND Admit the Flaws

I’m out of the Tesla ecosystem now. I drive something else (not saying what to avoid brand war in the comments).

Looking back, I realize how much mental energy I spent defending Tesla. Justifying problems. Making excuses.

You know what’s liberating? Just being honest.

The truth about Tesla:

What’s genuinely great:

Acceleration is stupid fun
Supercharger network is excellent
Software updates add features over time
The tech is legitimately impressive
Driving dynamics are solid
One-pedal driving is nice once you adapt

What’s genuinely problematic:

Build quality is inconsistent
Service is a nightmare
Autopilot is overhyped and stressful
The cost savings are exaggerated
Touchscreen-only controls are less safe
Depreciation is worse than traditional brands
You’re beta testing features constantly

Both things can be true at once.

To Current Tesla Owners Reading This

I know you’re mad right now. I would’ve been mad reading this article three years ago.

You’re thinking “this guy doesn’t get it” or “he just got a lemon” or “he’s a hater.”

I’m not. I’m just someone who finally stepped back and looked at the experience honestly.

You don’t have to defend every flaw. It’s okay to love your Tesla and admit it has problems. That’s called being honest.

You’re not betraying anyone by being critical. Elon doesn’t know you exist. Tesla doesn’t care about your loyalty. You can love the car and criticize the company.

The lies hurt new buyers. When we pretend everything is perfect, people buy Teslas with unrealistic expectations. Then they’re disappointed. We’re doing them a disservice.

To People Considering a Tesla

Should you buy one? Maybe. Depends on your priorities.

Buy a Tesla if:

You can charge at home 90% of the time
You mostly drive short/medium distances
You value tech and performance over refinement
You’re okay being an early adopter with occasional issues
You have realistic expectations about Autopilot
You don’t mind the minimalist interior
You’re prepared for higher insurance and tire costs

Don’t buy a Tesla if:

You take frequent long road trips
You can’t charge at home
You expect luxury-car build quality at this price
You believe the “Full Self Driving” hype
You need Apple CarPlay
You want a completely hassle-free ownership experience
You’re buying primarily to “save money”

The Bottom Line

Tesla makes good electric cars. They’re not perfect. They’re not the second coming. They’re cars. Good ones, but just cars.

The problem is the culture around Tesla. The inability to have honest conversations about real flaws. The defensive posturing. The lies we tell to justify our purchases.

I was part of that culture. I contributed to it. I lied about all five of these things.

Now I’m out, and I can finally tell you the truth.

Take it or leave it. But at least now you know what you’re getting into.

Former Tesla Model 3 owner (2021-2024)
Current car: Something that doesn’t make me defend its flaws
No regrets about the experience, but no desire to go back