A Knoxville woman recently shared her harrowing experience with purchasing a Tesla, only to have to return it weeks later due to financing issues and hidden problems with the vehicle. The woman, known as @1xchan_ on TikTok, posted a video detailing how she had been driving her new Tesla for nearly a month when the dealership informed her that her loan had not been approved. This shocking revelation led to her having to return the car, sparking feelings of being scammed and disbelief.
The situation the woman described is commonly known as spot delivery, a tactic used by dealerships to allow customers to drive off with a car before financing is fully approved. While spot deliveries are generally legal, the woman questioned how she was able to take possession of the car without full approval of her loan. Despite being able to receive her money back without issue, she expressed concerns about the ethics and legality of the situation.
In a follow-up video, the woman revealed that the car salesman had informed her of additional problems with the Tesla after she returned it. She discovered that the vehicle had been previously wrecked, with the damage not reported on the Carfax report. Furthermore, the car would require a battery replacement, adding to the list of hidden issues she had encountered.
Under Tennessee law, dealerships are required to disclose if a vehicle has a salvage or rebuilt title, as well as any known prior damage before a sale. Failure to disclose this information can be considered deceptive trade practice. It is unclear from the videos whether the woman was made aware of the previous damage and the extent of it at the time of purchase.
Overall, the woman’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for car buyers to carefully inspect all aspects of a vehicle before making a purchase. Transparency and honesty from dealerships are essential to ensure that customers are fully informed about the condition of the vehicles they are buying.