A Canadian Tesla owner, Mario Zelaya, shared his frustration on TikTok after being locked out of his $140,000 Tesla due to a dead battery. In the video, Zelaya criticized his Tesla as a ‘piece of trash’ when the car automatically locked itself with no power for the doors.

Unlike traditional cars with manual doors, Tesla’s situation posed a unique challenge, as the lack of power prevented entry. Zelaya was shocked to discover that a new battery would cost him $26,000, leading him to consider selling the car due to the high replacement cost.

Compounding the issue, Zelaya found himself in a catch-22 when he realized the proof of ownership papers were inside the locked car. Despite the setback, he managed to obtain a duplicate copy for $30.

Zelaya had purchased the Tesla in 2013, and models from that year and 2014 had a known issue where fluid leaks onto the battery, causing significant problems. He reported the issue to Transport Canada, initiating an investigation into the car’s problems.

Expressing frustration with Tesla’s response, Zelaya claimed the company was avoiding addressing the battery-related concerns. He highlighted the lack of battery checks in Tesla’s services, exacerbating pre-existing problems in the affected models.

Declaring his decision to never buy another Tesla, Zelaya warned others to stay away from the brand, criticizing Tesla for being a 10-year-old company with poor manufacturing practices.

Ultimately, Zelaya sold the Tesla, revealing in a subsequent TikTok video that the new owner plans to dismantle the vehicle to charge it. Despite Zelaya’s negative experience, he is not alone in expressing grievances against Tesla, with other owners raising concerns about their cars. In August, Norwegian Tesla owners even resorted to a hunger strike to draw attention to issues they faced with their vehicles, signaling widespread discontent with the brand.