3 ms·

Telsa has precisely this problem; they want a lot of control over the repair process. It can be tough to find an independent mechanic to work on them. https://

Telsa has precisely this problem; they want a lot of control over the repair process. It can be tough to find an independent mechanic to work on them. https://service.tesla.com/docs/ModelS/ServiceManual/en-us/GUID-A8601AB7-DC81-41BA-B471-67ECF8C13AE6.html https://service.tesla.com/docs/ModelS/ServiceManual/en-us/GU... > Tesla does not allow the use of any used, recycled, alternative, aftermarket, or third-party replacement parts. Use only new parts ordered directly from Tesla.

kube-system 1y ago
That's quite an interesting statement from Tesla. How much weight does it actually hold beyond just being "their opinion" considering that the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act forbids the voiding of warranties for those reasons?
- ceejayoz 1y ago
  IIRC, they won't sell parts to a non-certified mechanic, and there's a lack of third-parties making the more complex parts. You're fine if you need a tire swap. You're not gonna have much fun if you have to replace the screen. A Federal-level right to repair can't come soon enough.
  - kube-system 1y ago
    But what can they legally do if you decide to use parts on the secondary market anyway? (... are they punishing consumers for this?)
    - ceejayoz 1y ago
      Nothing. But they don't need to. They just tackle it at the supply side. If you're a mechanic who wants Tesla parts, you need to go through Tesla. If you go through Telsa, you can't use third-party parts or resell the first-party ones. As a result, the market for third-party parts stays largely too small to exist.
  - AndroidKitKat 1y ago
    You can buy (almost?) any part directly from Tesla as a plain Joe [1], but you may need a VIN for certain parts (mainly the actual computers?). In the event you want to DIY a repair, Tesla publishes all their service manuals they use at their service centers (e.g. [2]) and you can can even use the exact same software their technicians use for the deeper repairs, albeit at a price that is expensive if you're a plain Joe, but for a repair shop it doesn't seem to be terribly expensive. On the topic of 3rd party parts, there isn't quite as robust a marketplace. [1] - https://epc.tesla.com/en-US/landingpage https://epc.tesla.com/en-US/landingpage [2] - https://service.tesla.com/docs/ModelY/ServiceManual/2025/en-us/GUID-D68EF636-7C5D-4E55-A7BF-54F92DA7B188.html https://service.tesla.com/docs/ModelY/ServiceManual/2025/en-... [3] - https://service.tesla.com/en-US/diagnostic-software https://service.tesla.com/en-US/diagnostic-software
    - kube-system 1y ago
      > a price that is expensive if you're a plain Joe, but for a repair shop it doesn't seem to be terribly expensive. That's actually a lot less than I was expecting. Toyota's is $1500/year.
freedomben 1y ago
I think Tesla's practices are gross here, but wouldn't a better solution to be Right-To-Repair legislation instead of protecting dealerships?
- ceejayoz 1y ago
  Absolutely. Guess who donates a whole bunch to their local and state-level candidates to prevent precisely that?

kube-system 1y ago

That's quite an interesting statement from Tesla. How much weight does it actually hold beyond just being "their opinion" considering that the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act forbids the voiding of warranties for those reasons?

ceejayoz 1y ago
IIRC, they won't sell parts to a non-certified mechanic, and there's a lack of third-parties making the more complex parts. You're fine if you need a tire swap. You're not gonna have much fun if you have to replace the screen. A Federal-level right to repair can't come soon enough.
- kube-system 1y ago
  But what can they legally do if you decide to use parts on the secondary market anyway? (... are they punishing consumers for this?)
  - ceejayoz 1y ago
    Nothing. But they don't need to. They just tackle it at the supply side. If you're a mechanic who wants Tesla parts, you need to go through Tesla. If you go through Telsa, you can't use third-party parts or resell the first-party ones. As a result, the market for third-party parts stays largely too small to exist.
- AndroidKitKat 1y ago
  You can buy (almost?) any part directly from Tesla as a plain Joe [1], but you may need a VIN for certain parts (mainly the actual computers?). In the event you want to DIY a repair, Tesla publishes all their service manuals they use at their service centers (e.g. [2]) and you can can even use the exact same software their technicians use for the deeper repairs, albeit at a price that is expensive if you're a plain Joe, but for a repair shop it doesn't seem to be terribly expensive. On the topic of 3rd party parts, there isn't quite as robust a marketplace. [1] - https://epc.tesla.com/en-US/landingpage https://epc.tesla.com/en-US/landingpage [2] - https://service.tesla.com/docs/ModelY/ServiceManual/2025/en-us/GUID-D68EF636-7C5D-4E55-A7BF-54F92DA7B188.html https://service.tesla.com/docs/ModelY/ServiceManual/2025/en-... [3] - https://service.tesla.com/en-US/diagnostic-software https://service.tesla.com/en-US/diagnostic-software
  - kube-system 1y ago
    > a price that is expensive if you're a plain Joe, but for a repair shop it doesn't seem to be terribly expensive. That's actually a lot less than I was expecting. Toyota's is $1500/year.

freedomben 1y ago

I think Tesla's practices are gross here, but wouldn't a better solution to be Right-To-Repair legislation instead of protecting dealerships?

ceejayoz 1y ago
Absolutely. Guess who donates a whole bunch to their local and state-level candidates to prevent precisely that?