Another Novel Idea from Tesla

[RickFLM4]

NDAs to prevent owners from disclosing repairs of potential defects in exchange for covering the cost of the repair:

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/09/auto...aws/index.html
http://dailykanban.com/2016/06/tesla...crime-coverup/

[pikkagtr]

Lol such a douche bag move
That's like paying off your sleazy neighbors for not telling your wife you boinked the babysitter

[Viffermike]

It's also illegal for purchased cars. If you own the property, the manufacturer of said property can't compel you to not discuss that property with outside agencies -- the NTHSA or otherwise.

The FTC also has very clear guidelines regarding this for new and dealer-sold used cars that relate to the Lemon Law and As-Is/Warranty disclosure -- particularly as it relates to used sales. (And before Tesla fanboys speak up about Tesla not having dealers -- by the letter of these laws, they do.)

To get around that particular rule, Tesla would have to forbid its cars from being sold used by any sort of dealership -- which it can't do because the property is no longer owned or controlled by Tesla because it's been purchased. It would theoretically become a cycle that would ultimately kill the market for used Teslas, both in terms of resale and repair.

[Nitrousbird]

So basically they are saying if they Goodwill a repair (IE - repair for free for something out of warranty) they are asking you to not disclose this repair with the public.

If it was a warranty repair, that's one thing. A Goodwill free repair is a totally different subject. You are not compelled to do anything; if you want a free repair not owed to you, you have to pony up and sign the document. Otherwise, pay for the repair and blab away.

[TopQuark]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

So basically they are saying if they Goodwill a repair (IE - repair for free for something out of warranty) they are asking you to not disclose this repair with the public.

If it was a warranty repair, that's one thing. A Goodwill free repair is a totally different subject. You are not compelled to do anything; if you want a free repair not owed to you, you have to pony up and sign the document. Otherwise, pay for the repair and blab away.

So it's more like "paying off your sleazy neighbors for not telling your former wife you boinked the babysitter".

Seems fair to me.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

So basically they are saying if they Goodwill a repair (IE - repair for free for something out of warranty) they are asking you to not disclose this repair with the public.

If it was a warranty repair, that's one thing. A Goodwill free repair is a totally different subject. You are not compelled to do anything; if you want a free repair not owed to you, you have to pony up and sign the document. Otherwise, pay for the repair and blab away.

Goodwill repairs often occur when something that shouldn't break fails outside the warranty period, often right after the end of the warranty. The dealer or manufacturer often recognizes there was something wrong before the warranty ended but the actual failure happened after the fact. I've had goodwill repairs outside warranty from Lexus and they never asked for an NDA. Aside from the baseline absurdity of asking for one to prevent customers from sharing information, you can't tell customers an NDA is all encompassing, including withholding information from the NHSTA. Other than covering up a defect there is no reason to ask for an NDA when you offer a goodwill repair. Most companies that do something out of goodwill want customers to tell others about what a great company they are.

[eluded]

Telsa, at it again. I like the fact they pay their electricians about $5 an hour at the factory.

[orangeglim]

To put both sides of the story out there:
https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/grain-of-salt

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by orangeglim

To put both sides of the story out there:
https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/grain-of-salt

They are masterful with PR, I'll give them that. Always on the offensive...

However, their explanation of why they require an agreement to be signed with NDA terms makes little sense, if any at all. If there are damages aside from the repair costs (e.g. physical injuries) caused by the part or damage being repaired, no way the customer agrees to those terms. If there are no other damages, there is no basis for further claim if the they cover the repair costs - so no need for the agreement. They also don't need to mention any specific party such as the NHSTA since it as a blanket NDA so that point from Tesla is moot.

Given their closely manicured image and PR emphasis, I believe these agreements are designed to prevent customers from talking about quality issues they have with Tesla. As Tesla stated in that blog post they own all the service centers so they know everything that has been repaired. Well, the flip side of that is they also control all information about repairs, particularly if customers need to sign agreements that keep them quiet. There is no independent dealer network that can report to NHTSA or contribute to industry statistics. We only know what Tesla wants us to know.

[8k4]

This is why oligopolistic industries are bad, they corner the market, think they are king and can do whatever they want. Competition is a good thing

[protecon]

This concept of "failing to proceed" has been around as long as automobiles.

Most famously around the Rolls Royce brand > http://www.snopes.com/autos/dream/rolls.asp

[pikkagtr]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...-crash-report/

At least they can't hide fatalities

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...-crash-report/

At least they can't hide fatalities

Unfortunately, I expected something tragic would happen when they released this type of feature and started using customers on public roads to complete beta testing of it. Tesla's statement predictably highlights things like the sun and highly unusual circumstances involving angles and height of trailer...

[FC4]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...-crash-report/

At least they can't hide fatalities

Did you catch your GF banging a guy who drives a Tesla? Perhaps they were in the Tesla? You get so mad when you hear the name based on your odd penchant to attack at any opportunity.

Your snide mention of this story would have some value if Autopilot malfunctioned or the accident could have been prevented by a human. Neither were the case. This was just a shitty situation, but the headline provides some good click bait. I wonder if they asked the decapitated driver's family to sign an NDA?

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by FC4

Did you catch your GF banging a guy who drives a Tesla? Perhaps they were in the Tesla? You get so mad when you hear the name based on your odd penchant to attack at any opportunity.

Your snide mention of this story would have some value if Autopilot malfunctioned or the accident could have been prevented by a human. Neither were the case. This was just a shitty situation, but the headline provides some good click bait. I wonder if they asked the decapitated driver's family to sign an NDA?

The autopilot system didn't see a white tractor trailer so it failed to apply the brakes and you have already concluded there is no chance anything went wrong with autopilot and an attentive driver could never have prevented an accident?

[pikkagtr]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

The autopilot system didn't see a white tractor trailer so it failed to apply the brakes and you have already concluded there is no chance anything went wrong with autopilot and an attentive driver could never have prevented an accident?

It's alright, the koolaide is strong with that guy.
He apparently thinks I somehow had a gf and she was banged in a Tesla
Apparently posting info about an incident makes me a hater

I'll make sure not to post anything about BMW crashes or Honda failed airbags , in case my gf also was banged on those as well...

[FC4]

LOL yeah.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Apparently guy might have died while watching a Harry Potter movie on a portable dvd player.

[Efthreeoh]

When an app fails on your smartphone, you say shit!, and download a new app. When an app fails in a Tesla... you pretty much die.

Cars are not cell phones, no matter how big the infotainment screen is.