A California Cybertruck owner reports that Tesla has approved a buyback for his vehicle following nine repair attempts over the past year. However, the company is deducting $1,300 from the payout to cover the removal of aftermarket wrap and window tint. Experiences among other owners vary on such requirements.
Dylan Wooten, a Cybertruck owner in California, shared his frustration in the Cybertruck Owners Only Facebook group after enduring repeated service issues with his vehicle. Over the past year, the truck required nine visits to Tesla service centers, including five specifically for problems with the overhead console. After three failed attempts to resolve that issue, it qualified as a lemon under relevant laws.
Wooten requested a buyback from the service center, which submitted the case for review. The approval came just three days later, a process he described as straightforward. Yet, the relief was short-lived: the service center informed him that he must remove the wrap and window tint himself, or Tesla would subtract $1,300 from the buyback amount to handle it.
"My truck has been in the shop 9 times over the past year. 5 of those visits were to fix the overhead console, which, after 3 attempts to fix the same issue, is considered a lemon," Wooten wrote. He asked other owners about their experiences: "For those who did a buyback, did they require you to remove the tint and/or wrap? My service center said I need to remove both, or they will deduct $1,300 from the buyback amount."
Responses from the group highlighted inconsistencies in Tesla's policies. Boris Shpizel noted that for his buyback, he paid $500 to remove the protective paint film wrap but kept the windshield tint intact, as Tesla needed to inspect for damage. Another owner reported no requirement to remove modifications, though they lamented losing nearly $1,000 spent on tint. Chuck Jones shared that Tesla repurchased his Model Y Performance without demanding tint removal.
Andrew J. Marqueling described a contentious lease return where Tesla quoted $500 to remove front window tint post-handover, leading to disputes over access and fees. Other owners expressed curiosity about buybacks amid their own issues, such as alignment problems at low mileage or persistent tonneau cover leaks. These accounts underscore varied owner interactions with Tesla's repurchase and modification policies.