A Minnesota Cybertruck owner named Richard Edel experienced frustration when his new vehicle was damaged while parked at a Tesla service center. A transport driver collided with the truck during a routine service visit, causing significant repairs. Tesla is handling the insurance claim, but the owner worries about the long-term impact on the vehicle's value.
Richard Edel, a Cybertruck owner from Minnesota, shared his disappointing encounter with Tesla's Golden Valley Service Center. On the morning of his visit, he dropped off his brand-new 2025 Cybertruck for a standard service checkup. While the vehicle sat in the lot amid snowy conditions, a transport driver struck the rear, crumpling the tailgate, shattering the light bar, and damaging the bumper. The impact also pushed the Cybertruck into an adjacent Model Y.
Edel posted photos and details on the Cybertruck Owners Only Facebook group, expressing his dismay. "What a frustrating experience with Tesla! I dropped off my brand-new 2025 Cybertruck at the Golden Valley Service Center for routine service, and while it was parked in their lot, a transport driver crashed into the back of it," he wrote. The truck, with fewer than 7,200 miles, was then transported 15 miles to Eden Prairie for repairs, where the estimate exceeded $7,000 for parts and labor.
Tesla provided Edel with a loaner vehicle and is managing the insurance claim since the incident occurred under their supervision. However, Edel raised concerns about the accident's lasting effects. "Tesla says they’re handling the insurance claim because it happened on their watch, but what about the diminished value? My pristine Cybertruck now has an accident history forever," he noted.
In the Facebook discussion, other owners offered mixed views. Michael Myers commented, "So a truck driver hits your truck, and you're blaming Tesla? If the driver is a Tesla employee, you might have a point, but I believe most new cars are delivered by third parties." Tyler Mayo added, "You’ll never get diminished value on a truck that loses significant value each day. Let them fix it nicely and move on." Alain Lelievre remarked, "That is what they call... things happen. They are fixing it, right? You got a loaner, and it won't cost you a penny."
These responses suggest many in the community view the situation as an unfortunate mishap without further liability for Tesla, emphasizing that repairs and a loaner represent a positive outcome.
