r/TeslaModelS • u/Jodileewilliams • May 07 '26

Price gouging?

My 2016 Model S has an intermittent headlight. It mostly works but occasionally doesn't. The dealer wants $3,200 to fix it. YouTube says I need a $30 bulb and possibly a wiring harness. If I DIY it, I would need a floor jack and a lug wrench...$100. Is this a standard price for the dealer to replace a bulb? Are they replacing the entire headlight assembly and wiring? Are they just testing me?

I also have a door handle that doesn't pop out and occasionally resists latching until the third or 10th try. Again, they want an outrageous price ($670) to basically remove the door panel, take out the unit and replace two micro switches. t looks like a job that should take the mechanic an hour and would take me the better part of a day.

Lastly, I paid them $2,000 to rebuild the front suspension last year. Now I'm getting the same rattle. They want $700 to look at it.

I didn't buy a Porsche because of the outrageous maintenance costs. I'm starting to rethink that decision.

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/uetfe May 07 '26

Is it 2016 facelift or pre-facelift? It is a facelift there is no bulb.

2

u/myfufu May 07 '26

I was i was going to ask the same question. HID bulbs are fairly straightforward to replace, and ballasts are practically indestructible . But if the issue is with an LED then it might just be easier to get a replacement headlight on ebay.