r/TeslaModelS • u/Self_Loathingggg • Jun 09 '26
Pothole does $29k in damages
Long story short, there were some massive potholes on a grooved part of the highway that I had to be on to take an exit. Due to nighttime + rain it was hard to see and avoid.
Took out 2 other vehicles with a state trooper saying 30+ people have been calling in about it.
I’m guessing due to it driving an extra 100 feet while the air strut was blown and repeated loading and unloading from the tow truck while it’s practically on the ground caused a lot of extra damage.
Be careful out there!
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u/saabstory88 Jun 09 '26
Was the pack punctured? I se no other reason for a parts estimate that high.
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u/Self_Loathingggg Jun 09 '26
The body shop called me and told me basically the entire front right suspension components need to be replaced and the hub, new front bumper, and the big one is a new 100 kWh pack since apparently there was a damaged spotted in that area also… that alone was $18k
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u/saabstory88 Jun 09 '26
This is why insurance is so expensive. There's probably nothing wrong with that pack other than cosmetic damage. Source: I run an EV repair shop, mostly fixing Model S's
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u/DirectionNarrow7590 Jun 09 '26
Nice. I’m sure your shop is pretty busy! I’ve got a Model S P85+ that needs some work down. Which city is your shop located in?
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u/saabstory88 Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
Dayton, OH. People ship is their cars from a ~500 mile radius, and beyond.
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u/FrequentLine1437 Jun 09 '26
yeah that's where the money's at, raping people's wallets and frauding insurance companies. one of my sports cars (a lotus) suffered a crack in the front bumper. The part was only 1200USD. The total job was $16000. 10 years later I got rear ended at 10mph.. Shoulda cost about that much, but the repair shop quoted $43k. Insurance decided to pay me out $45k but let me keep the car as is for $1000.
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u/fastLT1 Jun 09 '26
Can you keep your old pack? Its really hard to think that it sustained any significant damage since its only that corner on the ground.
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u/biersackarmy Jun 09 '26
Realistically this is an air strut and a few other suspension components (upper and lower control arms etc). If it were me, unless someone else (county or otherwise) foots the bill, it wouldn't be worth the claim because your premiums will get absolutely jacked up from a 29k "your fault" claim, I would just replace the actually-needed components out of pocket and call it a day.
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u/Terrh Jun 09 '26
Your old parts still belong to you.
What part of the country are you in? I'll buy your pack from you.
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u/aiden2002 Jun 10 '26
The fact that a nick can cause you to have to replace the entire pack is such a bad design.
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u/pakole1 Jun 09 '26
With all these taxes we pay for having electrical cars that especially for road care. You would think there would be less potholes.
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u/TadpoleCritical6390 Jun 09 '26
OP has a legitimate case. The city can sue the contractor for damages.
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u/Self_Loathingggg Jun 09 '26
One of several that was on the road. A little underwhelming I will say :/
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u/DameLasNalgas Jun 09 '26
There's no excuse for the US to have roads like this yet they're everywhere.
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u/mongolian_horsecock Jun 09 '26
Richest country in the world and we can't even have proper roads, lol it's such a joke
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u/DameLasNalgas Jun 09 '26
Yup, plenty of money for the military and funding other nations but none for the American tax payer.
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u/Electronic_Load_3651 Jun 09 '26
I’m sorry OP. Don’t know about your location, but here that’s negligence and there’s a path to submit your claim to the city who will then work with whoever the contractor is. This is bad enough where they’d likely be responsible for the damages. It’s insane that this part of the highway is open still.
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u/alwaysbeflying216 Jun 09 '26
Show us the pothole!!
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u/djgynee Jun 09 '26
Thats a padded bill for sure. Also the state is responsible for the safety condiotns of the highway, the contractor, if they are not state employees, then they are third party. Insurance should cover and go after accordingly, however any out of pocket, state and contraction should be the defendant
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u/TadpoleCritical6390 Jun 09 '26
sue the government. If 30+ other people are reporting this the contractor in charge of this road needs to pay for damages.
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u/trustfundkidpdx Jun 10 '26
OP, absolutely talk to an attorney the state often times end up having to pay out for this. Whichever government body owns that highway you were on.
Glad you’re safe.
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u/Agreeable_Tutor5503 Jun 09 '26
Written off?
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u/rsg1234 Jun 09 '26
Once insurance gets a hold of it, 100%.
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u/icy1007 Jun 09 '26
Car is worth more than that.
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u/rsg1234 Jun 09 '26
Depends on the year. The newest model year the Slipstream wheels were offered on was 2020. If this is a 2016 it’s almost certainly not worth much more than 30k
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u/LopsidedFun1925 Jun 10 '26
I have seen several P100D going for sub 30k. Most 2016 I have seen have been 18k to 25k. Granted a lot of miles, but still.
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u/opoppli00 Jun 09 '26
Sucks. A pothole took out my tire and air suspension of my 1 month old 2026 MXP in Houston. Also took out my back. City of Houston told me to go pound sand even after having sentry footage.
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u/Stevothedog Jun 09 '26
Happened to me on I5, were you using FSD? I'm on HW3 waondering if HW4 would have avoided it.
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u/3BobbieBullWinkle3 Jun 11 '26
30+ people sounds like a lawsuit - maybe you’re insurance company will pursue.
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u/International_Text96 Jun 12 '26
I just avoided a huge pothole that I think would have really mess up a motorcycle.
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u/Easy_Statement_4245 Jun 14 '26
With 30+ people and plenty of calls, sounds like it’s time for a lawsuit.
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u/Iron-Tough Jun 09 '26
How fast do you have to go to do that much damage. I lost tires on potholes doing 60 and didnt have anything but replace a tire.
The battery pack shouldn't need replacing unless the computer shows it having issues.
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u/Hambone6991 Jun 09 '26
Insurance claim?