SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — A class action lawsuit says Tesla vehicles won't travel as far as the company claims.
Neil Karunatilaka, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Nov. 22 in Sacramento, Calif., federal court against Telsa Inc., doing business as Tesla Motors Inc., alleging breach of express warranty and other claims.
Karunatilaka, according to his class action, purchased a used 2019 Tesla Model 3 for $63,349 at a dealer in Tracy in November of 2022. He alleges that Tesla falsely advertises its electric vehicles' range in a way that "grossly overvalued" his and other Tesla owners' vehicles.
The plaintiff claims in some cases, Tesla advertised its vehicles as having ranges that were 26% more than the vehicle's actual range. He further claims that for many customers who complained or scheduled appointments with Tesla due to the below-advertised ranges, Tesla would cancel their appointments and state the electric vehicles were "performing as intended."
The plaintiff alleges that based on Tesla's "suggested charge limits" the vehicles can not reach the total advertised ranges and that Tesla does not disclose to customers that the car's charge limits also limit the vehicle's total range.
Karunatilaka and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Tarek Zohdy, Cody Padgett and Laura Goolsby of Capstone Law PC in Lost Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California case number 2:23-CV-02742-AC