Tesla locks woman out 1,500 miles from home during road trip

Tesla Trip Turns Into a Nightmare

Cassidy and her partner were on a long road trip, far from home, when their Tesla suddenly failed. The doors wouldn’t open, and the car wouldn’t respond to anything.

What was supposed to be a fun, smooth ride turned into a stressful mess. With no warning, they found themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere. As they sat in their car trying to figure out what was wrong, the anxiety kicked in.

Vehicle Became Inaccessible Due to Battery Failure

When they tried to get in the car after dinner, the doors didn’t respond. Only one door opened for a second, allowing them to slip inside.

Once inside, they realized nothing worked; the touchscreen was blank, and the brake pedal did nothing. They were stuck inside a high-tech machine that had gone completely silent. Trying to push buttons and hoping something would light up didn’t help.

The Screen Was Totally Blank

Inside the Tesla, the giant infotainment screen, the brain of the car, was completely dark. No sound, no lights, just a blank screen staring back at them.

That screen controls nearly everything: driving modes, air conditioning, music, even the doors. Without it, the car felt more like a broken computer than a vehicle. They couldn’t restart anything or check for updates. The silence from the screen made it impossible to know what had failed.

Forced Doors Might Break the Windows

They managed to force the doors open to get some air, but doing that with no power could break the windows. Tesla windows are designed to drop slightly when doors open, so the glass doesn’t crack.

Without power, that mechanism doesn’t work, and the pressure could cause damage. Now, on top of being stuck, they worried their windows were broken too. It’s one more downside to driving a car that depends so heavily on electricity.

Customer Service Let Them Down

Desperate for help, they called Tesla roadside assistance. But instead of clear instructions, they got vague advice and little support.

One rep gave almost no information, just suggesting they find a tow. It was frustrating to deal with poor communication while stuck in an unfamiliar place.

You’d expect more from a company known for cutting-edge tech. Feeling ignored when you’re stranded in a car that won’t start makes the situation worse.

A Strange Burning Smell Appeared

At one point, the couple noticed a weird burning smell coming from the car. They feared it might be the start of an electrical fire.

The scent was like burning plastic, and they weren’t sure how serious it was. Thankfully, it faded away before anything worse happened. But in that moment, they worried they might need to run from the car entirely. It added a new layer of fear to an already stressful night.

Tow Truck Company Said No Thanks

They started calling tow truck services, hoping someone would rescue them. But the first company said it was too far and refused the job.

Towing a Tesla isn’t like towing a regular car. The truck needs special gear to avoid damaging the underbody or battery. Many towing companies aren’t prepared for that. Their car was 224 miles from the nearest Tesla service center, and no one wanted the job.

Hotel Stay Was Their Only Choice

With no working car and no ride coming, they had to book a hotel for the night. What was supposed to be a road trip turned into a last-minute stay.

Instead of cruising down highways, they were stuck in a parking lot, watching the sun go down on a dead car. They had to lug their stuff into a hotel, hoping the car would somehow come back to life overnight.

Sleeping wasn’t easy when all they could think about was how to fix a car that wouldn’t even start.

Towing Would Cost a Small Fortune

Eventually, they found a tow truck company that was willing to come. But the starting price? A jaw-dropping $720 just for the haul.

They expected the final bill to hit $1,500 or more. The cost wasn’t even for repairs, just to move the car to a service center. For many people, that’s more than a month’s rent. Electric cars might save gas money, but surprise breakdowns like this can destroy a travel budget.

The Little Battery That Caused Chaos

They started to suspect the issue might be the 12-volt battery. It’s a small battery, but it controls important things like locks, windows, and lights.

If that battery dies, the car can’t even wake up, even if the main battery is full. Many EV drivers don’t even know this battery exists. It’s easy to forget that something so small could stop such a powerful machine. But that tiny battery turned a road trip into a full-blown crisis.

Why Teslas Have Two Batteries

Teslas don’t just have one big battery for driving; they also have a smaller 12-volt battery for everyday functions.

That smaller battery powers the things you use most: windows, door locks, lights, and more. Without it, even the biggest, strongest battery can’t help. It’s like having a massive power station with a broken switch.

This second battery is crucial, but it wears out like any other. And when it goes, the car acts like it’s completely dead.

Phone Charging? Not a Chance

With the car mostly shut down, they couldn’t even use it to charge their phones. That meant no navigation, no updates, and no help if their phones died.

The Tesla usually acts like a giant charging station on wheels. But now, it couldn’t even provide that. The couple had to ration their phone battery while juggling calls to service centers and hotels. It made everything harder, especially in an unfamiliar place.

The Car Came Back to Life

The next morning brought a surprise: they got a message saying their Tesla had unlocked. That meant the system was back online.

It wasn’t a full recovery, but it gave them hope. If the battery had charged just enough overnight, they might be able to drive it somewhere for help. After a night of stress, seeing the doors open was the first good news.

They wasted no time and got back in, hoping they could make it to a Supercharger.

A Supercharger Gave It a Boost

They managed to drive the car to a nearby Tesla Supercharger. The main battery still had some power, and they used it to give the car a temporary boost.

It wasn’t a permanent fix, but it bought them time. Tesla staff told them to replace the 12-volt battery fast or risk getting stranded again. It was clear the car wasn’t stable, but they had a brief window to reach safety.

Big Battery Covered for the Small One

A Tesla employee explained that the main EV battery was now helping the dead 12-volt battery. But that wasn’t free; it drained the main battery faster.

All those features that the little battery should run? The big one had to cover them all. That meant fewer miles and more anxiety about making it to the service center. The car was doing double duty, but it came at a cost.

Curious how other EV makers are tackling battery issues? Check out how BYD’s Blade Battery is changing the game.

The Dash Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree

As they drove to the service center, the screen lit up with warning messages. Several features started to glitch or stop working.

Phone chargers didn’t work, and other systems flickered in and out. The stress level stayed high as they watched the car fight to stay alive. They didn’t know how long it would last. Still, they made it, pulling into the service center just ten minutes before closing time.

Planning your own EV road trip? Don’t miss these smart tips from BYD Atto 3 drivers who’ve been there.

Ever had a trip go off the rails like this? Share your wildest travel fail in the comments.

Read More From This Brand:

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• Tesla Plans Perfect Trips So You Don’t Have To
• How to Keep Your Pet Comfortable in Your Car

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.