A California consumer has filed litigation seeking class action status against Tesla, alleging the electric vehicle manufacturer deliberately manipulates odometer readings to prematurely terminate warranty coverage and increase repair revenue. According to court documents, lead plaintiff Nyree Hinton purchased a pre-owned Tesla in December 2022 displaying approximately 36,772 miles on the odometer.

The complaint states Hinton began noticing significant mileage discrepancies shortly after purchase, with his vehicle allegedly recording 72 miles daily despite his actual commute totaling only 20 miles round trip. This accelerated accumulation reportedly pushed his vehicle beyond the 50,000-mile Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty threshold, forcing him to pay for repairs that should have remained under warranty coverage.

The lawsuit further alleges Tesla’s vehicles don’t accurately measure physical distance traveled but instead calculate estimated mileage based on energy consumption and driving patterns, resulting in artificially inflated readings. Plaintiff attorneys argue this systematic overstatement serves multiple financial purposes: reducing warranty obligations, increasing out-of-pocket repair revenue, triggering lease mileage penalties, and encouraging premature extended warranty purchases by consumers.