Canadian Tesla owners file class-action lawsuit over paint issues

A class-action lawsuit in Quebec, Canada has been filed against Tesla over issues with the paint. The lawsuit was started by a man named Jean-François Bellerose, who claims the black paint on his Model 3 is chipping and peeling on the lower rocker panels six months after purchase.

The plaintiffs are seeking reimbursement for the cost of the paint issues and an additional $500.

According to Motor Illustrated, when Bellerose contacted Tesla to fix the paint, he was told the damage wasn’t covered under warranty, despite the Model 3’s warranty lasting a year. It cost Bellerose $4,738 to repair the finish on his vehicle.

Bellerose also notes most Quebec owners keep their vehicles for eights years, and many manufacturers offer a three-year paint warranty.

The plaintiff is looking for more people who have experienced a similar issue with their Teslas in the same time frame, as well as owners who weren’t informed of this issue at the time they bought the car.

The plaintiffs are hoping to win enough money to reimburse those affected for the cost of the paint issue; or to reimburse them the difference between the Model 3’s sale price and the depreciated value. They are also suing for Tesla Model 3 owners involved in the case to receive an extra $500.