Buying a Tesla is supposed to feel like stepping into the future — but for one new owner, it felt more like a digital hostage crisis.
Imagine this: You just bought a sleek, used Tesla Model S. You’re excited, the car drives like a dream, and you even score free Supercharging as a bonus. But two days later, the car seems to have a mind of its own.
The A/C kicks in at full blast — even though it’s only 60°F outside. Seat warmers turn on without warning. Your speed limit drops to 50 mph. Doors randomly lock and unlock. Then the horn starts blaring… for 30 straight minutes.
And here’s the kicker: You’re not in control. The previous owner is.
When the Future Turns Against You
This bizarre story comes from Reddit user Vladdroid, who shared his ordeal on r/TeslaLounge. It quickly became legendary — part comedy, part horror, and all-too-real for anyone buying a used “smart” car.
“They never unlinked the car from their Tesla account,” he wrote. “And now they’ve been messing with me for 5 days straight.”
The new owner found himself in a tech-powered tug-of-war. The old owner — still connected to the vehicle via the Tesla app — began remotely controlling features like Valet Mode, frunk access, cabin temp, and yes… that horn.
Tesla Support? Slow. So He Took Revenge.
Frustrated with Tesla’s slow response (they required proof of registration before officially transferring ownership), Vladdroid decided to fight back — 21st-century style.
He began charging the car at a Supercharger… and left it there to rack up idle fees on the previous owner’s account. Over the span of four days, that added up to about $250 in penalties.
It was guerrilla warfare — digital edition.
The “Horn War” Escalates
Not to be outdone, the old owner turned up the chaos: unlocking the trunk, activating the sunroof, turning on heat and seat warmers, and blasting the horn while Vladdroid tried to sleep.
So what did our modern hero do?
“I pulled the horn fuses and disconnected the trunk leads,” he wrote.
This wasn’t just a car dispute — it was like Black Mirror meets Fast & Furious: Remote Control Edition.
How He Tracked Down the Hacker
Then came the final move: after 4,558 attempts, he guessed the valet code. Jackpot. The car’s navigation history revealed the old owner’s home address.
Using Google and FastPeopleSearch, he found names, numbers, and even a second home. He texted both owners from a temporary number and said, in essence:
“Stop messing with the car — or I keep racking up the fees.”
Minutes later: the car was released.
Hours later: the title arrived in the mail.
Game over.
Tesla Model S Depreciation: Why It Happens
Ironically, this dramatic tale unfolded with a Model S — a car known for fast depreciation. According to recent data:
- Tesla Model S can lose 30–40% of its value within 3 years.
- Over 5 years, that number can climb as high as 71%.
- Some owners have reported value drops of up to $100,000 in just two years.
Tesla’s frequent updates, price cuts, and rapid tech evolution mean buying used can feel like a deal — but not always without risks.
Connected Cars = Digital Risk?
This whole saga points to a bigger issue: connected cars come with digital baggage. If the previous owner doesn’t unlink their account, they can still control your vehicle — from anywhere in the world.
The Tesla app offers incredible convenience, but until ownership is officially transferred, the new buyer is in limbo — part-owner, part-prisoner.
How to Avoid This Nightmare
Here’s what every used Tesla buyer needs to do:
- Get full proof of ownership — title, bill of sale, and registration.
- Ensure the seller unlinks the car from their Tesla account.
- Factory reset the vehicle from the touchscreen.
- Ask the seller to use the Tesla app to initiate ownership transfer.
- Upload your documents to Tesla via the app and wait 3–5 business days.
Step-by-step guide to Tesla ownership transfer
Until that transfer is done, your car could be controlled by someone else — and as this Redditor showed, that can get real messy, real fast.
What would you do if your new Tesla kept getting hacked by its previous owner? Let us know in the comments.