Latest news with #VilhelmDybwad
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Ordered to Buy Back Model S Plaid After Brake Failure Ruling
Tesla Ordered to Buy Back Model S Plaid After Brake Failure Ruling originally appeared on Autoblog. A Norwegian court has ordered Tesla to buy back a Model S Plaid after a catastrophic brake failure during a track day, marking one of the most damning legal defeats for the automaker in recent memory. The Oslo District Court ruled in favor of the owner, Vilhelm Dybwad, who reached out to The Drive about the incident, after the high-performance EV failed to complete even a single lap without overheating its brakes—despite being advertised as a track-ready court found Tesla's marketing claims to be misleading and ruled that the $150,000 vehicle was sold under false pretenses. Tesla must now refund the full purchase price, pay interest, and cover legal fees—adding up to nearly $150,000 in total compensation. What Happened on Track? Dybwad's Model S Plaid experienced total brake fade at Rudskogen Motorsenter, Norway's most demanding racetrack, on its very first hot lap. The failure was immediate and severe: the car's brake system overheated almost instantly, flashing warning messages and rendering the car unsafe for track owner filed suit under Norway's strong consumer protection laws. The court found that Tesla had marketed the Model S Plaid as 'track-capable' without equipping it with proper hardware to survive a performance environment. Tesla's defense—that a carbon-ceramic brake package was coming later—was not deemed sufficient, as it wasn't available at the time of purchase. Marketing Promises Versus Reality Tesla has long walked a fine line between performance bragging rights and practical durability. In this case, its own ads—including a Nürburgring campaign and various Plaid promo clips—were used as evidence of deceptive claims. This ruling comes at a time when Tesla is also facing significant pressure in the U.S. over how it markets its driver-assist this week, the company published a new safety report claiming its Autopilot system is significantly safer than manual driving, stating that cars using Autopilot went over six million miles between crashes in Q2. But critics argue that real-world user experience often paints a more inconsistent inconsistency has become a legal liability. In California, Tesla is now facing a potential 30-day sales ban over allegations of misleading advertising regarding its 'Full Self-Driving' and 'Autopilot' systems—terms regulators argue are dangerously inaccurate. More Trouble Ahead The buyback ruling could set a precedent in Europe and beyond, particularly for owners who have pushed the Model S or Model X beyond their daily comfort zones. Although Tesla has already launched track packages for newer Model S units—complete with upgraded brakes—this case highlights a wider problem for the company: the disparity between its marketing and real-world also comes amid growing global competition. In China, Tesla faces a serious threat from Dongfeng's new M-Hero M817, an off-road-capable hybrid SUV that racked up 10,000 pre-orders in just 24 hours. The M817's broad capability and local appeal make it a formidable rival in a market where Tesla's position has become less secure. What This Means for Owners and Enthusiasts For Model S Plaid owners, the takeaway is clear: despite its straight-line speed and headline-grabbing horsepower, the Plaid may not be as versatile as Tesla claims. Unless fitted with the appropriate hardware—and driven within its limits—the car may not meet the expectations its marketing has this case sparks more lawsuits is unclear. But it's certainly part of a broader reckoning Tesla faces—not just for its product claims, but for its relationship with regulators and consumers worldwide. Tesla Ordered to Buy Back Model S Plaid After Brake Failure Ruling first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 25, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Auto Blog
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Tesla Ordered to Buy Back Model S Plaid After Brake Failure Ruling
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. A Norwegian court has ordered Tesla to buy back a Model S Plaid after a catastrophic brake failure during a track day, marking one of the most damning legal defeats for the automaker in recent memory. The Oslo District Court ruled in favor of the owner, Vilhelm Dybwad, who reached out to The Drive about the incident, after the high-performance EV failed to complete even a single lap without overheating its brakes—despite being advertised as a track-ready machine. The court found Tesla's marketing claims to be misleading and ruled that the $150,000 vehicle was sold under false pretenses. Tesla must now refund the full purchase price, pay interest, and cover legal fees—adding up to nearly $150,000 in total compensation. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 Full screen Tesla sales in Europe drop yet again Watch More Source: Tesla What Happened on Track? Dybwad's Model S Plaid experienced total brake fade at Rudskogen Motorsenter, Norway's most demanding racetrack, on its very first hot lap. The failure was immediate and severe: the car's brake system overheated almost instantly, flashing warning messages and rendering the car unsafe for track use. The owner filed suit under Norway's strong consumer protection laws. The court found that Tesla had marketed the Model S Plaid as 'track-capable' without equipping it with proper hardware to survive a performance environment. Tesla's defense—that a carbon-ceramic brake package was coming later—was not deemed sufficient, as it wasn't available at the time of purchase. Source: Holden Marketing Promises Versus Reality Tesla has long walked a fine line between performance bragging rights and practical durability. In this case, its own ads—including a Nürburgring campaign and various Plaid promo clips—were used as evidence of deceptive claims. This ruling comes at a time when Tesla is also facing significant pressure in the U.S. over how it markets its driver-assist features. Just this week, the company published a new safety report claiming its Autopilot system is significantly safer than manual driving, stating that cars using Autopilot went over six million miles between crashes in Q2. But critics argue that real-world user experience often paints a more inconsistent picture. That inconsistency has become a legal liability. In California, Tesla is now facing a potential 30-day sales ban over allegations of misleading advertising regarding its 'Full Self-Driving' and 'Autopilot' systems—terms regulators argue are dangerously inaccurate. Source: Tesla More Trouble Ahead The buyback ruling could set a precedent in Europe and beyond, particularly for owners who have pushed the Model S or Model X beyond their daily comfort zones. Although Tesla has already launched track packages for newer Model S units—complete with upgraded brakes—this case highlights a wider problem for the company: the disparity between its marketing and real-world performance. It also comes amid growing global competition. In China, Tesla faces a serious threat from Dongfeng's new M-Hero M817, an off-road-capable hybrid SUV that racked up 10,000 pre-orders in just 24 hours. The M817's broad capability and local appeal make it a formidable rival in a market where Tesla's position has become less secure. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. What This Means for Owners and Enthusiasts For Model S Plaid owners, the takeaway is clear: despite its straight-line speed and headline-grabbing horsepower, the Plaid may not be as versatile as Tesla claims. Unless fitted with the appropriate hardware—and driven within its limits—the car may not meet the expectations its marketing has set. Whether this case sparks more lawsuits is unclear. But it's certainly part of a broader reckoning Tesla faces—not just for its product claims, but for its relationship with regulators and consumers worldwide. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
The Drive
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Judge Orders Tesla to Buy Back Model S Plaid Over Track Braking Failure
The latest car news, reviews, and features. A Tesla Model S Plaid owner took the electric automaker to court and won after his EV cooked its brakes on the first turn of a track day. He sued Tesla for misleading advertising as it marketed the car specifically for track use, though in his experience, that was far from the case. The judge has even ordered Tesla to buy back the 1,020-horsepower sedan as a result. The ruling was issued in Oslo District Court, citing violation of Norway's Consumer Protection Act. Vilhelm Dybwad, the Model S Plaid owner who initiated the suit against Tesla, reached out to The Drive about his misfortune. 'The stock brakes are horrible, inadequate, and downright dangerous for any type of track driving,' he wrote in an email. 'We got the error message that the bakes were too hot while under braking for the first corner (after the warmup lap) at Rudskogen Motorcenter.' That circuit is a serious one, designed by F1 track specialist Hermann Tilke. At a touch over two miles, the main course features 14 turns with long, high-speed straights and roughly 140 feet of elevation change. Turn One, where Dybwad's Model S Plaid brakes overheated, is a slightly uphill lefthander that requires heavy stoppage before rolling into Turn Two. Just after that is a half-circle that leads to another straight where high-powered cars hit triple-digit speeds. What I'm getting at is: Even if the Tesla's brakes hung on through the first corner, they wouldn't have long to recover before another high-intensity event that could spell disaster. That's Turn One on the far righthand side, following the long start/finish straight. Rudskogen Dybwad belongs to a car enthusiast organization in Norway called Amcar. The club's technical committee prepared a statement regarding his EV's failure and provided witness accounts as well as independent testing to prove the Model S Plaid didn't work as advertised. When they put an experienced track driver in a similar but different Plaid at Rudskogen, it also malfunctioned after making the first turn. This evidence held up in court, leading legal officials to observe Tesla's marketing materials. The district court agreed that Tesla advertised the Model S Plaid as being track capable, even showing it on a race circuit in several videos while claiming it can 'continuously lap the track without performance degradation.' Tesla supposedly argued that Dybwad could have optioned his car with carbon ceramic brakes, which perform far better in high-heat situations, though those weren't offered until 10 months after he purchased it. Normally, this is where The Drive would reach out to the automaker's PR department for a comment, but Tesla doesn't have one of those. Having determined the issue was significant enough to fall under the Consumer Protection Act, the court ordered Tesla to pay Dybwad the equivalent of $122,972 USD plus interest, as well as his legal costs totaling $26,869 USD. This effectively canceled his purchase of the car. Tesla can appeal the decision, but as Dybwad's legal representation told Nettavisen , they aren't worried. Dybwad and his Model S Plaid. Amcar Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
