After almost three years of owning a Tesla Model Y, Joe Romer traded in his car because he’s no longer a fan of Elon Musk.
“I’m tired of Elon Musk and all of his garbage,” Romer told CNN in March, sharing his reason for wanting to trade in his car. “I’m getting rid of [my Model Y] because I’m embarrassed to drive it.”
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Even though Romer admitted that his Tesla was nice to drive, his frustration with Musk pushed him to test drive a different EV, which he fell in love with.
Romer is far from alone in breaking up with Tesla because of Musk. Reuters reports that, according to Edmunds, Tesla trade-ins were on pace to hit a record high in March 2025 compared to the year before.
Why this Tesla owner switched to another EV brand
Romer, who spoke to CNN as he was driving past the picket line at a Tesla protest in California, says after putting over 80,000 miles on the Model Y, he was in the process of getting it repaired so he could sell it.
“I [test drove] one of the Lucid cars, and they’re very nice,” he shared with CNN reporter Julia Vargas Jones. “They are like driving a Mercedes compared to this [Model Y].”
The mid-March protest Romer found himself in was part of the “Tesla Takedown” movement, which has seen protestors gather around the world at Tesla showrooms — including 90 in the state of California the same weekend CNN caught up with Romer — to protest Musk and his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency.
About a week later, Jones followed up with Romer to see if he’d sold his vehicle. He told her he had, and it felt like someone had lifted a huge weight off of his shoulders. Although he only got about a third of what he originally paid for his car four years before, he told Jones it made him feel like he was “doing something.”
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How to manage a dispute with a car dealership
Romer’s dispute wasn’t necessarily with his Tesla dealership specifically. But U.S. drivers often experience issues with their cars, ranging from falling victim to deceptive ads or dealers to issues with car warranties or safety features.
It’s important to know what actions are available to you should you ever have a dispute with a car dealer.
Reviewing your loan agreement is the first step if you have a problem with the loan terms. While reading your agreement, pay special attention to the loan’s APR, term and loan amount. Understanding the ins and outs of your agreement could help you dispute any billing discrepancies.
If you find an error, like an inaccurate APR on an auto loan statement, or have an issue, contact the dealer first to see if it can offer a solution. Make sure to provide paperwork to support your claim.
Most experts recommend trying to resolve any disputes with your dealer directly, or through the dealership’s official complaint process. Before taking that step, ensure you have all the relevant documentation, like contracts, ads or emails in question and photos, if possible.
While working something out with the dealer is ideal, it’s not always possible. You may have to escalate it to the appropriate government service. Depending on the type of issue you’re facing, you may want to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov. In addition, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends filing a report with your state’s attorney general office.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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