Water Spill Damages Bricks and Leaves Owner with a Repair Bill Equivalent to the Cost of a Used Corolla | Carscoops

      After a minor water spill triggered significant warning signals, the leased EV entered a state of malfunction, and Lucid is unwilling to cover the expenses.

      19 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      A trunk spill led to limp mode and warning lights, leaving the Air immobilized. Warranty coverage was denied, and the insurance may refuse to pay for the repairs.

      This incident resembles a previous case involving an Ioniq 5, where a water spill resulted in nearly $12,000 in damages.

      Health professionals frequently advocate that drinking ample water leads to clearer skin, enhanced mental clarity, smoother bowel movements, and increased longevity. However, one group that should definitely avoid excessive hydration is modern electric vehicles, as even minor leaks can result in exorbitant repair bills.

      Take, for example, Reddit user u/raging_onyx, who leased a Lucid Air and turned his Thanksgiving week into a $15,000 lesson on the perils of combining electric cars with water.

      What Occurred?

      The trouble began with a simple grocery trip to refill a water container. However, hitting a pothole on the return trip toppled that container over, leading to a series of malfunctions that ultimately rendered the vehicle inoperable.

      Also: $4,900 For A Taillight? Lucid’s Absurd Lease Fees Are Dissuading Customers

      Immediately following the spill, the dashboard lit up with warning lights, the EV entered limp mode, regenerative braking ceased functioning, and the driver received a notification to pull over. Upon finding a residential area to stop, he attempted to reboot the system, but the Air remained stuck in Park.

      An Extremely Costly Experience

      Lucid customer support, displaying a cheery holiday spirit, offered two recommendations: contact insurance and prepare for the possibility that the car was totaled. Happy Thanksgiving!

      Also: Insurance Offered $1,700 For This R1T Incident, Rivian Desired A Fortune

      The situation worsened when the first tow truck driver arrived and informed him that he could not move the sedan because the Air wouldn’t shift into neutral. Fortunately, by the following day, they discovered how to switch to neutral, allowing a second truck to tow the stranded vehicle.

      Eventually, the EV arrived at a service center, where the advisor initially estimated repairs to be under $1,000. That seemed manageable, right? However, this estimate was drastically off by about the cost of a used Corolla.

      The actual repair cost, as confirmed later by the representative, was around $15,000, which wouldn't be covered by warranty because the spill was technically the driver’s error.

      More: A $2 Water Bottle Just Cost This Hyundai Driver Nearly $12,000

      As of the Reddit post, the driver was still waiting for a decision on whether his insurance would help with the expenses. You might assume the answer would be affirmative, but that's not always the case.

      Just last month, we reported on a similar incident with a Hyundai Ioniq 5. A minor water spill in the rear footwell damaged the vehicle's wiring, and neither the manufacturer nor the insurance company was willing to pay for the $11,882 repair bill.

      Source: Reddit