bought a CPO from Tesla today and I feel scammed.

Used cars are used .

Give it back

Depends on your state, but if it were me and my state had a cooling off period, yeah, I’d take it back to them. If there’s a cigarette smell, those never really come out.

Say bye bye to that thing. Smoke is for ever.

oh they will replace those for you. if it's still under warranty, they usually send you a mobile tech

Damn dude that’s a bummer

Most of the cars on the Tesla site have vanity issues. Which is why i didn't buy from there.

in Musk, you trust

Cigarette smell is a hard stop for me. There's no price cheap enough to get me in a car that smells

Ah, that was supposed to be the 103rd check. But, they do only 102.

You can request a fix from the service center

https://preview.redd.it/84kqq1n1wtdg1.jpeg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb6630c9af01d27e262c50c1c804b7b1efdea0b5 And can still look good.

There is a YouTube video showing how to use an ozone creator to neutralize cigarette smoke smell from a car.

Idk if it still works but you can buy those zoom machines an leave it in the car with the ac on circulate and it can help eliminate any unwanted smells

yeah you can get it out with a fairly small and inexpensive ozone generator.

Yea I bought a used car w a smoke smell and used an ozone type cleaner and it completely eliminated it. And BO from another vehicle.

VEVOR. Ozone machine. Look it up. I haven't used one ever, but that's why people buy them for.....

VEVOR. Ozone machine. Look it up.

If you’re going to return it return it as soon as you possibly can. The cigarette smell isn’t going anywhere

I recently purchased a used model 3 from Tesla. It had different brands of tires on the front and back, two of which were out of worn slightly out of spec. The bumper also had some weird touch up paint. I scheduled a service center appointment and they put four new tires on and also replaced the bumper. Make sure you note everything with a service ticket asap.

Shoot - glad I saw this - I was at my dealer today discussing having a CPO shipped…thanks for the heads up

2nd image looks correct. First image however does not… obv

OP paid for CPO. The car I bought for a thousand bucks off Facebook smells fine, why would he expect anything less. First pic also looks gross.

In my experience, unless the fabric is deep cleaned and all traces removed, ozone machines only temporarily mask odors. It's just a matter of time before they come back.

Cigarette smoke. Do not buy it.

What does CPO mean?

those are minor but yes! Maybe ask if they could roll over your deposit to another car

It’s an inspection not a replacement You should a return period I’m assuming On a side note - you will never be happy with a cpo , best you buy a new one

SMOKE AIR CAN BE ELIMINATED we are in 2026 guys. “Bio bombs “ that simple. Jeeze yall sound like dweebs. P&s carpet bomer would take those stains out no problem.

Cringe armrest.

 Looks like baby throw up

Mine has missing bolts Water gets in the frunk Clunk noise when using supercharger Interior dirty in the crevice between seats coffee stains etc Plates took 8 months to get! I had to report them to the TXDMV Hundreds of calls emails messages for no one to have an answer and for “management to call me and escalate it” never spoke to one manager never got transferred over never got resolved till I had the TXDMV resolved! No apology nothing to make it right. Good luck hopefully that’s all you have to deal with….

🤣

Certified pre-owned

I smoke cigars in my car and use an ozone generator anytime I know my wife will be using it or riding with me. She can't stand the smell of them. I've taken my car from where even I've been like "wowza" to neutral smelling in a few hours, and it lasts, even without changing the cabin filter I usually deodorize my car once every other month when it's warm, and as needed when it is cold.

To each their own, I have multiple and went with this because of white interior, the black rubs onto the side of the white seats

Yeah. I used ozone on a rental with pet odors... Left it for the maximum amount of hours three times. It would be fine for a few days then.... That's why I tried it three times. In the end, you really have to go after the source. For me that meant replacing all the carpet in that room. So. Much. Pet. Urine!

I truly do not understand why people continue to let themselves be pressured into taking delivery of a car that doesn't meet their standards.

Send it back. It's the only way they learn.

I have the same one. It also has nice padding

That is nasty. 🤮

They should be required to disclose smoked in cars just like an accident. That smell is never permanently removed. Don't believe all these smokers on here who ran an ozone generator and it smelled "better" for a few days. It always comes back, and non-smokers always smell it. We are polite about it in person, but you guys reek. You are just nose-blind to it at this point. I'd 100% return that car ASAP.

Return it. There’s no such thing as cpo from Tesla. Cars come out from factory with build quality issues and doesn’t get addressed before deliveries. No way they’re spending that time on a used car to resell

Illegal in some states

That makes me want to ralf

I have one as well, helps with padding, keeps the original armrest clean, and I dig the look. What’s cringe is thinking your opinion on someone’s car matters.

I can certify that it was pre-owned from the pictures alone

Was it 5K or less???

Someone bought a Tesla and they feel scammed. Shocker

Good for a temporary fix, sure.

No need to endorse Elon Musk at this point either.

My sales person gave me unlimited time to check out the car. I spent about 30 minutes inspecting it.

How big was the touch up paint?  My car has a tiny dot of touch up paint, definitely not enough for me to care

Don’t all teslas clink at the supercharger?

Producing Ozone is not good for your health

Some because of a faulty expansion valve or something like that a clink here and there is normal but continuous clinks is a sign of a bad valve

Give it back if you can

Smokers cars should be listed as smokers cars. It’s a nightmare when you shop for traditional used cars and pinpoint what looks like a gem to get that stale smell… they took the car in with the smell. They don’t charge a lease customer for the damage from the smell… on them.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-AA58ED67-9C93-4EE6-8B19-9FDABE018787.html It’s not this?

BTW, there’s no such thing as a CPO Tesla. They did away with that stuff years ago. Now they are just pre-owned.

Tesla CPO is a scam. They’re not checking anything. I test drove a CPO that pulled to the right, had a broken vanity mirror and A-pillar upholstery coming off. The seat belt wouldn’t stay in place.

Depends if you like the smell of cigarettes. Are you a smoker?

I had BO smell in my car I bought from Tesla. Tried ozone but it lingered. I tried bio-bombs which generate chlorine gas, I think. BO smell gone. I think it may also work for cigarettes. I think Tesla should do this before reselling the cars.

CPO is still a used car and the price reflects it. CPO inspections are based on wear and tear. Safety. Brakes and tires must have 50% of life, etc. not new. It’s a big misconception that it’s “like new”.

Wait. Only the back smells of smoke?? Someone explain that to me please.

I’ve used one on two vehicles. Multiple treatments eventually it went away 98%. Every once in a while on a hot day you’d get and smell it a little but not terrible. That said I wouldn’t pay the Tesla cpo premium and go through that.

nicotine smell will NEVER go away no matter what machines or cleaning products are used. its a health hazard for you so tell them you are allergic to the smell or nicotine and if they don’t take it back you will get a lawyer.

But are there still people who smoke? Especially in their cars? Enough! 😡

I’m not sure how Tesla can continue selling these CPOs sight unseen. What a terrible system.

You don't do it while you're in the car. You turn it on and leave it for a while then air out the car before using it.

Only for indoor use. It's totally fine(and legal everywhere) for temporary use in a car. Just gotta air it out after.

I thought Tesla got rid of its CPO program

Test drive preowned cars for sure, return if you can! Enjoy the Tesla life!

Super easy to permanently remove it if you have the right tools. You need to thoroughly clean the interior first then you run an ozone generator for 30min with windows closed and recirculate on, then air it out. Then repeat the ozone treatment every few days until the smell is completely gone. No amount of scrubbing alone will ever fix the smell, no matter what miracle cleaners you use. But ozone treatment will fix it permanently. And no it's not illegal, that's only for indoor use, car use is completely legal everywhere. And it's not bad for you, just run the fans on high for 10min with the windows open and recirculate off after each treatment.

Cause people are morons….. sorry, but factual.

Thats a shame. I was in the market for a audi q7 brand new. But decided to drive 5 hours to see a used one for $10k less. Rented a hotel and all. Got in the car and it had the strongest cigarette smell I ever smelled. 10 min in the car and your stomach started hurting. Only had 6k miles on it too.

this. every used car dealer typically uses these before selling the car. use a carpet cleaner on the carpet, roofliner, and any cloth, then leave the windows up, run the ozone generator for 24 hours, vent the car out and repeat. or just sell the car.

Or you don’t accept the car that smells

😅

I can’t imagine buying a used car and not sitting in it first. Give it back, get your money or a different car.

The funny, my cpo bmw didn’t smell at all when I bought mine? Oh ad did I mention it came with a 3 and half year bumper to bumper warranty? How many years is your warranty?

This is no joke. I’m not an actual smoker but when we do storm work at my job we say “storm ciggys don’t count” and I ended up burning through probably 3 packs in a coworkers truck like an asshole lol. But he ran his ozone machine through it twice and you can’t smell a single cigarette at all. Smells better than before

Me neither, like wtf

I would either start smoking or return it.

I bought a cpo recently. 2023 M3 LR with 13.5K miles. Pretty sure it was a lease return. With exception of the usual rattles so far so good. The car still smells a little from cleaning but other than that it’s been ok.

This is why you dont buy used, everyone wants used and expects it to be perfect. Someone else has driven that car, its going to be fucked up

Cpo just means it's mechanicallyand structurally incline. And all features work. Doesn't mean it esthetically pleasing or free from odors. 102 can add up easily. Tread depth, tire pressure, brake pad thickness, windows operation, door handles and switches. Thats 20 points right there. Add seat belts and youve already surpassed 25% of the inspection.

warranty!! their cpo warranty is amazing if you are nice to them and know how to ask. if you say anything is a “safety hazard” or “defective” they get to you faster and prioritize that and you can get them to do almost anything under warranty if you’re nice. i kept a list of things i got them to do to my 2020 because it was like a game to me to see how much i could get them to replace an upgrade for free and i ended up getting $6000 of free upgrades and repairs that were definitely minor and unnecessary haha. if anyone has any questions about using tesla warranties i have used them a LOT so let me know.

That's the thing, it won't smell after you run an ozone generator in it a few times.

Take it back

Looks like all the parts are replaceable except the cigarette smoke smell.

First picture is not normal wear and tear. Should've had (probably did) counted that against trade in value. And the right thing would have been to swap that in house. I know a headliner is a big part.. but that should have been reflected in the price. The second picture looks like a gap in the trim.Unfortunately that's pretty common there should have been a better surface tuning from factory to fix that hard plastic to plastic trim edge.

Ozone is really tough on plastics and rubber. My sister was warned about using it her house after a fire because it can affect the coating over wiring.

If you are not completely happy with the car follow Tesla recommendation for resolution. You are not forced to keep car. Others are available.

It's totally different indoors. A home is so much larger of a volume and inevitably there'll be left over ozone no matter how well you air it out. It's also highly flammable since it's a stronger oxidizer. Indoor use is literally illegal many places. Running an ozone generator in a car for 30min then airing it out won't degrade anything any appreciable amount.

These are never a permanent fix.

Ozium helps with the cig smell , smoked for a while and it got the smell out of my cars . Idk what the strain is though

Anyone who "burns through 3 packs" in a storm I won't believe when they say "you can't even smell any cigarette smoke in it"

Going to need to replace all the trim and carpets

Ozone machine gets weed and cigarettes smell out and smells new

lol don’t be mean

Not disagreeing or anything. What am I missing in the 2nd picture?

Almost there!

What is cpo

Take it back and have them fix it

I must have been lucky. I got a beautiful one.

They are definitely permanent and harmful only at time of use. Do not stay in the room or enclosed space with this machine.

Yep definitely not. Call up an expecting mother, that’s who I will believe. And yes ozone machines work and have been proven by expectant non smoking mothers to remove cigarette smell.

I have an ozonator and they work really well but don't completely remove cigarette smell and they're bad for any non- cloth surfaces.

I thought they have pictures for the pre owned cars they sell now? They had pictures for the ones I’ve looked at. Also, I’ve bought both of mine new, but my mom bought a pre owned model 3 and they let her see both of the ones she was interested in buying before they actually bought it. One of them had minor scratches on the bumper and they only saw that because they went to see both cars in person. I’m pretty sure you could’ve also refused delivery and you would’ve been out of just the $500.

It does but the point is that that should be the responsibility of Tesla who is selling the vehicle. Especially if it wasn’t disclosed to the buyer.

Can’t you look at the car before buying it if not idk why you buy it

I’d take it back and get a different one. You’ll regret keeping it every time you get a whiff of that smell.

If you are ordering a used car that isn’t in your state you might not get a chance to look at it

What’s an example of this?

They certified it was pre-owned

But...that shouldn't be OP's problem to worry about. Should've be done prior to delivery.

Give it back

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Those are the standards they look for yes not exactly what’s wrong with the car correct?

https://preview.redd.it/dfa4cez3bzdg1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=956e84f5c295bfebf44e9712d9428a086416012a

I wasn’t pressured into accepting my CPO model 3 at the SC, but I definitely feel like their “102-point” inspection process includes checking the tires and then pencil whipping the rest of the sheet. Their “3rd-party” inspector gave the interior of my car a perfect score. My car had remnants of the previous owners’ child drawings in crayon on the headliner, and an ungodly amount of highly annoying interior issues like rattles, windows that don’t seal properly causing loud wind noise, a frunk that’s allowing water in, and a driveline vibration that I think was caused by the previous owner curbing the wheels. Most of these things I noticed several days after pickup, maybe because I was wearing rose-tinted glasses. The SC has been reluctant to help, half the time calling things “normal” (despite their loaner cars with more age and miles having less issues than mine) and the other half attempting to charge me for things with BS excuses as to why it’s not in warranty. All of this ranting to say, if you are able to, give it back and try again.

Tesla has collectively lowered our standards

Because Tesla doesn’t give you a choice on whether you want to take delivery or not. Half of the time they deposit your check when you aren’t looking (like when you are inspecting the car for the first time) so you can’t back out, then promise you that any minor issues will be fixed later. It’s super shady. I’m in the middle of a buyback/lawsuit right now.

You can absolutely reject delivery

I tried. Delivery advisor said I didn’t have a choice. I realize this was a lie now obviously. Tesla employees just don’t know what they are talking about

Breathing that ozone while you are using it to clean upholstery makes your lungs extra clean.

Tesla seems to do the minimum in flipping cars; preferring to handle any issues through warranty requests. In a sense, it’s normal but I would confirm the warranty will cover it (assuming you even know how to proceed to rectify it). I would lean keep if it was a good deal. I bought a certified Mercedes before that had a tear in the seat. After the attempt to repair didn’t work, my local Mercedes service center replaced it with a new driver’s seat.

This is why I buy new and drive them until they die.  I know how I take care of a car.  You never know how the other person drove.  I’ll gladly take the depreciation hit since I’m keeping it anyway and won’t have payments after I outright own it.  Just get gap insurance if you need to you.  Only adds a few bucks a month.

Everyone in this thread - and nearly every single review on Amazon - all disagree with you. It is not permanent. The smell 100% comes back.

Okay. I stand by my own experience and strongly disagree with them. Cigarette smell removed from the used car I bought and did not come back. Dog smell from room in house that smelled like dog for years after the dogs were removed. And I hope your statement is referring only to the temporary/permanent debate because the machines absolutely cause respiratory issues.

Wrong on both accounts. I understand anecdotal evidence is enough for people with too narrow of an experienced life, so I hold no grudge. May your ozone be forever cat-pee free.

I’ve bought 2 used teslas and I can assure you they absolutely do not do the 102 point check. Both times the alignment was completely off

They're literally illegal to purchase in some states. Meaning you cannot buy one regardless of whether you want to use it in your house, your car or your woodshed.

Buddy, you're only lying to yourself. Your wife is probably nose blind because you always smell like cigars. Ozonators work for a lot of things and do help with smoke odors but they don't eliminate them. I'm betting the neutral smell is the ozone itself since that can linger for several days.

Grow up. You sound like a petty teenager for judging someone else's car.

That's so expensive for what you get! Dealers are such ripoffs!

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

It does but not 100%

This is the Tesla site. I purchased a new one, with more miles, with only a peck in the windshield from a luxury dealership

Tesla CPO is biggest scam ever. Normal dealers do better checks and sell them way cheaper

Which state? Bc last I checked there's no state that bans their sale or bans buying. Just illegal for indoor use. But maybe I'm wrong so what state is it your referencing?

cigarette smoke in cars is a rejection if you do not smoke. It does not come out of the car and it will give u headaches soon enough

California. I live here and wasn't able to purchase from any big box stores or Amazon because due to EPA standards they don't ship to California. I got lucky and bought one on ebay from a seller who didn't check or care. Same place I get the good rattlesnake snake repellent (since we can't have that in Cali either). Are you referring to true ozone generators or air purifiers?

Weed smoke dissipates on its own.

Just checked and Cali only makes it illegal to operate an ozone generator indoors. They do not make it illegal to buy or sell ozone generators. I mean ozone generators, air purifiers do not permanently remove smells.

If it's that important for you to be right, then so be it. I just know that I live in California and I cannot buy one from The Home Depot, Lowe's, True Value, Ace Hardware, Amazon or any other legitimate retailer, hence the reason I went to ebay. They don't know if I want to use it in my house or car. They don't care and won't sell it. So, quick Google all you want if it makes you feel better, I just know what I know from personal experience IN CALIFORNIA.

Teslas are after owning are junk

Poorly made American cars , I will only buy Japanese In The future.

Trust me it does if you got the right machine

Yea but the smell is still there

You bought a used car.

You wanted the new car. Not the used car that cost 1/2 as much. Make sure you tell them next time. LOL.

Buy new if you don’t want a used car

The inspection person was smoking while conducting the 102 inspection. The smoke scent is free

I kind of was because I paid a $1500 deposit and was told if I didn’t take delivery it was lost and could NOT be transferred to another one. Either get a car or lose $1500. If the issues were bad enough I would’ve chose to eat $1500 of course

Brother, you cannot renounce on a right….

I will never trust CPO from tesla saying that the car is in perfect condition with minor scratches and bla bla bla… unless i have the opportunity to see the car before purchasing it. Had a bad experience with my first CPO from them, pretty much the same thing that is happening to you, car was in terrible condition(cement in the paint in a lot of spots of the vehicle even in the windshield)i did decline the vehicle and really had to fight for my money back, had to scale it to management, got my money back and then went for another CPO from them but this time i did wait for cars around my city to go and look them myself directly, first one i didn’t see it , just when with the flow thinking tesla is a great company and the cars they sell (use ones) pass a really deep inspection to get resell through them again but i was wrong,😑 but again once i got my money back after like a month of waiting, when back and look again and find the right one.. but like me i do recommend to get a car that you can see before you buy it.. humble advice here…

Not for long. Plus the scent is different from cigarette tar. Marijuana is fragrant like a plant.

I be watching ppl smoke cigarettes in there car I be disgusted every-time

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Even with an ozone clean, I would not accept this vehicle. I'd push against taking the vehicle.

Also be leery about used cars purchasing. The previous owner got rid of it because of something happening to the car.

To stoners sure. To people who don’t smoke it smells.

I don't smoke weed but I've been around it long enough to know that it isn't a permanent odor like cigarettes. I'm telling you, it's the tar and other crap they put in the cigarettes. Maybe you've smelled blunt smoke that didn't go away. Either way, IDGF. 🥱

We bought our CPO with zero issues, total opposite experience. Everything was described as presented upon pick up. In fact, they changed tires before pick up and it wasn’t mentioned.

Weed is not bad to get out but cigarette is. God that shit lingers. Even after you think you get it out, if you ever shampoo the carpet so are things get wet, that smell comes right fucking back

That's your opinion, but it definitely stinks.

Look it up. It's not my opinion, there's science behind it.

I also like the smell of gasoline, but for majority of people it stinks.

I bought a used model y and they fixed a small dent and replaced all 4 tires. I was pleasantly surprised with the experience. My suggestion is to go back in today, if you cant get a human on the phone.

Again, you're stating opinions. I agree that it stinks and I don't smoke it, but the issue is whether or not the smell permanently stays in fabric, walls like cigarettes. It doesn't. It generally lingers for a few days and then goes away because it doesn't have the sticky toxic tar and chemicals that cigarettes have. Yes, it has a sticky resin, but it doesn't have the same staying power.

They do. These were just points 103 & 104.

Money back!

All, this post really escalated further than I thought it would! thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I followed your advice and decided to return the car. To my surprise they basically didn’t ask a lot of questions and said “ok”. LOL. I won’t buy another Tesla from them, I have found a reseller that really cares and will go with his cars. About buying a used car: I do not live in the US, we don’t turn our life into subscriptions and monthly crippling payments unless we are starving, so this is what I could afford with the money I had available for this purchase.