A $110,000 Tesla Solar Roof never produced power — now the company is liable for fraud

A California homeowner's roughly $110,000 Tesla Solar Roof never supplied electricity to his house. 

After the company repeatedly failed to turn over evidence in the resulting lawsuit, a judge has ruled that Tesla is liable for fraud, according to Electrek, leaving potentially substantial damages to be decided.

Here's what to know

An 18.2-kilowatt roof and six Powerwall batteries brought homeowner Ambrose Conroy's project to roughly $110,000 after contract amendments made by February 2021. 

The Rancho Santa Fe homeowner had initially signed an $82,210 contract in March 2020, per Electrek, which reviewed court records.

In the lawsuit filed in 2022, Tesla admitted liability for negligence and breaches of contract and warranty. The installation had neither been completed nor received county inspection approval.

Tesla's liability for fraud and negligent misrepresentation was established in a Sept. 11 ruling from San Diego Superior Court Judge Cynthia Freeland after the company missed another discovery deadline. 

That followed a $13,500 discovery sanction in June and an earlier $15,467.50 sanction in February.

For those two claims, a trial would determine compensatory and punitive damages, not liability.

Freeland found "ample evidence to support that Defendants have acted willfully."

More background

For repairs alone, Conroy cited an estimate of "well over $2.5 million." 

That was in addition to the installation costs.

His complaint describes a roof tear-off scheduled to take two days that instead took two weeks, leaving decking exposed. 

It also alleges that workers intentionally installed damaged tiles and left shattered glass in the driveway and lawn, and the family says glass shards remain a hazard in their yard.

At least seven managers oversaw the project in succession. Tesla informed Conroy in November 2021 that the people responsible for its repair plan had left the company and that nobody in the area was available to perform the work.

The problems persisted into February 2025, when Tesla failed another county inspection after arriving without venting system plans.

Conroy's electrical expert concluded that wiring and conduit beneath the tiles posed a risk of short circuits and fire during heavy rain.

The complaint also quotes Tesla director of model engineering Bobby Yang describing the house as being in the "99.5 percentile in terms of complexity."

What's being done?

Tesla is challenging the fraud sanction. 

In an Oct. 29 filing, the company requested a pause while seeking review by the California Court of Appeal, calling the order "unduly punitive" and arguing that it violated due process.

The company maintains that it has produced all relevant evidence and that the discovery dispute was unrelated to the fraud claims.

A readiness conference is scheduled for Dec. 4, and the Nov. 20 trial date has been taken off the calendar. Freeland had denied Tesla's request to reconsider her ruling on Oct. 27.

Conroy's roof is being removed. 

His complaint also cites a 2025 action by the California Contractors State License Board to revoke Tesla's contractor licenses because of abandoned Solar Roof projects, Electrek noted.

Tesla's documents, which the company was slow to produce, could help substantiate Conroy's theory.

Freeland wrote when denying reconsideration that the company "knowingly used Plaintiff's home as an experiment while knowing they lacked the experience to perform as promised."

Where can I learn more?

Conroy's case raises questions about Tesla's solar installation work and the support homeowners can expect afterward. These related stories cover installer losses, insurance reviews, removal costs, warranty questions, and stalled repairs.

• Tesla's Solar Roof exit left installers facing six-figure losses and questions from owners.

• A New Jersey homebuyer says Tesla's discontinued Solar Roof triggered a last-minute insurance review.

• A homebuyer exploring Tesla Solar Roof removal learned it could require a whole new roof.

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