After recovering her Tesla from a Tampa tow lot, a Florida driver was left with more than a hefty fee. Her car later displayed alerts tied to park assist and the vehicle's safety restraint system.
Here's what to know
According to Motor1.com, Florida Tesla owner Makyla Monroe (@makylaamonroee) posted a TikTok video claiming Target Towing in Tampa moved her red Model 3 with its rear wheels on the ground rather than loading it onto a flatbed.
She discovered the car being hauled that way as she walked out of a Chipotle.
"I drive a Tesla and it cannot be dragged, it has to go on a flatbed because of it being an electric vehicle, right?" Monroe said in the clip.
When she went to retrieve the Tesla, Monroe immediately told staff the tow had been done the wrong way.
"So I finally make it to the towing company after having to miss work," she said. "They made me pay I think $185 dollars or $183 dollars. And … she wouldn't let me get my car until I paid it. But I was telling her that they improperly towed my car. She was like 'you can reach out to a manager and they can escalate it from there.'"
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Repeated phone calls and two emails did not lead to any acknowledgment or remediation from the company, she maintained.
More background
Monroe later uploaded photos from the Tesla's infotainment screen showing "Park Assist Unavailable" and a service warning for the "safety restraint system."
She also shared pictures of black scuffs underneath the rear portion of the car that appeared to bleed into the red paint.
According to Monroe, a towing company employee told her that a flatbed is not required for every Tesla.
Tesla then advised her to send the company two reference images: one marked "do" showing flatbed transport and another marked "don't" showing the vehicle being towed with wheels on the ground.
The issues Monroe described went beyond cosmetic damage. She missed work to retrieve the car, and the warnings she shared involved driver assistance and seatbelt-related systems.
Tesla's owner's guide warns that "a flatbed is Tesla's recommended way to move the car," adding that "all four tires must stay off the road during transport … do not transport the vehicle with wheels on the ground."
Motor1.com also noted that the Model X manual stresses that owners "ensure … the tires are unable to spin at any time during [tow] transport."
What can be done?
Monroe is considering taking the matter to small claims court or seeking a lawyer.
In the comments on her post, one commenter encouraged her to pursue legal options, writing: "Sue tf out of them! Hillsborough County Court has free legal services to file your claim."
Another commenter suggested going through the towing company's insurer instead.
"File a claim with the tow company's liability insurance," they wrote. "They will settle quick to avoid a rate increase."
Motor1.com cited Gulisano Law, which says Florida towing companies can be held responsible for such damages under Fla. Stat. § 715.07(2)(a)(8): "Tow companies are liable for any damage negligently caused to the vehicle."
Motor1.com emailed Monroe and Target Recovery & Towing for comment but has not heard back.
Monroe said her "seatbelts don't work, and [she has] … a safety restraint now due to them towing my car like that."
Where can I learn more?
Monroe's ordeal is one of several cases involving Tesla owners dealing with damage, steep repair bills, and safety questions after routine incidents or equipment problems.
• A used Tesla Model Y owner faced a $7,345 repair bill after a car wash seal failure.
• Tesla's Emergency Drive Away feature can trigger up to $25,000 in damage at Superchargers.
• American regulators tally Tesla's Autopilot crash reports, but what happened stays hidden from public view.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
