Angry Tesla owner blows up his Model S with dynamite after being told it would cost $22,500 to fix the battery pack

By Nickie Louise

Are you planning to buy a new electric car? If so, you might want to read this story before you shell out thousands of dollars on a new Tesla car. An unhappy Tesla owner Finland decided to blow up his Model S after being told it would cost him €20,000 ($22000) in battery repair cost.

It all started after Tuomas Katainen noticed the Model S’ instrument cluster began displaying multiple error codes. He later took the car to a Tesla service center for repair. After almost a month-long of inspection, the dealership finally got back to him. He was told that the only solution to the problem was to replace the entire battery pack at the cost of $22,500 (20,000 Euros).

That was not all. The dealership also informed him that the warranty for his eight-year-old car had also expired. In a video posted on YouTube with English subtitles, Katainen said:

“When I bought that Tesla, the first 1,500 km were nice. It was an excellent car. Then the error codes hit. So I ordered the tow truck to take my car to the service station. For almost a month the car was at the dealer’s workshop and I finally got a call that they cannot do anything for my car. The only option is to change the whole battery cell.” Katainen says in the video.

“So, I told them I am coming to pick up my car. And now I am going to explode the whole car away because apparently there was no guarantee or anything,” he says.

“There’s nothing left. Absolutely nothing,” Katainen says into the camera.

“I never enjoyed this much with the Tesla! And also, maybe I am the first person in the world who has exploded a Tesla. So maybe, made some history.”

As a token of disgust towards Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Katainen and his friends also placed a doll in the likeness of Musk in the car before the fireworks got underway. The Youtube video has been viewed more than 1,394,213, at the time of this writing.

Below is the English subtitle of the video.

00:01

Finland

00:05

Finnish Sisu, persistence and determination is highly valued in every place on earth for centuries.

00:17

“If i said so, it sure will be done!”

00:21

Has been said in ancient times by our ancestors

00:24

Thank god, this built-in feature still exists in us today.

00:31

Living in the North is difficult anyway.

00:36

From time to time, things just go wrong, shit hits the fan, then it’s time for this Finnish intransigence to step on lead!

00:51

Pommijätkä’s proudly presents:

00:56

Welcome to Jaala, an idyllic rural village of a couple of thousand inhabitants.

01:03

A very special blasting operation would be carried out here at the former quarry.

01:12

This time Pommijätkä’s mission is to explode 2013 Tesla model S.

01:19

But why?

01:21

Well, owner, Tuomas Katainen self can tell us why.

01:27

Well, when i Bought that Tesla, the first 1500 km were nice, it was excellent car so far.

01:35

Then error codes hit in, so i ordered tow truck to take my car in a service.

01:42

So car was about a month in a Tesla dealers workshop,

01:46

and finally i got call that they can’t do anything for my car, only option is to change whole battery cell.

01:53

Cost would be at least 20000€, and permission for operation has to ask from Tesla.

02:04

So i told them that i’m coming to pick Tesla, now i’m going to explode whole car away,

02:13

because apparently there was no guarantee or anything.

02:19

So car went back in jyväskylä and i started to make plan about a explode with my guys.

02:26

Then i took a phone in a hand and called for Pommi-Henkka that would he be interested to explode a Tesla?

02:33

Henkka was excited and willing to take a task.

02:37

So now we are in a point when there is a bombs attached on a car and Tesla is ready to go.

02:45

Blasting away a car is not so simple.

02:49

First thing is a safety, there is no room for errors.

02:55

There is a different kind of risks, like pressure wave, because there is about 30 kg of dynamite.

03:02

So very powerful explosive in use, pressure wave will be enormous.

03:09

All explosives are in a same side of car, so we know what direction blast is aimed.

03:17

So all fragments should hit on a rockwall in behind of car.

03:22

That way we will be in safe.

03:28

Everything seems to be ready for blast.

03:33

But first, we would like to know what Tuomas think about, which would be better, working Tesla, or 30 kg of dynamite explosion?

03:43

Sort of both.. maybe more explosion.

04:14

Oh, he’s fine!

04:15

Yes, he is here!

04:17

Well, Elon called us yesterday and told that he really want to take ride with that Tesla.

04:30

Enjoy your voyage!

04:31

Yes, see ya!

04:47

All right! Now we are inside of bunker and ready to push a button! Any thoughts by now?

04:54

Feels so good right now, can’t wait the blast..

04:59

So be good…

05:00

You have instructions given, right?

05:03

Yes.

05:05

So now, countdown all together!

05:11

3

05:12

2

05:13

1

05:32

Now it’s gone!

07:06

There is nothing left!

07:09

Nothing?

07:09

Absolutely nothing!

07:12

Here you see results of working instantly!

07:15

So have you ever enjoyed this much behind of wheel in Tesla?

07:20

No, never enjoyed this much with Tesla!

07:24

And also, maybe i am first person in a world who has exploded a Tesla!

07:31

So maybe made some history!

07:35

this episode is dedicated to Thomas and his friends.

07:51

Tuomas did not ask for financial help to blow up the car. However, a large number of people wanted to go along to help.

07:55

Everything seen in the video has been implemented with the assistance of volunteers ! Thank you to everyone who participated!

This article originally appeared in Tech Startups