No One Believes Me, But It’s True, I Parked My Tesla Model 3 In the Front Of the Restaurant, and When I Came Out, It Had Driven Itself To the Back

Could this story be true?

Charlie Nystel has a fantastical story that she posted on the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club Facebook page. Is it true? No one believes her, but she insists it happened to her.

She says, "I have had many people say this did not or could not happen. But it DID happen. To me. One time. Not in a dream. Not in my imagination. In real life. If you choose not to believe me, that is all well  and good, but your disbelief does not make it any less true."

Imagine owning your Tesla Model 3 for one day and driving it to a restaurant for breakfast on a Saturday morning. You park in front of the restaurant on the edge of the parking lot. You order food, have a leisurely breakfast, and pay the waitress. 

When you go out to get in your car, it's gone. Your Tesla Model 3 is not in the spot in front of the restaurant where you parked it. Your first thought is that someone has stolen it. 

So, you get on your phone's Tesla location app, and you see that your car is at the back of the restaurant, just a short distance from where you parked it. You are stunned when you walk around the builc=ding and see you Model 3 parked there. 

Let's hear what Charlie has to say. 

She says, "I have a funny story. I drove to a restaurant for breakfast the first day I had my car. I parked the car facing a drop-off of about eight feet, but it had a concrete barrier.  We went in and ate breakfast, but when we came out, my car was gone! I panicked!"  

"I immediately went to the edge to see if somehow it had gone over, but no, it wasn't there; it was just gone." 

"Then I thought oh my gosh, someone has stolen it, but then I thought how could they?  So I opened up to my phone app and looked at the location. The location app said my Model 3 was now parked behind the restaurant."   

"I think I had left the summons part of the app open, stuck it in my pocket, and somehow it was moving to the point where it thought I wanted it."

"I am now carefuul NOT to have the Tesla app open when I stick my phone in my purse or pocket."

No One Believes Charlie's Story 

You can imagine the number of comments saying this did not happen, but Charlie insists it did happen to her. 

Bob says, "This can't be real. You have to hold the button to make the car move physically. You're solely responsible, and that can't happen in your pocket or purse. Again, this is your statement and comment. I would dig further into this as that would not be safe. Good luck."

Charlie responds and says, "It DID happen. I put my phone in my pocket, went in and had breakfast. Not sure at what point the car moved, but when I got out, it wasn't where I had left it. At some point in my pocket pressure must have been applied to the go to target button. It is the only thing I can think of. I have a Samsung Galaxy Z fold phone."

There are over 30 comments that say they don't believe this could happen. 

Charlie says, "What surprised me even more now is the number of people who commented that it did not happen or could not happen. The whole point of the post was to point out that it CAN (did) happen and to be careful with the phone/app so you don't run into the same situation and possibly have a bad outcome." 

"It is very real! I thought, OMG, my car was stolen, and I had not even had it one day! The relief I felt when I looked at the location on my phone and saw it just around the back of the restaurant. I was just glad there were not a lot of witnesses to my stupidity!"

How Does the Tesla Summon App Work?

The 'Summon' app in the Tesla mobile app allows you to automatically park and retrieve your Tesla while standing outside the vehicle. It has two main modes: 'Dumb Summon ' and 'Actually Smart Summon' (ASS). 'Dumb Summon' moves the car straight forward or reverses into or out of a parking spot, while 'Actually Smart Summon' (ASS) can maneuver the vehicle to your location or a designated place, stopping for objects as needed. 

This feature is a part of Tesla's Autopilot system, which is designed to assist the driver in parking and retrieving the vehicle. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Dumb Summon:

• Moves the car in a straight line (forward or reverse). 
• It requires you to align the vehicle with the parking space so it can follow a straight path. 
• You can move the car in and out of a parking space. 

Actually Smart Summon (ASS):

• Move the car to your location (using your phone's GPS) or to a designated location on the map.
• Can maneuver around objects and stop as needed.
• You can move the car to your location or a designated target. 

Tesla says,

• Summon is a BETA feature, and it's essential to monitor the car and its surroundings at all times. 
• It's the driver's responsibility to use Summon safely, responsibly, and as intended. 
• Summon may not operate in certain conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, fog, or obstacles blocking the path. 
• Summon may not operate if the key fob battery is low. 

Mark L. Dzierzbicki says he believes it could happen. "The fact that it didn't go into a parking spot sells me. I'm with you! We're not talking about a 68 Chevy. This (Tesla Model 3) is a computer with a car wrapped around it. So thanks for sharing." 

In occlusion, Charlie says, "I have no reason to make up this story. It was funny to me after the fact. I told my friends and posted it on Facebook because they know me and can conclude I wasn't having a blonde moment."

How About You?

Have you used the Summon feature on your Tesla? Do you believe Charlie's story could be true? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know what you think happened.

Check out my Tesla Cybertruck story: My Tesla Cybertruck Just Drove Itself Back To the Dealer Because of the Heavy Debt I Owe, Come Back Cybertruck

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl