Lucid Urged to Deliver More Value by Lease Customers

Turning in a leased vehicle can be a stressful experience. You’re often racing against time to line up your next car, and unless you’ve shelled out for costly protection plans, there’s the added worry of unexpected charges for wear and tear.

Fortunately, most lease agreements include a wear-and-tear guide, typically with lenient standards that acknowledge a used car won’t look brand new. But problems can arise when the leasing is handled by a third party with its own rules. That’s the situation some Lucid Air lessees say they’re facing—claiming they’ve been billed thousands of dollars in end-of-lease charges that don’t align with the terms they originally agreed to.

Customer Complaints Surface Over Costly Lease Returns

A Lucid Air driver nearing the end of their lease reached out with some troubling insights, pointing us to two active threads on the Lucid Owners forum where several lessees voiced frustration over unexpected charges and poor communication. While an online search suggests these incidents aren’t widespread, they also don’t appear to be isolated cases.

The first complaint came from a user named dapellegrini, who posted that they returned their Lucid Air after 18 months—only to be hit with a $1,825 bill for “excess wear and tear.” According to the lease return report, the charges stemmed from three alleged windshield chips and two photos of a sun visor. The invoice broke it down as $1,450 for the windshield and $375 for the visor.

From the photos shared, it’s difficult to determine what was wrong with the sun visor. As for the windshield, the so-called “chips” appeared to be minor specks—common wear seen on most vehicles and likely too small for typical auto glass repair services to address.

Dapellegrini said they tried to contact Lucid for clarification but were met with a frustrating run-around. To make matters worse, the phone number listed on the initial invoice led not to Lucid or the leasing company—but to a collection agency. After weeks of unsuccessful attempts to reach someone who could help, they gave up and decided to pay the charges. But even that proved difficult, as the available customer care channels didn’t offer a clear way to submit payment.

Other lessees reported comparable issues, extending beyond specific damage disputes. One user was hit with a $3,000 charge for three wheels allegedly scratched with “road rash.” Another faced a $200 fee for a barely noticeable scuff. Perhaps most troubling, one lessee received a $5,750 bill for damages months after returning their vehicle—following months of receiving statements claiming they were behind on payments even after the lease had ended.

Perhaps the most baffling case involves a former Lucid lessee who received a $5,800 invoice without any explanation. They have been unable to log in to view the alleged damages despite trying for a week. Interestingly, a Lucid representative reportedly described their returned vehicle as “one of the cleanest lease returns” they had ever seen. Originally planning to switch to a Lucid Gravity, this customer is now considering a Cadillac instead—disillusioned by the entire experience.

Dig a little deeper, and you’ll uncover more reports of hefty charges after lease returns. One customer was slapped with a $3,160 bill but can’t access the official damage report—only an image showing a scratch roughly the length of a credit card. Another claims they were billed $4,300 for various items, including a charger they insist was a “gift.”

Lucid’s Wear and Tear Guidelines

Some customers appear to have valid concerns, particularly those charged for minor scuffs on wheels. Lucid’s wear and tear policy is actually quite lenient—permitting dents smaller than a credit card and allowing up to 11 paint chips. Regarding wheels, only cracks, bends, or breaks are considered damage; scuffs and curb rash are explicitly excluded. However, other lessees reported legitimate charges for clearly visible damage, such as cracked wheels and tires with deep sidewall gouges.

Bank of America Manages Lucid’s Leasing

The core of the problem may lie in communication breakdowns. While Lucid dealerships sell the cars and offer lease deals under the “Lucid Financial” name, Bank of America is actually responsible for managing the finances. On top of that, a separate third-party company handles lease inspections—some owners report these inspections didn’t take place until weeks after their vehicle was returned. With three different companies involved, customers can easily find themselves caught in the middle of a confusing and frustrating process.

Some customers report they aren’t permitted to be present during the official lease inspection, and if the car fails, they have no option to take it back for repairs. For example, one lessee with full glass coverage could face costly windshield repairs that their insurance would normally cover. Others say they aren’t given access to the final inspection report. When disputes arise over charges, many customers find it difficult—or impossible—to reach anyone who can help resolve the issue.

Lucid’s Response

We reached out to Lucid for comment on these concerns. While the company declined to arrange an interview with a specific representative, it provided the following statement via email:

“We acknowledge the feedback from our customers and are actively collaborating with our banking partner to enhance the lease return process and ensure a smoother experience.”

-Lucid Motors

A few days after our inquiry, Lucid representatives engaged directly with at least two customers on the Lucid Owners forum, indicating the company is actively responding to owner concerns regarding lease return issues.