$30K Lease for a Car I Can’t Drive — Lucid Ghosted Me

[chris]

Also, if your theory were correct, I probably wouldn’t be able to drive other vehicles without experiencing the symptoms. But I can.

Am I safe to assume you would get just as ill being in the passenger seat having someone else drive your Lucid?

So you mentioned a Model 3 not making you sick. Was it an AWD model 3 or RWD (just curious)? Also, were you able to drive it for a prolonged period or only in it a short amount of time equivalent to your prior Lucid test drive?

Do you have anyone else (friend or family) that could drive your Lucid for as long as it normally takes for you to get sick and see if it affects them as well? If there is perhaps somehow some shielding that wasn't installed correctly or forgotten, I would expect more people would encounter the same ill effects. (its my theory anyway).

That's my thoughts anyway.

I've had my AWD Lucid since July 2023 (a 2023 model) and have had none of the issues you speak of (not as a driver or passenger including on a 4000 mile trip where I didn't drive 2000 of the miles since we shared the driving). I would wonder if you would experience the same thing in my Lucid for example. Would I experience the same issues as you in yours? I have no idea where you are in the country but the idea of a loaner Lucid already mentioned to see if you encounter the same issue seems reasonable to me because if you do not, THEN I'd start to question shielding in yours during assembly (especially if prolonged driving in yours by others yield the same negative results).

 

[zer0t0115]

I want to warn others about my deeply disappointing and costly experience with Lucid Motors.

In June I leased a 2025 Lucid Air. Within the first week, I began experiencing disturbing physical symptoms while driving the vehicle — intense inner ear pressure and dizziness that often linger for days. This wasn’t a one-time incident; it was consistent and debilitating.

I contacted Lucid immediately to report the issue. Their response? They did absolutely nothing. No inspection, no offer to fix the issue, no discussion of options. When I asked to revisit the lease agreement given that I can't physically drive the car without it making me ill, they flatly refused. Then they stopped responding altogether.

Now I’m stuck paying over $30,000 for a vehicle that literally makes me sick to drive. Lucid has shown zero accountability or customer care.

I strongly urge anyone considering a Lucid vehicle to think twice. If something goes wrong, don’t expect support or even a basic level of responsibility from this company. This has been one of the worst consumer experiences of my life.

I thought I saw a news story on this recently. It happens to some people with EVs not specifically Lucid. I read a post from someone who had the same issue in a Model X.

 

[Electronic-Lab0]

So the moment you get in the car you start having issues? And this is even without driving at all?

It usually isn't the moment I get in. In the beginning, it took 20-30 minutes to manifest. When I drove the car more often, it started taking 5-10 minutes. And yes, I experimented one day and found that it happened without driving.

 

[Electronic-Lab0]

I have a couple of things and questions.
I'm very sympathetic you your issue OP.
1. How are you out $30k? On a lease in general it is a mistake to put a large down payment as cap reduction. That is because of anything happens that money does not come back. It is much better to pay the minimum at signing and using the money that you would have done cap reduction for lease payments.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way.

My Chihuahua has an issue with my daughter's Chevy Bolt and only her Chevy Bolt. Both the current one and the previous one. No issue with my i4, Fisker Ocean (now gone) or the current Lucid Air.

I do believe there could be something unique to the Lucid that is causing you issues. I don't know the solution. I don't necessarily think it's a design defect, per se, but it feels like one to you and that's what ultimately matters.

If you were not heavily invested, you could do an early lease end.

I hope you find a solution.
As others have said, have you tried with windows down, air on/off, fresh air only? Things that try to equalize inner ear? Do you ears "pop"?
I have chronic nasal issues and if you have similar issues maybe a decongestant might help.

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I’ve already tried driving with the windows down, air off, etc. Also, $30k is the amount due under the lease, which the agreement specifies would be owed in the event of early termination—potentially plus additional charges such as storage costs. So $30k may actually be a low estimate.

 

[hydbob]

It usually isn't the moment I get in. In the beginning, it took 20-30 minutes to manifest. When I drove the car more often, it started taking 5-10 minutes. And yes, I experimented one day and found that it happened without driving.

does it happen if you get in the car and the windows are rolled down?

 

[EVCar]

It usually isn't the moment I get in. In the beginning, it took 20-30 minutes to manifest. When I drove the car more often, it started taking 5-10 minutes. And yes, I experimented one day and found that it happened without driving.

A thought just occurred to me:
There is a possibility that you're allergic to some chemicals in this car. And this would be very difficult to pin down as I suspect there are a zillion parts in the car such as leather, trims, etc., that have undergone a variety of preps involving many chemicals so you may not experience same symptoms sitting in another Air where the interiors were prepped with different processes.
If the onset of symptoms is faster when you drive the car more often, that would suggest that you've been sensitized to whatever the offending agents are, hence the faster reaction.
If it's me, I'd roll all the windows down, leave the car in open air for a week and see if that would make a difference.
Diagnosing a pathologic process is similar to playing detectives where potential suspects are sequentially ruled out, so any clue is important.
The 20-30 minutes vs 5-10 minutes that you described may mean something here, or not.
Be prepared that it may take your docs a while.

 

[WildRide47]

A thought just occurred to me:
There is a possibility that you're allergic to some chemicals in this car. And this would be very difficult to pin down as I suspect there are a zillion parts in the car such as leather, trims, etc., that have undergone a variety of preps involving many chemicals so you may not experience same symptoms sitting in another Air where the interiors were prepped with different processes.
If the onset of symptoms is faster when you drive the car more often, that would suggest that you've been sensitized to whatever the offending agents are, hence the faster reaction.
If it's me, I'd roll all the windows down, leave the car in open air for a week and see if that would make a difference.
Diagnosing a pathologic process is similar to playing detectives where potential suspects are sequentially ruled out, so any clue is important.
The 20-30 minutes vs 5-10 minutes that you described may mean something here, or not.
Be prepared that it may take your docs a while.

Good thinking. You may possibly be on the right track here.

 

[Steveinarizona]

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I’ve already tried driving with the windows down, air off, etc. Also, $30k is the amount due under the lease, which the agreement specifies would be owed in the event of early termination—potentially plus additional charges such as storage costs. So $30k may actually be a low estimate.

You don't say where you are located. If you are in a city with a decent number of Lucid owners who are members of this forum you might be able to find one who will let you take an hour's drive with him/her and see if the problem replicates. If it does, Lucid must be doing something that you are allergic to (see EVCar's excellent post above) and, whether you can identify it or not, you would then need to stay away from Lucid vehicles. If it does not, you need Dr. Gregory House to figure it out.