$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.

 

[Electronic-Lab0]

I appreciate the additional input, though I doubt an allergy is the cause. I have no known allergies, and if anything, I suspect the more likely culprit is high- or low-frequency sounds the vehicle emits. That said, I’ll continue consulting specialists to see if they can help determine the cause.

At the suggestion of others in this thread, I asked Lucid if I could try a RWD Air for a limited period (e.g., day or two) to see if it produces the same symptoms. Lucid unexpectedly replied, but here’s what they said: “You will need to contact the closest studio if you want a test drive and, of course, you will need to end your current lease.”

In short, Lucid’s handling of my situation has been marked by complete unhelpfulness and indifference. Their only “troubleshooting” was a single suggestion with no follow-up, no structured diagnostic process, and no meaningful attempt to identify or resolve the issue. When I sought options to address the problem, they refused to engage and ultimately stopped responding altogether.

I strongly urge anyone considering a Lucid vehicle to think twice. If you report a serious issue—even within the first week—you may find yourself ignored and stuck absorbing the full cost of an expensive lease. My experience suggests that Lucid does not prioritize consumer well-being.

 

[zer0t0115]

I got this from GPT researcher. As I mentioned earlier I thought I could a news report on people having issues with EV causing ear pain based on motion sickness.

Inner ear pain while driving an electric vehicle (EV) may be related to motion sickness caused by the vehicle's rapid acceleration and deceleration, particularly due to regenerative braking. The lack of sound in EVs can also contribute to a sensory mismatch, making it harder for passengers to anticipate movements, which may lead to discomfort or pain in the ears.

Can Electric Cars Give You Motion Sickness? Deal With Car Sickness

A recent study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute found that people experience less motion sickness in autonomous cars than in

www.evspeedy.com

 

[Electronic-Lab0]

I got this from GPT researcher. As I mentioned earlier I thought I could a news report on people having issues with EV causing ear pain based on motion sickness.

Inner ear pain while driving an electric vehicle (EV) may be related to motion sickness caused by the vehicle's rapid acceleration and deceleration, particularly due to regenerative braking. The lack of sound in EVs can also contribute to a sensory mismatch, making it harder for passengers to anticipate movements, which may lead to discomfort or pain in the ears.

Can Electric Cars Give You Motion Sickness? Deal With Car Sickness

A recent study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute found that people experience less motion sickness in autonomous cars than in

www.evspeedy.com

Thanks. I also think motion sickness is unlikely to be the cause. I’m fine in other EVs and even rented a Tesla Model 3 for an extended period without any issues.

 

[hydbob]

I appreciate the additional input, though I doubt an allergy is the cause. I have no known allergies, and if anything, I suspect the more likely culprit is high- or low-frequency sounds the vehicle emits. That said, I’ll continue consulting specialists to see if they can help determine the cause.

At the suggestion of others in this thread, I asked Lucid if I could try a RWD Air for a limited period (e.g., day or two) to see if it produces the same symptoms. Lucid unexpectedly replied, but here’s what they said: “You will need to contact the closest studio if you want a test drive and, of course, you will need to end your current lease.”

In short, Lucid’s handling of my situation has been marked by complete unhelpfulness and indifference. Their only “troubleshooting” was a single suggestion with no follow-up, no structured diagnostic process, and no meaningful attempt to identify or resolve the issue. When I sought options to address the problem, they refused to engage and ultimately stopped responding altogether.

I strongly urge anyone considering a Lucid vehicle to think twice. If you report a serious issue—even within the first week—you may find yourself ignored and stuck absorbing the full cost of an expensive lease. My experience suggests that Lucid does not prioritize consumer well-being.

I'm at a loss, truly, what you expect from Lucid? Given everything posted here it seems there is nothing they can do short of letting you out of your lease that will satisfy you. There is limited time and resources they have available to you to help diagnose your medical condition causing the problem, which is not within their scope of responsibilities.

 

[Electronic-Lab0]

I'm at a loss, truly, what you expect from Lucid? Given everything posted here it seems there is nothing they can do short of letting you out of your lease that will satisfy you. There is limited time and resources they have available to you to help diagnose your medical condition causing the problem, which is not within their scope of responsibilities.

I have to assume you haven't actually read "everything posted" because several of the points you raise have already been discussed. Also, it’s not accurate to say that “a medical condition” is causing the problem. I’ve driven multiple other vehicles (including EVs) without any symptoms, so this is tied to this car, not my health in general.

Just to be clear, the issue isn’t just the symptoms. It's also Lucid’s complete lack of a meaningful response. For example, here are 10 things besides cancelling the lease that Lucid could've done but didn't:

1. Arrange a prompt, in-person inspection of the vehicle.
2. Provide a structured diagnostic plan instead of a single email suggestion.
3. Let me try a different Lucid Air configuration (e.g., non-AWD).
4. Involve engineering experts to investigate possible causes.
5. Escalate the case internally as a potential product-safety issue.
6. Allow a lease transfer or sublet.
7. Offer early termination with reduced or waived penalties.
8. Keep consistent communication instead of going silent.
9. Show genuine concern for the customer’s health.
10. Learn from the incident to improve product safety and support.

Instead, Lucid did none of these things, and I’m left with a three-year, $30k+ lease for a car I physically cannot drive. This isn’t about personal medical history. It’s about a company showing indifference to a serious customer issue and refusing to take reasonable steps to address it.

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[elin]

Thanks. I also think motion sickness is unlikely to be the cause. I’m fine in other EVs and even rented a Tesla Model 3 for an extended period without any issues.

from what i hear teslas dont have as good sound deadening as the lucid so its possible the higher cabin noise in the model 3 prevents you from experiencing motion sickness.

 

[PureJoy77]

OP, what you’re experiencing reminds me of the years of suffering my mother endured when riding in cars with symptoms very similar to yours. She too felt that some cars always made her feel sick (my Acura and dad’s Ford) and then being in her Hyundai (she’s Korean) always made her feel better. We thought she was nuts (no offense). It took years of doctor/specialist visits to finally diagnose her with Ménière’s Disease. Even after her diagnosis, a psychological element remained and she continued to believe that she could only drive/ride in a Hyundai and not feel sick. Please google “Meniere's Disease and Cars” to learn more.

 

[Pwmac]

Can you Turo a leased a vehicle?