While sitting in my car going through the car wash, I hear POW, POW, POW! That's the loud sound Tyler Vallot (@tylervallot.exp) heard while sitting in his new Tesla Model X as he went through the automatic car wash. What was going on? That's what he was trying to figure out. Everyone has taken their car through an automatic car wash with the enormous brushes that clean their car or truck. You pull up, and the attendant sprays your car down first to get the worst road grime off your vehicle. You put your car's transmission in neutral, wait for the car ahead of you to move, and then begin to feel the car wash pull your car forward into the tunnel and watch as the large brushes run over the top, windshield, and sides of your car. You sit and look at your phone, checking for any new messages or sending a text. Imagine Tyler, a Realtor, getting his car ready to pick up a client for a house showing. He wants his new Tesla Model X to look its best. Everything is going well; he has plenty of time to get the car washed and vacuumed at the full-service car wash center, and then disaster strikes. He hears a loud POW, POW, POW over and over, and he's terrified. Something is striking his white Tesla X's windows over and over. It looks like someone is shooting his windows with a gun. His car is being assaulted. Here is Tyler's terrifying car wash story. Tyler says, "Dude, so I cannot catch a freaking break. So look at this. So, I'm going through this car wash at White Water. And this (in his TikTok video, he shows a yellow tow strap) was wrapped up in one of the brushes that spins to wash your car." While I'm sitting in the car, and it's pulling me through the car wash, I hear POW, POW, POW, and I'm wondering what the (expletive) is going on? So, I'm screaming because someone is breaking my windows, so I'm banging on the window, and I'm screaming, and I'm honking the horn for them to stop. They finally stopped the car, and I could not believe what had happened. I cannot catch a break. First, I was rear-ended last week, and now this. I am Livid. Stepping out of his car, Tyler is met with a sight that leaves him in shock. His new Tesla Model X is marred with damage. In a follow-up video, he says, "This is the first spot it hit." The glass looks like someone hit it with a hammer, and then he says, "And then POW, there it hit again." He shows the second and third spots and then the fourth time. "Look at how deep the glass shattered." Then again, POW, right here, the sixth time, hit the glass strip where you put the key to unlock it, and there's a camera in there that's completely blocked. It missed the back window, thanks for that, and then it hit this triangular window, POW, and you can actually see the frame of the car that's how hard the impact was. Tyler says, "The last two places it hit are on the rear fender right next to the taillight, POW, POW." First, Tyler's Tesla Model X is assaulted by a wheel going through the White Water car wash, and then he has to deal with the company's insurance to get it fixed. His ordeal isn't over yet. "And just in case this happens to anyone, the car wash is replacing the damaged windows and fixing my rear fender. I had to go into the office and fill out an accident report, and they have 72 hours to get back, and they did call on the third day," he says. They said they would fix it, and then two days later, they called and said their insurance company would fix it, and I could deal with them. So, I called their insurance, and it's a big mess because only one place is certified to work on a Tesla. Finally, I called my own insurance company so they could fix my car and then go after their insurance company to get reimbursed. That's what we are doing now. Tyler concludes, "The car wash was apologetic about it, but I am still livid." His resentment towards the car wash is still fresh, a testament to the lasting impact of the incident. What happened at the car wash that nearly destroyed Tyler's Tesla Model X? The tow strap in the automatic car wash on the passenger side was likely from a truck that went through the car right ahead of his car. It could have been left in the pickup bed and then picked up by the car wash mechanism and lodged in its large brush. The carwash attendant is supposed to check for anything loose in a truck bed and have the owner remove it and put it on the vehicle. The attendant missed seeing the tow strap, which was a big mistake. What should you do if a car wash damages your vehicle? A report from Progressive Insurance says, "Before leaving the car wash, check the interior and exterior of your vehicle for damage so that you can report it immediately. If you wait until you get home, it will be difficult to prove where or when the damage occurred." "If you notice a problem, let the car wash owner know so you can complete an incident report. Include as many details as possible and take photos of the damage in case you need them in the future." Should car owners avoid the automatic car wash? One Reddit user, RollingCoal115, says, "When I worked at a carwash when I was a teen, we had about 25 vehicles go through before a customer noticed a huge scratch on his passenger side that wasn't there before he came in." "It turned out to be from a truck that came through, and in the bed of the truck was fishing line… It got stuck in one of the spinning raps." So, dirt and pebbles are the least of your worries. I would only ever go through a touchless wash if I had a quality true ceramic coating, and it was necessary to get a wash when I was away from home." Another Reddit user, wellpaidscientist says, "I only use a touchless car wash. But they rely on harsher soaps and greater water pressure. Nowhere near as bad, but not perfect. I just dry with turtle wax "wax and dry." Conclusion. If you have an expensive car and want to keep it looking its best, protect the paint, and not have damage done, wash it yourself. The automatic car wash is convenient, but the car owner should beware. Have you sustained damage to your car or truck when going through an automatic car wash? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know. Check out my Tesla Model X story titled, I Covered My Tesla Model X In Christmas Lights, RIP to My $100K Car, Who Let Me Do This, and Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This Was Going To Happen? 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 via Tyler Vallot