Tesla suffered a complete network outage with owners unable to connect to their cars using the firm’s mobile app.
Owners who use their phone as a key could still open and start their cars with Bluetooth but lost the use of many features, according to reports.
Observers say it is one of the biggest ever outages seen by Tesla.
The problem which started around 11am ET, appeared to be a global issue with international users reporting the same difficulties as those in the US.
People filed hundreds of complaints on the website DownDetector.com saying they could not use their mobile apps or get through to Tesla’s customer-service lines.
The firm also saw their internal systems go down with staff temporarily unable to process orders and deliveries, according to electrek.co.
Owners of Tesla solar panels and Powerwall panels could also not connect to the products.
Some connectivity began to return within 30 minutes.
The company’s stock plunged as much as 9.7 per cent to $383 following news about the outage, according to Bloomberg.com.
Tesla shares had already been sinking on Wednesday after Wall Street was unimpressed by the firm’s Battery Day presentation.
Owner Elon Musk said during it that they planned to build a $25,000 electric car within three years and slash battery costs in half.
