A Texas owner of the luxurious Rolls-Royce Spectre electric car is suing the manufacturer because her vehicle failed just four months after purchase. The car, worth over half a million dollars with a serious battery fault, has been sitting at a service center for months without the possibility of repair.
The Problem with the Luxury Electric Car
A dissatisfied Rolls-Royce buyer from Texas has filed a lawsuit against the automaker, alleging that her 2025 Spectre Black Badge model failed just four months after delivery due to a serious battery defect. This legal dispute is an unwanted issue for the brand, which plans to expand its electric lineup, including an electric sedan and SUV.
The Spectre Black Badge is the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever created.
The lawsuit, filed against Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America and authorized dealer Avondale Dealership, claims that plaintiff Marcy M. Donowitz paid $546,385 for a custom Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge in early 2025. She received the car on June 23, 2025.
Sudden Breakdown After a Few Months
The situation quickly deteriorated. According to the documents, the car suffered a sudden and serious breakdown in October, just a few months after delivery. The plaintiff claims the electric car soon became immobile, and she sent it to the dealer for inspection.
The dealership reportedly informed her via text message that parts had been ordered, but they were out of stock, and the delivery timeline was unknown.
Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge
After 40 days with no progress, Donowitz contacted a lawyer and sent a letter to Rolls-Royce demanding they buy back the car and refund her money. The company refused. As of February, as stated in the lawsuit, the Spectre remains in the possession of Avondale Dealership and has not been repaired. The documents refer to this luxury electric car as a “lemon.”
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims the car has a serious battery defect that makes it dangerous and unfit for use. It is also alleged that Rolls-Royce and the dealer failed to diagnose or repair the car within a reasonable time, and they are holding onto the car even as it depreciates.
The Issue of Resale Value
The lawsuit also claims that Rolls-Royce was aware of reliability issues and depreciation in the secondary market related to the Spectre model but did not disclose this information to the plaintiff during or before the sale.
Donowitz is seeking compensation for economic damages, including a full buyback or rescission of the sales contract, compensation for loss of use and enjoyment, diminished value, incidental and consequential losses, pre- and post-judgment interest, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs associated with the case.
This case highlights not only a specific problem with an expensive electric car but also the broader challenges faced by luxury car manufacturers during the transition to electric propulsion. Even for brands with an image of impeccable quality, technical issues with new technologies can lead to serious legal consequences and reputational damage. The situation also raises questions about consumer protection in the market for very expensive goods, where expectations for reliability and service are exceptionally high. The prolonged downtime of a car at a service center with no clear repair prospects could become a test for consumer protection legislation in the context of high-tech vehicles.