DMV Says Tesla's Full Self-Driving Name is False Advertising; Tesla Responds

December 12, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

Tesla has been improving its FSD features since introducing it in 2016

Tesla

Elon Musk bought, gutted, and revived Twitter, now X, for many reasons, but one of the biggest was allowing free speech. Now, Tesla has positioned its defense against the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on the grounds of free speech.

Tesla asserts that the DMV's accusations of false advertising, especially regarding its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature, infringe upon its First Amendment rights. This defense follows years after the introduction of Tesla's automated driving features.

Background of the Dispute

The legal skirmish traces back to the DMV's investigation, initiated in May 2021. The agency accuses Tesla of misleading claims about its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capabilities, suggesting that these systems could enable entirely autonomous trips without driver intervention. Tesla, however, contends that it has been transparent about the limitations of these systems in its owner's manuals and in-car notifications.

Tesla argues the DMV's lack of action against using terms like "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving Capability" since 2014 and 2016 amounts to an implicit approval. The company claims that this inaction over the years should now preclude the DMV from pursuing legal action.

Potential Consequences for Tesla

The stakes are high for Tesla in this legal dispute. Should the DMV prevail, Tesla could face the revocation of its California manufacturer's license and possibly be required to compensate customers who have suffered financial losses due to the alleged false advertising.

This legal tussle has significant implications for Tesla, particularly in California, its largest market in the United States. The outcome of this case could influence not only Tesla's business operations but also customer trust and perception of the brand's technology offerings.

Amidst this legal confrontation, Tesla also faces scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over safety concerns related to its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. These investigations are part of a broader examination of the safety and reliability of driver assistance technologies in the evolving landscape of autonomous vehicles.

Tesla continues to refine its driver assistance technologies amidst these challenges, with the removal of ultrasonic sensors in 2022 marking a notable change in its approach. FSD version 12 is rolling out to employees, introducing a major shift in autonomous technology. Instead of hundreds of thousands of coding lines, the new system relies on neural networks. As the legal and regulatory landscape evolves, Tesla's journey with its pioneering technologies will remain in the spotlight and under constant scrutiny.

Tesla Issues Physical Recall for Some Model 3 & Model Y Vehicles Over Seat Fasteners

June 27, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has issued a new, voluntary safety recall for a small batch of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to an issue with improperly tightened fasteners in the first-row seats.

The recall impacts only about 48 vehicles and will require a Tesla service visit to resolve.

Improperly Tightened Fasteners

According to the recall notice, the issue stems from the first-row seating that may have been manufactured with improperly torqued fasteners that attach the seat back to the seat bottom. In some cases, the fasteners may be loose or missing, which could cause a rattle or the seat to detach.

This is a critical safety issue, as a seat back that is not properly anchored could detach, leaving the driver or passenger unsupported and increasing the risk of an accident.

According to Tesla’s investigation, this issue originated from a production change made for vehicles manufactured between April 3rd and May 7th of 2025. However, not all vehicles built within that date are impacted by the recall. The issue impacts 30 2026 Model Ys and 18 2025 Model 3s, across all variants, including RWD, AWD, and Performance (for the Model 3).

Thankfully, there have been no incidents related to this issue to date.

The Fix

Since this is a physical recall, Tesla will have to inspect impacted vehicles and replace and properly retorque the seat fasteners as needed, free of charge.

Owners of vehicles who have been impacted have already been contacted under the voluntary recall, and most vehicles should have been repaired by the time this notice is formally issued.

You can also check if your VIN is impacted by a recall using Tesla’s Recall Tool.

Tesla has noted the repair should take approximately one hour of work at a Service Center, and up to two hours if a Mobile Ranger addresses the recall.

Tesla Robotaxi Sends Out More Invites: Next Phases of Robotaxi

June 27, 2025

By Karan Singh

@TerrapinTerpene

Following the successful launch of Robotaxi on Sunday, June 22nd, Tesla has begun moving to the next phase of its Robotaxi rollout. They have finally begun sending out a second, larger wave of invites, expanding the early access program to more members of the Tesla community across the United States.

This has moved them past the initial 20 or so users that were offered access on Sunday. That also means Tesla is on the hunt for something crucial: more real-world data.

More Riders ASAP

The initial launch was a tightly controlled event, with access granted to a small and curated group of influencers. While this approach was ideal for generating initial buzz for the launch and collecting feedback from high-quality testers, it also presented logistical challenges.

With only a handful of authorized riders and vehicles, the demand for rides would inevitably dry up as influencers begin their journeys back home. Without a public release, that would leave Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet idle, unable to gather additional data.

To rapidly improve on Robotaxi’s FSD, Tesla needs its vehicles to be constantly navigating real-world scenarios, encountering edge cases, and logging miles. The second round of invites is needed to keep Robotaxis learning and on the road.

Austin Users Next?

This new wave of invites isn’t an open door for members of the public quite yet. By continuing to send invites to trusted community members, Tesla is executing a slow and deliberate rollout by inviting members who know and love Tesla. This allows them to scale the program gradually, increasing the number of users and the diversity of ride requests without overwhelming the relatively small initial fleet of about 10 cars.

Future phases will likely involve opening access to Tesla owners within Austin, which would open up a regular flow of rides. Once that’s done, Robotaxi will likely open up to the public.

Sign of Confidence

The expansion of the early access program is a sign that Tesla is happy and confident with the rollout so far. While Tesla can gather plenty of data around Austin from Tesla owners using FSD, they also need to continue testing features that are exclusive to the Robotaxi, such as the Robotaxi app, support, and remotely control the vehicles when needed.

We expect a full launch to potentially still be months out, but this methodical expansion will likely see more users gradually gain access to the Robotaxi network in the coming weeks.