by Tesla Owners Losing FSD Feature Due to Third-Party Devices
Tesla has begun remotely disabling the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature on cars whose owners used third-party devices to bypass restrictions. These so-called “jailbreak” modules allowed activation of FSD in regions where it is not yet approved by regulators. Users now face not only loss of access to the feature but also warranty voidance, and in some countries, even criminal liability.
A Global Problem for Owners Outside North America
For years, Tesla owners outside North America have been waiting for access to the Full Self-Driving feature they paid thousands of dollars for. Against the backdrop of constant launch date delays, some decided not to wait for official approval. They installed small modules that connected to the car’s CAN bus, tricking the system into thinking the car was in a region with approved FSD.
These devices cost around 500 euros. However, in recent days, owners in Europe and Asia have started receiving an alarming message in their cars about the detection of an unauthorized device. As a precautionary measure, some driver-assistance features were disabled for safety reasons. In many cases, Tesla has completely stripped the cars of FSD, leaving only basic Autopilot.
Legal and Safety Risks
From the manufacturer’s perspective, such interventions into the CAN bus create serious safety and cybersecurity risks for the vehicle. Furthermore, owners who use them may face legal consequences. For example, in South Korea, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport considers such modifications illegal. Drivers using them could face up to two years in prison or a fine of approximately $13,000.
A software update to address this will be available soon.
The Irony of Timing and Manufacturer Control
These actions by Tesla coincide with rumors that the FSD feature may finally be approved for Europe as early as April 10th by Dutch regulators. This means some owners risked their warranty and exposed themselves to legal problems just weeks before a potential official launch.
TESLA HAS REMOVED FSD FROM SOME CARS. NO UPDATE, NO WARNING. TESLA HAS BEEN ANALYZING CAR LOGS AND MONITORING FOR ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR A LONG TIME. TODAY, FSD WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM CARS WITH CAN HACKS. THE CARS WERE REMOTELY ACTIVATED, MODIFIED…
This situation is a reminder of a fundamental shift in the relationship between the owner and the manufacturer of modern cars. You may own the physical hardware sitting in your driveway, but the software and the right to revoke it remain with the manufacturing company, which can remotely alter the car’s capabilities without the owner’s consent.
The practice of remotely intervening in a car’s functionality raises important questions about owner rights, the limits of manufacturer control, and the legal status of software in vehicles. It also demonstrates how technological solutions aimed at ensuring safety and compliance can conflict with consumers’ desire to access already paid-for services. Future regulation of such situations will likely require clearer rules regarding software updates and owners’ rights to modification.
