Tesla, I’m begging you to stop using X. Just log off.
A few days ago, the official Tesla North America account shared posts of people not fit to be behind the wheel of a car using Full Self-Driving mode to get around, encouraging people to rely on its shoddy Level 2 autonomous system when they can’t even really see anymore. Now, the main Tesla account claims it can sense the “wetness of the road” on rainy days to help you avoid hydroplaning. While I believe it may be able to do that sometimes, the finite way in which Tesla keeps making these capability claims is not sitting right with me — or anyone else who has had firsthand issues with FSD.
“FSD Supervised can reduce risk of hydroplaning,” Tesla tweeted. “Through Tesla Vision, your Tesla continuously estimates the wetness of the road in rainy conditions. Using that data plus real-time vehicle input and response, plus estimated tread depth, it can then automatically change your speed profile to Chill and adjust speed as needed to help keep you safe.”
In response, many drivers began sharing dashcam footage of their Teslas making questionable lane changes and turns in rainy weather, causing the vehicles to hydroplane. Wrote one angry X user: “This is FALSE! Do not rely on FSD for this! The video below was in February this year. It will NOT change the speed profile. In fact, FSD is so bad it auto changed lanes in this weather at 70 mph and caused my wife to hydroplane into a light pole!”
The man is a self-proclaimed Tesla lover who owns a Model Y and a Cybertruck. But he still wanted to let people know not to rely on Full Self-Driving mode in these conditions. Others agreed, sharing their own videos and accounts of similar incidents. Even Tesla supporters told the carmaker to stop the cap on X, saying their Tesla vehicle had driven too fast in the rain. They added: “Maybe one day.” But the technology isn’t fully there yet.
While some people had success stories, that doesn’t mean FSD is completely accurate and reliable every single time, which makes Tesla’s absolute statement dangerous.
There is no denying that Tesla is doing some pretty neat things with assisted driving and other tech. It’s a trendsetter for a reason. But Full Self-Driving mode is nowhere near as advanced as Tesla keeps claiming it is.
California recently sued the automaker for false advertising, demanding it change the name of FSD to “Autopilot.” Tesla is also facing numerous investigations and lawsuits regarding its Full Self-Driving software, including one from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over the degradation-detection system’s cameras going blind in common road conditions, such as sun glare, dust, and fog. In these instances, Tesla vehicles would essentially go blind and fail to notice other vehicles.
Someone on X even shared footage of a Tesla almost hitting another vehicle because rainy conditions interfered with Full Self-Driving mode. The driver had to take over to avoid hitting the back of a truck.
And that’s the thing: Full Self-Driving mode is now called Full Self-Driving Supervised, since the person behind the wheel must remain actively aware of everything while using it. That doesn’t mean that Tesla’s FSD is a complete failure that never works. But it does mean it can’t be trusted to consistently work every time in every condition. If you are paying full attention, FSD can be a good driving aid, although I’d never go as far as to say it can keep you safe on its own. But if you are in the back of a Cybercab, which has no driver or steering wheel, you may be testing your fate waaay too much. Stop playing with your life.
Again, maybe FSD can help a bit in the rain sometimes. But I’m calling on Tesla to stop making these dramatic, overreaching statements about FSD’s capabilities. Someone is probably going to get seriously hurt.
