Tesla ordered to replace on-board computer due to misleading advertising

It must be possible to subscribe to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving System at no additional cost. Due to misleading advertising, the car manufacturer was ordered to retrofit the on-board computer free of charge.

Misleading advertising: Tesla must retrofit free on-board computer

Back at the end of October 2022, we reported that a misleading advertising promise could cost Tesla dearly. Now it has actually come to pass. The reason: for more than eight years, the automaker has been advertising that all models could be retrofitted with Autopilot – called the Full Self-Driving System – because the appropriate hardware was available. However, this is not the case.

The reason for the lawsuit was accidents involving the autopilot system. A threat of a large fine in the millions was issued by the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration last year.

In addition, some Tesla models can only use Autopilot if the on-board computer required for it does so. Hardware 3.0 or the FSD computer must be available and a corresponding full self-driving subscription must have been taken out.

The problem is that owners without the appropriate hardware first had to upgrade it for $1,500, later $1,000, to be able to subscribe to the service at all.

Misleading advertising is costing Tesla dearly

As the website Electrek reports, a U.S. owner of a Tesla Model 3 has now been the bone of contention. He had sued the automaker in a Washington state court after his requests to Tesla to find a solution were ignored.

His Model 3 only had the 2.5 hardware, and Tesla was charging $1,000 for the upgrade before the subscription could even be completed. Tesla was conspicuous by its absence at the trial, and the plaintiff won.

“In addition, Plaintiff purchased a second Tesla Model 3 after relying on the manufacturer’s advertising claim that all Model 3s are equipped with the necessary hardware for autonomous driving. The defendant learned that installing the Full Self-Driving System would cost $1,106 in additional hardware investment, constituting misleading advertising on the part of Tesla,” Electrek quotes the judge’s ruling.

The man also sued Tesla in a second case and was proven right. He then told the website that Tesla quickly paid the fine by the court. The man has thus paved the way for many more lawsuits, or at least complaints, which are likely to cost Tesla dearly because of the misleading advertising.