Tesla software update brings pothole detection and adaptive fitting

Tesla vehicles equipped with an adaptive chassis can now detect potholes. The suspension is then adaptively adjusted to compensate for bumps. The feature is unlocked by a new Tesla software update.

Tesla software update with pothole detection

Tesla models that have adaptive suspension, i.e. the Model S and Model X, will now get an adaptive suspension adjustment with a new update, thanks to which the vehicles can automatically detect potholes and defective road surfaces.

The Tesla software update in the new version 2022.20 is available for download now, according to the U.S. automaker, and introduces the corresponding “Tesla Adaptive Suspension.” The release notes reveal that this will automatically adjust the vehicle’s ride height based on road surface conditions.

“This adjustment may occur at various locations, if available, when the vehicle downloads upcoming rough road sections through map data generated by other Tesla vehicles,” it continues.

This is also the first confirmation that the company’s own electric vehicles continuously map the road and share the data with other models of the manufacturer. Group CEO Elon Musk had announced this feature back in 2020 as part of Tesla’s Autopilot system for autonomous driving, according to a report by Electrek, but it has only now been unlocked.

How to activate the pothole feature

According to Tesla, the instrument cluster will still indicate when the adaptive suspension is raised for comfort. To activate the pothole function, you have to select the “Suspension” sub-item in the settings and select the “Adaptive suspension damping” function there.

Here you can choose between the settings “Comfort” and “Auto”, which raise the vehicle higher by means of suspension or just automatically react to potholes and the like.

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However, the new Tesla software update brings a few more features for different vehicle models. Among them, for example, a sound when a traffic light turns green (Green Traffic Light Chime) or the reintroduction of a display for the expected range when reaching a destination in the navigation system.