Tesla locks heated rear seats behind paywall: Difference between revisions
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'''[[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]]''' charged $300 for rear heated seats in Model 3 Standard Range variants where the heating hardware was already installed but software-disabled. Tesla discontinued this practice in 2022 following customer criticism. | '''[[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]]''' charged $300 for rear heated seats in Model 3 Standard Range variants where the heating hardware was already installed but software-disabled. Tesla discontinued this practice in 2022 following customer criticism. | ||
== Background == | ==Background== | ||
Tesla has been the pioneer car manufacturer of over-the-air (OTA) software updates, being the first ever to send one in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newcomb |first=Doug |last2=Lugo |first2=Ryan |date=11 Apr 2025 |title=Still Loading: The Slow Roll of Automotive Over-the-Air Updates |url=https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-are-over-the-air-updates-ota-technology-rollout |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=motortrend.com}}</ref> While having full control of the software and being able ustto send updates can benefit comers in many ways, it enables the manufacturer to software-lock certain features and hardware that are present and otherwise functional in the car. | Tesla has been the pioneer car manufacturer of over-the-air (OTA) software updates, being the first ever to send one in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newcomb |first=Doug |last2=Lugo |first2=Ryan |date=11 Apr 2025 |title=Still Loading: The Slow Roll of Automotive Over-the-Air Updates |url=https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-are-over-the-air-updates-ota-technology-rollout |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411131734/https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-are-over-the-air-updates-ota-technology-rollout/ |archive-date=11 Apr 2025 |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=motortrend.com}}</ref> While having full control of the software and being able ustto send updates can benefit comers in many ways, it enables the manufacturer to software-lock certain features and hardware that are present and otherwise functional in the car. | ||
== Incident == | ==Incident== | ||
This has been the case for the Model 3 Standard Range and Standard Range Plus between 2020 and 2022, where not only was the heated seats hardware already present, but it was also enabled for the first few months in the case of the Standard Range Plus. Tesla then software-locked this feature behind a $300 paywall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klender |first=Joey |date=15 Feb 2020 |title=Tesla unlocks rear heated seats for Model 3 SR and SR Plus as paid OTA upgrade |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-rear-heated-seats-standard-range/ |access-date=22 Aug 2022 |website=teslarati.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Loveday |first=Steven |date=18 Feb 2020 |title=Tesla Model 3 Heated Rear Seats: Simple, Fast & Inexpensive Process |url=https://insideevs.com/news/399322/tesla-mode-3-heated-rear-seats-upgrade/ |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=insideevs.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Fred |date=15 Feb 2020 |title=Tesla starts selling rear-heated seats on Model 3 SR and SR Plus as $300 OTA upgrade |url=https://electrek.co/2020/02/15/tesla-rear-heated-seats-model-3-ota-upgrades/ |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=electrek.co}}</ref> | This has been the case for the Model 3 Standard Range and Standard Range Plus between 2020 and 2022, where not only was the heated seats hardware already present, but it was also enabled for the first few months in the case of the Standard Range Plus. Tesla then software-locked this feature behind a $300 paywall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klender |first=Joey |date=15 Feb 2020 |title=Tesla unlocks rear heated seats for Model 3 SR and SR Plus as paid OTA upgrade |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-rear-heated-seats-standard-range/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216100232/https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-3-rear-heated-seats-standard-range/ |archive-date=16 Feb 2020 |access-date=22 Aug 2022 |website=teslarati.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Loveday |first=Steven |date=18 Feb 2020 |title=Tesla Model 3 Heated Rear Seats: Simple, Fast & Inexpensive Process |url=https://insideevs.com/news/399322/tesla-mode-3-heated-rear-seats-upgrade/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406142246/https://insideevs.com/news/399322/tesla-mode-3-heated-rear-seats-upgrade/ |archive-date=6 Apr 2020 |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=insideevs.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Fred |date=15 Feb 2020 |title=Tesla starts selling rear-heated seats on Model 3 SR and SR Plus as $300 OTA upgrade |url=https://electrek.co/2020/02/15/tesla-rear-heated-seats-model-3-ota-upgrades/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215192737/https://electrek.co/2020/02/15/tesla-rear-heated-seats-model-3-ota-upgrades/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2020 |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=electrek.co}}</ref> | ||
Due to consumer backlash, the feature has become a free option since the 2022 model year and has been enabled in some older models.<ref>{{Cite web |last=r/TeslaModel3 |title=I just noticed rear seat heating option has been activated for free! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/u3jxnc/i_just_noticed_rear_seat_heating_option_has_been/ |access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | Due to consumer backlash, the feature has become a free option since the 2022 model year and has been enabled in some older models.<ref>{{Cite web |last=r/TeslaModel3 |title=I just noticed rear seat heating option has been activated for free! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/u3jxnc/i_just_noticed_rear_seat_heating_option_has_been/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220414152213/https://old.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/u3jxnc/i_just_noticed_rear_seat_heating_option_has_been/ |archive-date=14 Apr 2022|access-date=22 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | ||
== See also == | ==See also== | ||
* [[Tesla locks battery range behind paywall]] | *[[Tesla locks battery range behind paywall]] | ||
* [[BMW feature lockout scandal]] | *[[BMW feature lockout scandal]] | ||
* [[Mazda remote-start subscription]] | *[[Mazda remote-start subscription]] | ||
* [[BMW's heated seat subscription]] | *[[BMW's heated seat subscription]] | ||
* [[ | *[[Activation]] | ||
* [[Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled]] | *[[Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled]] | ||
* [[Mercedes-Benz locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | *[[Mercedes-Benz locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | ||
* [[Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | *[[Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription]] | ||
* [[Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription]] | *[[Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription]] | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Incidents]] | [[Category:Incidents]] | ||
[[Category:Tesla]] | [[Category:Tesla]] | ||
[[Category:Tesla Model 3]] | [[Category:Tesla Model 3]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:11, 31 March 2026
Tesla charged $300 for rear heated seats in Model 3 Standard Range variants where the heating hardware was already installed but software-disabled. Tesla discontinued this practice in 2022 following customer criticism.
Background
[edit | edit source]Tesla has been the pioneer car manufacturer of over-the-air (OTA) software updates, being the first ever to send one in 2012.[1] While having full control of the software and being able ustto send updates can benefit comers in many ways, it enables the manufacturer to software-lock certain features and hardware that are present and otherwise functional in the car.
Incident
[edit | edit source]This has been the case for the Model 3 Standard Range and Standard Range Plus between 2020 and 2022, where not only was the heated seats hardware already present, but it was also enabled for the first few months in the case of the Standard Range Plus. Tesla then software-locked this feature behind a $300 paywall.[2][3][4]
Due to consumer backlash, the feature has become a free option since the 2022 model year and has been enabled in some older models.[5]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Tesla locks battery range behind paywall
- BMW feature lockout scandal
- Mazda remote-start subscription
- BMW's heated seat subscription
- Activation
- Audi Basic HVAC "Sync" Function Paywalled
- Mercedes-Benz locks horsepower behind paid subscription
- Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription
- Mercedes-Benz EQS rear-wheel steering requires subscription
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Newcomb, Doug; Lugo, Ryan (11 Apr 2025). "Still Loading: The Slow Roll of Automotive Over-the-Air Updates". motortrend.com. Archived from the original on 11 Apr 2025. Retrieved 22 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Klender, Joey (15 Feb 2020). "Tesla unlocks rear heated seats for Model 3 SR and SR Plus as paid OTA upgrade". teslarati.com. Archived from the original on 16 Feb 2020. Retrieved 22 Aug 2022.
- ↑ Loveday, Steven (18 Feb 2020). "Tesla Model 3 Heated Rear Seats: Simple, Fast & Inexpensive Process". insideevs.com. Archived from the original on 6 Apr 2020. Retrieved 22 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Lambert, Fred (15 Feb 2020). "Tesla starts selling rear-heated seats on Model 3 SR and SR Plus as $300 OTA upgrade". electrek.co. Archived from the original on 15 Feb 2020. Retrieved 22 Aug 2025.
- ↑ r/TeslaModel3. "I just noticed rear seat heating option has been activated for free!". Reddit. Archived from the original on 14 Apr 2022. Retrieved 22 Aug 2025.
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