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'''[[Wikipedia:Tesla, Inc.|Tesla, Inc.]]''' (formerly '''Tesla Motors''') is a company founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. In 2008, it was funded and taken over by [[Elon Musk]], when both original founders left their positions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreiber |first=Barbara A. |last2=Gregersen |first2=Erik |last3=Ashburn |first3=Doug |date=21 Mar 2025 |title=Tesla, Inc. |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Tesla-Motors |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Britannica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119124544/https://www.britannica.com/money/Tesla-Motors |archive-date=19 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Qai group |date=29 Sep 2022 |title=Tesla: A History Of Innovation (and Headaches) |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2022/09/29/tesla-a-history-of-innovation-and-headaches/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Forbes |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250904040605/https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2022/09/29/tesla-a-history-of-innovation-and-headaches/ |archive-date=4 Sep 2025}}</ref>  
'''{{Wplink|Tesla, Inc.}}''' (formerly '''Tesla Motors''') is a company founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003. In 2008, it was funded and taken over by [[Elon Musk]], when both original founders left their positions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreiber |first=Barbara A. |last2=Gregersen |first2=Erik |last3=Ashburn |first3=Doug |date=21 Mar 2025 |title=Tesla, Inc. |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Tesla-Motors |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Britannica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119124544/https://www.britannica.com/money/Tesla-Motors |archive-date=19 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Qai group |date=29 Sep 2022 |title=Tesla: A History Of Innovation (and Headaches) |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2022/09/29/tesla-a-history-of-innovation-and-headaches/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Forbes |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250904040605/https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2022/09/29/tesla-a-history-of-innovation-and-headaches/ |archive-date=4 Sep 2025}}</ref>  


==Controversies==
==Consumer impact summary==
 
====Artificially disabling functionality====
Tesla was among the early automakers to implement feature gating through software updates. They is currently shipping several cars with disabled functionalities, which are physically built into the car. These features can only be used with a one-time payment or monthly fee and include horsepower, battery range, and heated rear seats.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
 
====Enshittification====
Teslas widespread [[features on demand]] practices are a concern for enshittification. It has allowed them to start eliminating one-time purchase options in place of monthly subscriptions, such as full self driving abilities.<ref name="cnbc-palmer">{{cite web |last=Palmer |first=Annie |title=Musk says Tesla is moving Full Self-Driving to a monthly subscription |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/14/musk-tesla-full-self-driving-subscription-fsd.html |website=CNBC |date=2026-01-14 |access-date=2026-02-20 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204023459/https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/14/musk-tesla-full-self-driving-subscription-fsd.html |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref>
 
====Privacy====
Tesla employees have allegedly viewed and shared embarrassing, disturbing, and potentially explicit recordings of Tesla through internal messaging systems. There didn't seem to be effective measures in place to prevent those videos from being accessed by employees. It has also been reported that the recordings have been used to train artificial intelligence.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |date=6 Apr 2023 |title=Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/world/tesla-workers-shared-sensitive-images-recorded-customer-cars-612422 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621233519/https://www.tbsnews.net/world/tesla-workers-shared-sensitive-images-recorded-customer-cars-612422 |archive-date=2023-06-21 |access-date=7 Apr 2026 |website=The Business Standard}}</ref>
 
==Incidents==
After the company was bought by Elon Musk it has been involved in a number of controversies such as requiring subscriptions or requiring a Tesla technician to fix 2012's Model S,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 Tesla Model s problems |url=https://www.slotcar-today.com/problems/tesla/model-s/2012 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=SlotCar Today |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708193200/https://slotcar-today.com/problems/tesla/model-s/2012 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> With cases such as being the most prominent automaker to refuse to support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, despite the feature being available in over 90% of new vehicles sold in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Apr 2024 |title=The Real Reason Teslas Don't Have Apple CarPlay And Android Auto |url=https://www.topspeed.com/why-teslas-dont-have-apple-carplay-android-auto/ |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=TopSpeed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224104917/https://www.topspeed.com/why-teslas-dont-have-apple-carplay-android-auto/ |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>, limiting Standard Connectivity features to 8 years for vehicles ordered after July 20, 2022, after which owners have to pay for basic navigation and other connected services that were previously free for the life of the vehicle,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Connectivity |url=https://www.tesla.com/support/connectivity |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=Tesla Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250919115030/https://www.tesla.com/support/connectivity |archive-date=19 Sep 2025}}</ref> and selling a utility vehicle (the Cybertruck, starting around $80,000 USD) whose owner's manual states that damage caused by car washes is not covered by the warranty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cybertruck Owner's Manual: Cleaning |url=https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-65384C1F-86F2-44E8-A8BC-8A12E7E00A40.html |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=Tesla |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250604075022/https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-65384C1F-86F2-44E8-A8BC-8A12E7E00A40.html |archive-date=4 Jun 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Apr 2024 |title=Cybertruck Turns Into Large Metal Brick After Going Through Car Wash |url=https://futurism.com/cybertruck-brick-car-wash |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=Futurism |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260102110041/https://futurism.com/cybertruck-brick-car-wash |archive-date=2 Jan 2026}}</ref>
After the company was bought by Elon Musk it has been involved in a number of controversies such as requiring subscriptions or requiring a Tesla technician to fix 2012's Model S,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 Tesla Model s problems |url=https://www.slotcar-today.com/problems/tesla/model-s/2012 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=SlotCar Today |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708193200/https://slotcar-today.com/problems/tesla/model-s/2012 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> With cases such as being the most prominent automaker to refuse to support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, despite the feature being available in over 90% of new vehicles sold in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Apr 2024 |title=The Real Reason Teslas Don't Have Apple CarPlay And Android Auto |url=https://www.topspeed.com/why-teslas-dont-have-apple-carplay-android-auto/ |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=TopSpeed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224104917/https://www.topspeed.com/why-teslas-dont-have-apple-carplay-android-auto/ |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>, limiting Standard Connectivity features to 8 years for vehicles ordered after July 20, 2022, after which owners have to pay for basic navigation and other connected services that were previously free for the life of the vehicle,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Connectivity |url=https://www.tesla.com/support/connectivity |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=Tesla Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250919115030/https://www.tesla.com/support/connectivity |archive-date=19 Sep 2025}}</ref> and selling a utility vehicle (the Cybertruck, starting around $80,000 USD) whose owner's manual states that damage caused by car washes is not covered by the warranty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cybertruck Owner's Manual: Cleaning |url=https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-65384C1F-86F2-44E8-A8BC-8A12E7E00A40.html |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=Tesla |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250604075022/https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-65384C1F-86F2-44E8-A8BC-8A12E7E00A40.html |archive-date=4 Jun 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Apr 2024 |title=Cybertruck Turns Into Large Metal Brick After Going Through Car Wash |url=https://futurism.com/cybertruck-brick-car-wash |access-date=22 Feb 2026 |website=Futurism |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260102110041/https://futurism.com/cybertruck-brick-car-wash |archive-date=2 Jan 2026}}</ref>


This is a list of all consumer protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Tesla|Tesla category]].
===Heated rear seats behind paywall (2020 - Present)===
{{Main|Tesla locks heated rear seats behind paywall}}
Tesla introduced a $300 paywall for heated seats in Model 3 Standard Range variants where the heating hardware was already installed but software-disabled.<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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830041315/https://insideevs.com/news/399322/tesla-mode-3-heated-rear-seats-upgrade/ |archive-date=2025-08-30 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |website=InsideEVs}}</ref>


===[https://www.reuters.com/technology/tesla-workers-shared-sensitive-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/ Privacy Concerns]===
===Horsepower behind paywall (2019 - Present)===
Tesla employees have allegedly viewed and shared embarrassing, disturbing, and potentially explicit recordings of Tesla through internal messaging systems; Tesla claims that all recordings are anonymous, though regardless of anonymity, it raises some privacy concerns, such as the fact that employees can even access those recordings in the first place, there don't seem to be effective measures in place to prevent those videos from being shared and they use these recordings to train their artificial intelligence which posses other privacy concerns.
{{Main|Tesla locks horsepower behind paywall}}
The company introduced an "acceleration boost" for certain vehicles that increased acceleration performance once the software feature was purchased, despite the necessary hardware already being present in the car.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Agatie |first=Cristian |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=Refreshed Tesla Model 3 Gets Acceleration Boost in Certain Markets, US Still Waiting |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/refreshed-tesla-model-3-gets-acceleration-boost-in-certain-markets-us-still-waiting-243025.html |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=autoevolution |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250323001644/https://www.autoevolution.com/news/refreshed-tesla-model-3-gets-acceleration-boost-in-certain-markets-us-still-waiting-243025.html |archive-date=23 Mar 2025}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Iqtidar |date=22 November 2024 |title=Tesla starts offering Acceleration Boost for the Model 3 Highland Long Range variant |url=https://www.teslaoracle.com/2024/11/22/tesla-starts-offering-acceleration-boost-for-the-model-3-highland-long-range-variant/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Tesla Oracle |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251106205302/https://www.teslaoracle.com/2024/11/22/tesla-starts-offering-acceleration-boost-for-the-model-3-highland-long-range-variant/ |archive-date=6 Nov 2025}}</ref>


===Artificially disabling functionality===
===Disabling of radar hardware (2023 - Present)===
Tesla was among the early automakers to implement feature gating through software updates. For example, the company introduced an "acceleration boost" for certain vehicles that increased acceleration performance once the software feature was purchased, despite the necessary hardware already being present in the car.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agatie |first=Cristian |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=Refreshed Tesla Model 3 Gets Acceleration Boost in Certain Markets, US Still Waiting |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/refreshed-tesla-model-3-gets-acceleration-boost-in-certain-markets-us-still-waiting-243025.html |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=autoevolution |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250323001644/https://www.autoevolution.com/news/refreshed-tesla-model-3-gets-acceleration-boost-in-certain-markets-us-still-waiting-243025.html |archive-date=23 Mar 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Iqtidar |date=22 November 2024 |title=Tesla starts offering Acceleration Boost for the Model 3 Highland Long Range variant |url=https://www.teslaoracle.com/2024/11/22/tesla-starts-offering-acceleration-boost-for-the-model-3-highland-long-range-variant/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Tesla Oracle |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251106205302/https://www.teslaoracle.com/2024/11/22/tesla-starts-offering-acceleration-boost-for-the-model-3-highland-long-range-variant/ |archive-date=6 Nov 2025}}</ref>
Tesla initially promoted the inclusion of radar hardware in its Model 3 vehicles. In 2023 Tesla issued an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disabled the radar hardware in existing Model 3 vehicles equipped with it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dnistran |first=Iulian |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=Elon Musk Overruled Tesla Engineers Who Said Removing Radar Would Be Problematic: Report |url=https://insideevs.com/news/658439/elon-musk-overruled-tesla-autopilot-engineers-radar-removal/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250806073306/https://insideevs.com/news/658439/elon-musk-overruled-tesla-autopilot-engineers-radar-removal/ |archive-date=6 Aug 2025 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=InsideEVs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Jan 2024 |title=Tesla's Relationship With Radar |url=https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/01/teslas-relationship-with-radar/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Edge AI and Vision Alliance |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251109192012/https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/01/teslas-relationship-with-radar/ |archive-date=9 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klender |first=Joey |date=10 Jun 2023 |title=Tesla owners claim their radar was disabled during service visits |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-disables-radar-model-3-model-y-service-visits/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Teslarati |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107100049/https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-disables-radar-model-3-model-y-service-visits/ |archive-date=7 Nov 2025}}</ref> As a result, these vehicles saw changes such as a reduced range of following distance options in Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC), from 1-7 to 2-7. Reports also indicated degraded performance in driver assistance systems, including instances of unexpected braking behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=rwiegand |date=22 Jul 2024 |title=Unfortunate new panic braking behavior from TACC |url=https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/unfortunate-new-panic-braking-behavior-from-tacc.331045/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260407193444/https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/unfortunate-new-panic-braking-behavior-from-tacc.331045/ |archive-date=7 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |via=Tesla Motors Club}}</ref>


Tesla initially promoted the inclusion of radar hardware in its Model 3 vehicles, highlighting its role in enhancing driver assistance features. In subsequent production runs, however, the company discontinued radar hardware in new Model 3 units, while continuing to include it in higher-end models such as the Model S (and later the Model X). Later, Tesla issued an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disabled the radar hardware in existing Model 3 vehicles equipped with it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Jan 2024 |title=Tesla's Relationship With Radar |url=https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/01/teslas-relationship-with-radar/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Edge AI and Vision Alliance |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251109192012/https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/01/teslas-relationship-with-radar/ |archive-date=9 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klender |first=Joey |date=10 Jun 2023 |title=Tesla owners claim their radar was disabled during service visits |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-disables-radar-model-3-model-y-service-visits/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Teslarati |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107100049/https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-disables-radar-model-3-model-y-service-visits/ |archive-date=7 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dnistran |first=Iulian |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=Elon Musk Overruled Tesla Engineers Who Said Removing Radar Would Be Problematic: Report |url=https://insideevs.com/news/658439/elon-musk-overruled-tesla-autopilot-engineers-radar-removal/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=InsideEVs |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250806073306/https://insideevs.com/news/658439/elon-musk-overruled-tesla-autopilot-engineers-radar-removal/ |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref> As a result, these vehicles saw changes such as a reduced range of following distance options in Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC), from 1-7 to 2-7. Reports also indicated degraded performance in driver assistance systems, including instances of unexpected braking behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=rwiegand |date=22 Jul 2024 |title=Unfortunate new panic braking behavior from TACC |url=https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/unfortunate-new-panic-braking-behavior-from-tacc.331045/ |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |via=Tesla Motors Club}}</ref>
===Battery range behind paywall (2024 - Present)===
 
{{Main|Tesla locks battery range behind paywall}}
Tesla has also phased out other commonly expected vehicle features, such as ultrasonic parking sensors, reportedly as a cost-saving measure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tesla Vision Update: Replacing Ultrasonic Sensors with Tesla Vision |url=https://www.tesla.com/support/transitioning-tesla-vision |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Tesla |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250405105729/https://www.tesla.com/support/transitioning-tesla-vision |archive-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> These changes are often implemented without formal announcements. Additionally, Tesla has removed dedicated rain sensors from some vehicles, with similar impacts on feature performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jeremy |date=8 Dec 2023 |title=Are Softening Tesla Model Y Sales In Europe Really Due to $119 Worth of Sensors Removal? |url=https://www.torquenews.com/14335/are-softening-tesla-model-y-sales-europe-really-due-119-sensor-removal |access-date=22 Mar 2025 |website=Torque News |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708193200/https://www.torquenews.com/14335/are-softening-tesla-model-y-sales-europe-really-due-119-sensor-removal |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref>
All rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Tesla Model Y vehicles are equipped with battery hardware capable of approximately 320 miles. To get use functionality, customers have to pay for a software update that costs $1,600, or be stuck with the default 260 mile range.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Iqtidar |date=18 Jul 2024 |title=Tesla Model Y RWD owners can unlock 50 miles of extra range for $1,600 via an OTA update |url=https://www.teslaoracle.com/2024/07/18/tesla-model-y-rwd-owners-can-unlock-50-miles-of-extra-range-for-1600-via-an-ota-update/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718210100/https://www.teslaoracle.com/2024/07/18/tesla-model-y-rwd-owners-can-unlock-50-miles-of-extra-range-for-1600-via-an-ota-update/ |archive-date=18 Jul 2024 |access-date=24 Mar 2026 |website=teslaoracle.com}}</ref>


===Wrongful legal threats===
===Wrongful legal threats===
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===Full Self-Driving switching to subscription only (''2026'')===
===Full Self-Driving switching to subscription only (''2026'')===
''Full Article: [[Tesla Switches Full Self-Driving to Subscription Only]]''
{{Main|Tesla switches full self-driving to subscription only}}


On 14 January, 2026, Elon Musk announced that Tesla will stop selling their "Full Self-Driving" (or "FSD") feature as a one-time purchase for $8,000 USD, instead offering only a subscription option for $99 USD per month. This policy is set to take effect on 14 February, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Subscriptions |url=https://www.tesla.com/support/full-self-driving-subscriptions |url-status=live |access-date=22 Jan 2026 |website=Tesla Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123001814/https://www.tesla.com/support/full-self-driving-subscriptions |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Musk |first=Elon |date=14 Jan 2026 |title=Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. |url=https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2011324998653513810/ |url-status=live |access-date=22 Jan 2026 |website=X}}</ref>  
On 14 January, 2026, Elon Musk announced that Tesla will stop selling their "Full Self-Driving" (or "FSD") feature as a one-time purchase for $8,000 USD, instead offering only a subscription option for $99 USD per month. This policy is set to take effect on 14 February, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Subscriptions |url=https://www.tesla.com/support/full-self-driving-subscriptions |url-status=live |access-date=22 Jan 2026 |website=Tesla Support |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123001814/https://www.tesla.com/support/full-self-driving-subscriptions |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Musk |first=Elon |date=14 Jan 2026 |title=Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. |url=https://nitter.catsarch.com/elonmusk/status/2011324998653513810/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/zUY9F |archive-date=7 Apr 2026 |access-date=22 Jan 2026 |website=X}}</ref>  
 
==See Also==


==See also==
*[[Tesla asks customers to vote against Right to Repair]]
*[[Tesla asks customers to vote against Right to Repair]]
*[[Tesla blames drivers for part failures it admits were defective]]
*[[Tesla blames drivers for part failures it admits were defective]]
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==References==
==References==
<references />
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:Tesla]]
[[Category:Tesla]]
Retrieved from "https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Tesla"