Car Owners Are Revolting Over Tesla's Self-Driving Promises

Tesla is facing growing legal and consumer backlash over promises that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system would eventually enable autonomous driving. Owners in the U.S., Europe and Australia have launched class-action suits and campaigns arguing Tesla sold costly upgrades that can’t run the most advanced FSD because of outdated onboard hardware. The litigation and organizing raise legal and reputational risks that could weigh on investor sentiment—the article notes Musk’s decade-long FSD pitch helped support Tesla’s lofty valuation even as market share softened. Tesla has rolled out limited robotaxi trials and newer hardware, but many older cars remain incompatible, and Tesla has signaled hardware upgrades will be needed for some customers. The dispute injects uncertainty around future revenue, upgrade costs and marketing claims, creating potential downside pressure on TSLA shares even as the company continues development.