‘I assume there’s nothing I can do’

A Tesla driver, facing issues with their electric vehicle, sought assistance on an online forum to diagnose the problem.

What’s happening?

The driver described the issue with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode in Facebook’s Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club.

“It’s driving me nuts,” they said. “I’m cruising down the highway, the car is driving itself at about 79 miles per hour, passes a car, pulls back in front of it, and slows down to 72. The car passes me and flips me off. Honestly can’t blame the dude. I was probably more annoyed than he was. I assume there’s nothing I can do about this. Makes me want to cancel the subscription.”

Other users shared similar and contrasting experiences, offering suggestions for potential fixes.

“I cancelled mine due to this exact same thing,” one user commented. “It will not hold a speed while in autopilot. A lot of up and down. Not a smooth ride.”

Another user suggested, “What mode do you have it in? I use Chill. I feel like Standard and Hurry do this often.”

Why is a functional FSD mode important?

EVs offer drivers the potential to save money and can provide an enjoyable driving experience, characterized by advanced technology, rapid acceleration, and quiet operation.

However, driver assistance systems can sometimes detract from the overall experience, as even the most established software is still developing. Tesla‘s Full Self-Driving suite and Autopilot, among other options, have been criticized as bothersome, problematic, and even potentially unsafe.

A contributing factor may be Tesla’s reliance on cameras, rather than more sophisticated systems that integrate radar and lidar, as used by other automakers.

Furthermore, FSD is expensive, which can deter consumers if the application is unreliable. In addition, a class action lawsuit alleging the company used misleading advertising to promote FSD has been allowed to proceed by a federal judge.

This situation could negatively impact EV sales, although Tesla’s 2025 slowdown is currently attributed to company-specific factors rather than an industry-wide issue, according to reports such as this one on global EV sales in 2025.

The transition away from gasoline-powered vehicles is a crucial element of the clean energy transition, as EVs generate significantly less heat-trapping pollution. This shift is essential for global efforts to address the adverse effects of rising global temperatures.

What’s being done about FSD?

Tesla owners have the option to decline FSD or cancel their existing subscriptions. They can also adjust settings, clean cameras, and reset systems, as suggested by Torque News. Tesla is also continually updating the software in pursuit of wider availability.

With an expanding EV market, customers have a greater selection of manufacturers when switching to electric.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.