Image source: PC Mag
Tesla is currently facing a class-action lawsuit accusing them of misleading the public with false advertisement of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.
The lawsuit
On Wednesday, the complaint was filed in the US District Court Northern District of California.
It alleges that the electric car maker’s ADAS systems cause its vehicles to run red lights, miss turns, and veer into traffic.
As a result, the malfunctions are costing Tesla owners thousands of dollars.
Tesla vehicles typically come with an ADAS or Autopilot. Owners have been able to upgrade the system for more features.
The company also sells Enhanced Autopilot and the Full Self-Driving software or SFD.
The SFD continues to increase in price, and is currently priced at $15,000.
Read also: AXA clears the air surrounding recent Tesla crash test
The plaintiff
Briggs Matsko, the plaintiff, paid a $5,000 premium for Enhanced Autopilot in his 2018 Tesla Model X.
Matsko says the company advertised its technology as fully-functioned or “just around the corner,” despite uncertainty if it worked or if it was nonexistent, making the vehicles unsafe.
Matsko’s lawsuit reads:
“Although these promises have proven false time and time again, Tesla and Musk have continued making them to generate media attention, to deceive consumers into believing it has unrivaled cutting-edge technology, and to establish itself as a leading player in the fast-growing electric vehicle market.”
Other accusations
Briggs Matski’s lawsuit is another added to other complaints and allegations, including attention and inquiries from state and federal agencies.
In July, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles accused Tesla of false advertisement.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) asked the EV maker last month for more information about the cabin camera as part of an ongoing probe into 830,000 Teslas that have Autopilot.
The NHTSA is currently investigating 16 crashes wherein Tesla owners were potentially engaging the ADAS and crashing into stationary emergency vehicles.
As August concluded, a Tesla Model 3 owner filed a lawsuit against the automaker, alleging that a defect in its Autopilot caused it to unintentionally brake.
In Palm Beach County, Florida, a court recently set a February date for a jury to hear testimony for a 2019 crash with an Autopilot that killed a father of three.
Similar to Matsko’s class action suit, the main issue at stake among the Tesla lawsuits isn’t the capabilities of technology but the promises Tesla and Musk made to loyal fanatics.
Additionally, the branding of the system could lull drivers into a false sense of security, leading to inattentiveness.
Read also: Drivyn Provides Tesla-Driving Expertise
Tesla’s Autopilot
The electric car maker advertised its Autopilot to carry capabilities including traffic-aware cruise control and lane assist.
The Enhanced Autopilot has Navigate, which guides the vehicle from a highway on-ramp to off-ramp, automatic lane change, and Smart Summon.
Smart Summon is a feature that navigates complex environments and parking spaces to bring the car to the driver.
A beta version of the FSD is active in over 100,000 vehicles and is available on city streets.
Tesla’s website warns that drivers must stay alert and maintain control of the vehicles, but Matsko, the California DMV, and others assert that it contradicts the confidence Tesla and Musk have with the capabilities of the Autopilot and FSD.
Matsko is hoping that the situation will prevent Tesla from its “deceptive and misleading marketing of ADAS technology.”
References:
Tesla sued over alleged false autopilot, full self driving claims
Drivers sue Tesla for alleged false advertising of Autopilot and FSD software
