No More Hacking! Tesla Disables the FSD Used Illegally in Over 100000 Cars

Tesla identified FSD systems operating illegally, following unauthorized hacks based on hardware that helped them bypass regional locks, and remotely disabled them. " Your vehicle has detected an unauthorized third-party device. As a precaution, some driver assistance functions have been disabled for safety reasons ," is the message that showed up on the owner's screens.

The cars featuring the illegal modifications were operating all across Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, as owners had found cheaper or easier ways to activate the system and get rid of the grayed-out icons of functions that they were not allowed to use.

All Teslas are delivered with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capability, but the activation of the system is based on subscription. To be able to use it, owners have to pay $99 per month in countries where self-driving is approved.

Photo: nickcruzpatane | X However, as of February 14, 2026, Tesla has discontinued the one-time purchase option for FSD, which previously ranged from $6,000 to over $15,000, making the monthly subscription the only available option to those who want to use the feature.

Some owners seem to have found their way around the restrictions. The system has not received full approval in most markets outside the United States, where safety regulations, personal data privacy, and traffic regulations vary.

Hackers from countries such as Poland and Ukraine reportedly started distributing modules that simply click into a Tesla's Controller Area Network (CAN) bus and unlock the full FSD, including features such as advanced , Autopark, and Summon.

Tesla found over 100,000 cars with such illegal modifications in China alone. Ranging between $700 and $2,000 in Asia and roughly 500 euros ($586) in Europe, as reported by Not a Tesla App. the devices provide FSD unauthorized partial or complete access, which poses safety risks that go beyond the legal liability of the hack.

Therefore, Tesla remotely disabled the systems on cars detected as sporting illegal modifications without refunding the FSD purchase or subscription. Owners have reported permanent bans, despite having legally purchased the feature with the vehicle acquired in the United States and eventually transferred to another country.

Tesla started rolling out the FS v14.3. The over-the-air update rewrites the AI compiler, providing a reaction time faster by 20% and making the system operate better in low-visibility conditions, something that the FSD has been struggling with.

Elena started off as a sports reporter and five years later switched to automotive. How does that happen? Lots of writing, testdrives, traveling, off-road driving courses, track driving courses, defensive driving courses and diplomas. The diplomas might be "useless", but the knowledge she gained is priceless. Full profile