Most expert and auto analysts wouldn’t call Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) a “scam,” but whether it delivers on its promises is legitimately debated. Here’s a balanced view:
Arguments it’s misleading:
- The name is controversial—it’s not actually “full self-driving” in the way most people understand that term. It still requires constant driver supervision and intervention
- Tesla has been promising full autonomous capability “next year” since around 2016, repeatedly missing timelines
- People paid thousands of dollars (currently $8,000-$15,000 depending on when purchased) for a feature that hasn’t delivered on the original promise of autonomous driving
- The regulatory approval Tesla predicted hasn’t materialized
Arguments it has value:
- FSD does provide advanced driver assistance features like automatic lane changes, navigation on city streets, and traffic light/stop sign recognition
- The technology has improved significantly over time through over-the-air updates
- Many owners find real utility in the features, even if not fully autonomous
- Tesla has been relatively transparent that it requires active supervision (though the naming is still problematic)
The core issue is whether Tesla oversold the capabilities and timeline. Calling something “Full Self-Driving” when it legally requires hands-on supervision creates reasonable expectations that haven’t been met. Whether that crosses into “scam” territory versus being overly optimistic marketing is where people disagree.
