Electric car maker Tesla has withdrawn the latest version of its full self-driving (FSD) beta software just one day after it was released, Chief Executive Elon Musk announced on Oct. 24.
Tesla released its 10.3 FSD update to drivers on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, along with a list of release notes. The list mentions changes such as added FSD profiles that allow drivers to control behavior such as rolling stops or exiting passing lanes, along with improved static obstacle control, improved creeping speed, and reduced false slowdowns.
Tesla tracks data from its cars through the internet. Tesla’s Autopilot system uses cameras, radar, and computers to detect objects and to automatically brake before potential collisions.
FSD is an enhanced version of Autopilot, allowing the vehicle to change lanes, parallel or perpendicular park itself, and identify traffic lights and stop signs and automatically slow down when approaching them, among other things, according to Tesla.
But Musk, in the afternoon on Oct. 24, said the company was “seeing some issues” and would roll the software back to version 10.2 for now.
“Seeing some issues with 10.3, so rolling back to 10.2 temporarily,” Musk said in a Twitter post.
“Please note, this is to be expected with beta software. It is impossible to test all hardware configs in all conditions with internal QA [quality assurance], hence public beta,” he said.
The CEO didn’t state specifically what the issues were, but on Oct. 23, one day after announcing the new driving assistance system for some Tesla model owners, he wrote on Twitter that Tesla’s internal quality assurance had found problems with some left turns at traffic lights.
“Regression in some left turns at traffic lights found by internal QA in 10.3. Fix in work, probably releasing tomorrow, he said.
Tesla officials didn’t immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Several people on social media stated that the latest 10.3 software repeatedly provided forward collision warnings even when there was no immediate danger, according to The Verge.
Others noted issues such as a disappearing Autosteer option, traffic-aware cruise control (TACC) problems, and occasional Autopilot panic. A number of Tesla users claimed the update completely removed the FSD beta capabilities from their vehicles.
This isn’t the first time Tesla has encountered issues with its self-driving updates. Back in August, Musk conceded that the company’s 9.2 version was “actually not great” but noted that the electric car maker was “rallying to improve as fast as possible.”
In that same month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal probe into Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD systems following nearly a dozen crashes with parked emergency vehicles that left one person dead and injured 17 others.
The agency said in the document that it had identified 11 crashes in which various Tesla models approached locations where emergency crews were responding to incidents and struck one or more vehicles at the scene. Most of the crashes took place after dark and involved scenes where first responders had deployed flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board, or cones warning of hazards. The probe will include examining the contributing circumstances.
All the involved Tesla vehicles were confirmed to have been engaged in either Autopilot or traffic-aware cruise control as they approached the crashes.
