Tesla Is Fixing Full Self-Driving's Pothole Problem
Musk confirmed the feature is 'coming soon' and appears in FSD v14 release notes as an upcoming improvement.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that pothole avoidance for the Full Self-Driving suite is 'coming soon,' marking a long-anticipated fix for one of FSD's known weaknesses.
What Happened
Musk posted on social media that pothole avoidance while using Full Self-Driving is "coming soon." The feature has been included within FSD v14 release notes as an upcoming improvement. Tesla has been working toward this capability since at least April 2019, when Musk first told an owner the company would 'definitely' develop pothole avoidance. In August 2020, Musk said Tesla was in the process of labeling bumps and potholes so cars could either slow down or steer around them.
Why It Matters
Potholes pose real risks to vehicles—tire damage, wheel damage, alignment issues, and in severe cases, injury or major structural damage. While FSD has performed well avoiding obstacles like cardboard boxes, horse droppings, and car parts, it has struggled with abrupt changes in road layout such as potholes. For Tesla's broader autonomy ambitions, including a future where occupants can sleep or work during travel, reliable pothole detection is essential.
The Bottom Line
Pothole avoidance remains on the horizon for Full Self-Driving users. Musk's confirmation suggests the feature could arrive with an upcoming FSD update, though no specific timeline has been provided beyond 'coming soon.'
