Limitations and Warnings
This topic includes warnings, cautions, and limitations pertaining to the following Autopilot features.
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
- Autosteer
- Navigate on Autopilot
- Autosteer on City Streets (Full Self-Driving (Supervised))
- Autopark
- Summon
- Smart Summon
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
While using Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, it is the driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive safely, and be in control of the vehicle at all times. Always keep your eyes on the road when driving and be prepared to take corrective action as needed.
In addition, it is the driver’s responsibility to cruise at a safe speed and maintain a safe following distance based on road conditions and applicable speed limits. Be aware of the following limitations while Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is active.
- There may be situations where the cruising speed may not change when the speed limit changes.
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control does not adapt driving speed based on road and driving conditions. Do not use Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on winding roads with sharp curves, on icy or slippery road surfaces, or when weather conditions (such as heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.) make it inappropriate to drive at a consistent speed.
- Do not rely on Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain an accurate or appropriate following distance.
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may be unable to provide adequate speed control because of limited braking capability and hills. It can also misjudge the distance from a vehicle ahead. Driving downhill can increase driving speed, causing Model S to exceed your set speed (and potentially the road's speed limit).
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may occasionally cause Model S to brake when not required or when you are not expecting it. This can be caused by closely following a vehicle ahead, detecting vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes (especially on curves), etc.
- Due to limitations inherent in the onboard GPS (Global Positioning System), you may experience situations in which Model S slows down, especially near exits or off-ramps where a curve is detected and/or you are navigating to a destination and not following the route.
- In some cases (such as having insufficient data), Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may not automatically reduce the set speed on the highway interchange or off-ramp.
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may not detect all objects and, especially when cruising over 50 mph (80 km/h), may not brake/decelerate when a vehicle or object is only partially in the driving lane or when a vehicle you are following moves out of your driving path and a stationary or slow-moving vehicle or object is in front of you.
- Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may react to vehicles or objects that either do not exist, or are not in your lane of travel, causing Model S to slow down unnecessarily or inappropriately.
- The road has sharp curves or significant changes in elevation.
- Road signs and signals are unclear, ambiguous, or poorly maintained.
- Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, hail, etc. or poorly lit roadways at night)
- You are driving in a tunnel or next to a highway divider that interferes with the view of the camera(s)
- Bright light (such as from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) interferes with the view of the camera(s).
Autosteer
- Autosteer is unable to accurately determine lane markings. For example, lane markings are excessively worn, have visible previous markings, have been adjusted due to road construction, are changing quickly (lanes branching off, crossing over, or merging), objects or landscape features are casting strong shadows on the lane markings, or the road surface contains pavement seams or other high-contrast lines.
- Visibility is poor (heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.) or weather conditions are interfering with sensor operation.
- A camera(s) or sensor(s) is obstructed, covered, or damaged.
- Driving on hills.
- Approaching a toll booth.
- Driving on a road that has sharp curves or is excessively rough.
- Bright light (such as direct sunlight) is interfering with the view of the camera(s).
- The sensors (if equipped) are affected by other electrical equipment or devices that generate ultrasonic waves.
- A vehicle is detected in your blind spot when you engage the turn signal.
- Model S is being driven very close to a vehicle in front of it, which is blocking the view of the camera(s).
Auto Lane Change
- Never depend on Auto Lane Change to determine an appropriate driving path. Drive attentively by watching the road and traffic ahead of you, checking the surrounding area, and monitoring the touchscreen for warnings. Always be prepared to take immediate action.
- Do not use Auto Lane Change on roads where traffic conditions are constantly changing and where bicycles and pedestrians are present.
- The performance of Auto Lane Change depends on the ability of the camera(s) to recognize lane markings.
- Do not use Auto Lane Change on winding roads with sharp curves, on icy or slippery roads, or when weather conditions (such as heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.) may be obstructing the view from the camera(s) or sensors (if equipped).
- Overtake Acceleration can cancel for many unforeseen reasons in addition to those listed above (for example, lack of GPS data). Stay alert and never depend on Overtake Acceleration to increase your driving speed.
- Overtake Acceleration increases your driving speed whenever the appropriate turn signal is engaged, and accelerates Model S closer to the vehicle ahead. Although Traffic-Aware Cruise Control continues to maintain distance from the vehicle ahead, it is important to be aware that your selected following distance is reduced when Overtake Acceleration is active, particularly in cases where it may not be your intention to overtake the vehicle you are following.
Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning
Navigate on Autopilot
Autosteer on City Streets (Full Self-Driving (Supervised))
- Interactions with pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users.
- Unprotected turns with high-speed cross traffic.
- Multi-lane turns.
- Simultaneous lane changes.
- Narrow roads with oncoming cars or double-parked vehicles.
- Rare objects such as trailers, ramps, cargo, open doors, etc. protruding from vehicles.
- Merges onto high-traffic, high-speed roads.
- Debris in the road.
- Construction zones.
- High curvature roads, particularly at fast driving speeds.
Visibility is critical for Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to operate. Low visibility, such as low light or poor weather conditions (rain, snow, direct sun, fog, etc.) can significantly degrade performance.
The list above represents only a fraction of the possible scenarios that can cause Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to make sudden maneuvers and behave unexpectedly. In fact, Model S can suddenly swerve even when driving conditions appear normal and straight-forward. Stay alert and always pay attention to the roadway so you can anticipate the need to take corrective action as early as possible. Remember that this is an early access feature that must be used with extra caution.
Autopark
- Do not use Autopark if anything, such as a ball hitch, bike rack, or trailer, is attached to the tow hitch. Autopark may not stop for hitches when parking between or in front of other vehicles.
- Never depend on Autopark to find a parking space that is legal, suitable, and safe. Autopark may not always detect objects in the parking space. Always perform visual checks to confirm that a parking space is appropriate and safe.
- When Autopark is actively steering Model S, the steering wheel moves in accordance with Autopark's adjustments. Do not interfere with the movement of the steering wheel. Doing so cancels Autopark.
- During the parking sequence, continually check your surroundings. Be prepared to apply the brakes to avoid vehicles, pedestrians, or objects.
- When Autopark is active, monitor the touchscreen to ensure that you are aware of the instructions that Autopark is providing.
Autopark is particularly unlikely to operate as intended in these situations:
- The road is sloped. Autopark is designed to operate on flat roads only.
- Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).
- The curb is constructed of material other than stone, or the curb cannot be detected.
- The target parking space is directly adjacent to a wall or pillar (for example, the last parking space of a row in an underground parking structure).
- One or more of the sensors (if equipped) or cameras is damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by mud, ice, or snow, or by a vehicle bra, excessive paint, or adhesive products such as wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.).
- Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog, or extremely hot or cold temperatures) are interfering with sensor (if equipped) operation.
- The sensors (if equipped) are affected by other electrical equipment or electrical interference.
Summon
- The driving path is sloped. Summon is designed to operate on flat roads only (up to 10% grade).
- A raised concrete edge is detected. Summon does not move Model S over an edge that is higher than approximately 1 in (2.5 cm).
- One or more of the sensors (if equipped) or cameras is damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by mud, ice, or snow, or by a vehicle bra, excessive paint, or adhesive products such as wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.).
- Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog, or extremely hot or cold temperatures) are interfering with sensor operation.
- The sensors (if equipped) are affected by other electrical equipment or devices that generate ultrasonic waves.
- Model S is in Trailer Mode or an accessory is attached.
Smart Summon
Smart Summon is unlikely to operate as intended in the following types of situations:
- GPS data is unavailable due to poor cellular coverage.
- The driving path is sloped. Smart Summon is designed to operate on flat roads only (up to 10% grade).
- A raised concrete edge is detected. Depending on the height of the concrete edge, Smart Summon may not move Model S over it.
- One or more of the sensors (if equipped) or cameras is damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by mud, ice, or snow, or by a vehicle bra, excessive paint, or adhesive products such as wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.).
- Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog, or extremely hot or cold temperatures) are interfering with sensor (if equipped) or camera operation.
- The sensors (if equipped) are affected by other electrical equipment or devices that generate ultrasonic waves.
- Model S is in Trailer Mode or an accessory is attached