Tesla Cracks Down on FSD "Jailbreaking": Violators Face Full Liability for Accidents and Lose Warranty Coverage

Tesla is taking strict measures against the use of unofficial devices to activate its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature in regions where it has not been officially released. These devices, resembling USB drives and priced at around €500, plug into the vehicle’s Controller Area Network (CAN bus) and bypass geofencing and software restrictions by intercepting signals. South Korea has become the first focal point of this enforcement effort. Tesla has sent emails and in-app notifications to numerous vehicle owners, explicitly warning against using such devices and stating that it is aware of various circumvention methods. The company emphasized that verified violations will result in the termination of associated service access. Currently, only U.S.-made Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck vehicles are permitted to use FSD in South Korea. Although some owners of China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles have already paid for the FSD package, they remain unable to legally activate the feature due to delays in local regulatory certification—prompting some users to seek “jailbreak” solutions. Tesla stressed that vehicle owners bear full responsibility for any traffic accidents caused by using unauthorized devices. Moreover, regardless of whether direct damage occurs, Tesla reserves the right to deny warranty coverage. Additionally, South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has classified unauthorized vehicle software modifications as a criminal offense. Under the Motor Vehicle Management Act, offenders may face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million KRW. Tesla also regards these devices as cybersecurity threats, noting they could introduce software vulnerabilities and heighten the risk of hacking.