‘We paid for a promise’: Tesla owners furious over FSD

Aussie Tesla drivers are in revolt after Elon Musk’s EV giant has failed to deliver on a key promise.

They paid thousands for a piece of futuristic technology, and years later, they’re still waiting, with no answers and no refunds.

Frustrated customers are demanding that Tesla come clean on when its Full Self-Driving (FSD) package will finally land in Australia.

One long-time Tesla owner took to social media to vent his anger at the electric car giant, saying he feels “frustrated and sidelined” after paying for the Full Self-Driving (FSD) package twice, in 2019 and 2021, only to be left without a clear timeline for when the tech will actually be available.

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Reporter Danielle Collis testing Tesla's Full Self Driving (Supervised). Picture: Supplied

“For over six years, I have awaited the promised functionality,” wrote Adam M in a tweet posted on X.

“The absence of a clear timeline for Tesla owners leaves me and countless others frustrated and sidelined. Having invested in FSD with the expectation of experiencing Tesla’s cutting-edge technology, the continued silence on when Australian customers can access this feature — whether we’ve already paid or are ready to purchase — is disheartening.”

To whom it may concern at @TeslaAUNZ ,

As a dedicated Tesla customer since February 2018, and having purchased Full Self-Driving (FSD) in March 2019 and again in December 2021 for our 2nd Tesla, I am profoundly disappointed by the ongoing lack of transparency and updates…

— A.R.M (@13arm13arm) September 12, 2025

Adam M, warned the company that failing to provide transparency or regular updates is eroding loyalty among its most passionate followers.

The Full Self-Driving option, which adds around $10,000 to the price of a Tesla, was marketed as a ticket to the future where your car drives itself.

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Tesla has tested "Full Self Driving" in Australia. Picture: Supplied

A test driver removes his hands from the steering wheel of a Tesla Motors Inc. Model S electric car fitted with self driving technology. Photographer: Andreas Arnold/Bloomberg

In Australia, due to regulation, customers have received more than lane-changing assistance and a pretty special cruise control.

For a $5000 fee they have been able to access self parking features but FSD Supervised has yet t be greenlit.

Telsa has teased that the software will likely be available by the end of this month, however that is yet to be confirmed. Australian motoring journalists have run FSD supervised through its paces and selected Aussie ‘influencers’ have access to the revolutionary tech. The average Tesla driver does not.

But in China and the United States, Tesla owners have access to FSD Supervised, which can navigate city streets and complex roads.

Aussies who have bought the 2025 Tesla Model Y are yet to be given access to FSD Supervised. Picture: Mark Bean

While Tesla owners are frustrated, ordinary drivers are equally wary of handing over control to machines, new research reveals.

According to the self-driving trust index released by iSelect, a mere 35 per cent of Australians feel positive about driverless cars operating in their local area, while 44 per cent say they’re outright uncomfortable with the idea.

Nearly one in five Australians said they would never trust any form of autonomy on the road.

Only 23 per cent of Australians believe autonomous vehicles will cut road accidents, and 28 per cent fear they’ll actually make crashes more likely.