South Korean court rejects Tesla owners' lawsuit seeking 'Full Self-Driving' refunds
TSLA•A South Korean court rejected a lawsuit by 88 Tesla owners seeking refunds for Full Self-Driving, ruling that Tesla had not breached its contractual obligations. The court said the software did not promise fully autonomous driving and that regulatory delays could not be blamed on Tesla.
1. Court rejects refund claims
The Seoul Central District Court ruled against 88 Tesla owners who sought full refunds for money paid for Full Self-Driving. It found the option did not promise driving without human intervention and that Tesla had provided some included functions, including basic Autopilot and Enhanced Autopilot.
2. Features and regulatory delays
The court said delivery of additional features depended on technological advances and regulatory approvals, and buyers knew some functions could take considerable time to become available. It also noted that a recent software update added traffic light and sign recognition, as well as city-driving capabilities, to older vehicles with Hardware 3 computers.
3. Other legal disputes
The owners filed their lawsuit in 2024, arguing Tesla Korea had been unable to implement the FSD option in South Korea for more than eight years after sales began around March 2017. In China, 10 Tesla owners have reportedly filed a joint lawsuit seeking FSD refunds and damages; in the United States, a federal appeals court blocked California owners from pursuing class action claims, while the underlying lawsuit remains pending.
