Tesla class-action lawsuit claims automatic updates to blame for major battery issues

Law firm Hagens Berman recently filed a class-action lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of California that accuses the auto maker of potentially violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and state consumer protection laws by forcing updates on consumers without informing them before the fact that the updates will have an impact on their battery and range.

Model S and Model X owners that are part of the lawsuit claim that Tesla's updates have caused them to lose up to 20% of the range in their vehicles, with some owners saying that the updates have even caused their battery pack to fail irreparably. A Tesla battery replacement is no small expense, either, with replacement packs costing up to US$25,000.

Users on Tesla owner forums have previously expressed confusion over Tesla's software update policy upon discovering that updates will install even drivers manually cancel, postpone, or opt out of the update. Some owners have reportedly even turned to third-party solutions to reverse software updates, since Tesla doesn't offer drivers the option of an uninstall or downgrade.

Hagen Berman previously won a class-action lawsuit against Tesla over delays relating to the manufacturer's embattled Autopilot software after charging customers for the feature. Previously, Tesla has been the subject of a number of class-action lawsuits, with the most recent stemming from a privacy issue related to Tesla employees internally sharing and mocking private footage from the inside of customers' vehicles.

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