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Tesla’s coolest new feature has a huge problem

By
Benjamin Snyder
Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor
By
Benjamin Snyder
Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor
October 21, 2015 at 5:48 PM UTC
Tesla Motors Inc. Model X SUV Reveal
Elon Musk, chairman and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors Inc., demonstrates the "falcon-wing" doors of the Model X sport utility vehicle (SUV) during an event in Fremont, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. Musk handed over the first six Model X SUVs to owners in California Tuesday night, as Tesla reached a milestone of having two all-electric vehicles in production at the same time. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by David Paul Morris — Bloomberg via Getty Images

Tesla’s latest feature is steering some drivers off the highway, Business Insider reported Wednesday.

Owners of Tesla (TSLA) cars that include the new autopilot feature—which has the car’s computer steer, change lanes, and change speed automatically—took to forums to express concern about their driving experiences.

One user who posted in a Tesla forum wrote that a coworker with a Tesla car drove with the autopilot feature on, but the car would repeatedly malfunction. The person added that the car was going down the highway at about 65 MPH when the autopilot feature caused the vehicle to try to “exit at every potential exit when driving in the right lane (not exit exclusive one).”

“That occurred to me a few times as well,” Business Insider reported that another customer wrote. “The mapping over time should improve this.”

Tesla issued the following statement to Fortune regarding the autopilot feature:

The latest Autopilot release is a hands-on experience to give drivers more confidence behind the wheel, increase their safety on the road, and make highway driving more enjoyable. We expect drivers to keep their hands on the wheel when using Autosteer and maintain responsibility for the car. Over time, there will not be a need for drivers to keep their hands on the wheel, however in the short term it is very important that the driver stay fully engaged.

The statement mirrors recent comments from Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk: “The driver cannot abdicate responsibility,” he said when launching the new feature. “That will come at some point in the future.”

While the feature is currently approved for North America, it may hit the roads elsewhere soon, too.

Autopilot release to Europe and Asia pending regulatory approval. Hopefully get the ok in the next few weeks.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2015

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About the Author
By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
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Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

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