Unauthorized FSD Modules
South Korean authorities have identified 80 Tesla drivers who allegedly forced Full Self-Driving onto cars that were never cleared for it. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency says it confiscated 21 of the devices used to switch the feature on. The unlock modules connect to the car’s CAN bus, the internal network linking electronic control units, to bypass the regional software lock that keeps FSD disabled. This is possible because Tesla builds the same computer into every vehicle regardless of local feature approval.
Some suspects purchased ready-made units from Europe and China, while others built their own using information found online. The group traded tips on how to prevent vehicles from logging FSD activation. Concealing this history is reportedly an attempt to evade detection by Tesla's own monitoring systems.
Legal and Safety Risks
Prosecutors are applying the Motor Vehicle Management Act, which prohibits unauthorized software modifications that could impact vehicle safety. Penalties in South Korea can reach up to two years in prison or a fine of 20 million won, roughly $15,000, for unlocking a driver-assistance feature.
South Korea’s transport ministry initially flagged suspicious activations to police, citing potential safety risks including the possibility that FSD might misinterpret driving conditions or operate contrary to driver inputs.
Certification Gap
The issue stems from a certification gap. Tesla introduced FSD Supervised in South Korea for specific US-built models that bypass local safety certification under bilateral agreements, while models from other manufacturing hubs await approval.
Manufacturer and Regulatory Response
The investigation follows Tesla's efforts to curb unauthorized activations by remotely disabling FSD access on affected cars and warning owners that modifications void warranties. Tesla's software and hardware security protections have faced previous scrutiny, including security exploits targeting infotainment processors.
Regulators globally have frequently examined Tesla's software updates and feature accessibility, raising ongoing questions about safety standards and hardware reliability in complex computing systems.
