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Tesla’s Halloween Mode: what the 2026.38.3 update adds, and which cars get it
Halloween Mode arrives in software update 2026.38.3 with spooky visuals and sounds, but it needs newer AMD-based hardware and it turns off Sentry Mode.
Not every Electrify America charger needs an adapter anymore
Electrify America has started adding native NACS plugs at select stations, letting some Teslas charge without an adapter, though most of the network still requires one.
Tesla’s newest FSD update splits into two different builds
Tesla’s FSD v14.3.11 update isn’t one build: HW4 cars get the full release while older HW3 cars get a lighter version missing Automatic Collision Evasion.
What actually fits in the Model Y L’s third row.
The Model Y L’s third row has its own heated seats, power recline, and child-seat anchors. Here’s what the specs say, and what a family’s hands-on test showed.
Tesla’s Light Show turns your car into a Halloween display.
Tesla’s built-in Light Show feature syncs a car’s exterior lights to music, and Tesla’s own channel is already previewing Halloween content for it.
EV-specific tires can add range to your Tesla without a software update.
Tires built for an EV’s weight and torque can measurably improve range over a standard all-season tire, and one owner’s year-long review shows what that looks like in practice.
Picking between the Model Y, Model 3, and Cybertruck in 2026.
With Model S and Model X gone, Tesla’s new-car lineup is down to three — here’s what each one actually costs and who it fits.
Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y just got a mid-cycle refresh in the US
Tesla’s October 1 refresh brings a bigger, sharper screen and quicker acceleration to the Model 3 and Model Y in the US, though V2L and the new interior color other markets get didn’t make the cut here.
Tesla raised Model Y financing rates again. Here’s what it costs you
Tesla quietly raised Model Y loan APRs from 1.49% to 1.99% in late September. On a typical 72-month loan, that’s roughly $800 to $1,000 more over the life of the loan.
Tesla confirms fixes for FSD’s two biggest complaints are coming
A Tesla AI engineer confirmed fixes for pothole avoidance and navigation routing are on the way for Full Self-Driving. Here’s what’s actually been said, and a real-world look at the current software.
What actually changed in Tesla’s latest FSD update, and what owners are noticing
Tesla’s FSD v14.3.10 update tightened lane biasing, tailgating, and parking behavior. Here’s what shipped, and what one longtime tester noticed after driving with it.
Tesla’s Grok AI is now writing code that ships in your car’s software.
Tesla confirms its Grok AI model is now shipping real FSD and Cybercab features as an overnight coding agent.
What a first-time passenger’s reaction to Tesla FSD actually looks like.
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) still needs an attentive driver behind the wheel. A first-time passenger’s reaction shows why it can feel unsettling anyway.
The setup steps to do before you drive your new Tesla anywhere.
A phone key, a driver profile, and a home-charging plan — the handful of things worth sorting out before you put real miles on a new Model 3 or Model Y.
Tesla will refund the service visits its own FSD bug caused
If you paid for a camera cleaning after a false FSD v14.3.9 alert, Tesla says you can get that charge refunded.
Model Y L or Model X: how the specs actually compare
The Model Y L undercuts the Model X by nearly $28,000 and seats six with a usable third row. Here’s how the price, range and specs actually compare.
Why some Tesla owners are adding $30 covers to their side cameras
RepeaterShield is a $30 aftermarket cover aimed at a real Tesla annoyance: side cameras losing visibility in heavy rain. Here’s what it claims to fix, and one owner’s hands-on test.
Tesla reopened $50,000 Roadster reservations. Here’s what the deposit actually gets you.
Reserving Tesla’s next Roadster now costs $50,000: $5,000 refundable up front, $45,000 by wire within 10 days. Here’s what that gets you, and why the 2017 reservation history is worth remembering first.
Tesla’s AI5 chip just started production. Your car isn’t getting one first.
Samsung began trial production of the AI5 chip on September 15. Optimus and data centers get it before cars do, and Musk says vehicle production is still roughly a year out.
Model Y L or Hyundai IONIQ 9: how the specs actually compare
Both three-row electric SUVs start in the low $60,000s. Here’s how price, range, and seating actually compare, plus one owner’s side-by-side impression.
What Tesla’s FSD v14.3.10 update actually changes
FSD v14.3.10 started rolling out September 19 with traffic-light, object-handling, and driver-monitoring refinements. Here’s what the release notes say, plus one tester’s early take.
Why doesn’t the European Tesla Semi have side mirrors?
Europe lets trucks swap mirrors for cameras and Tesla’s European Semi does exactly that, while U.S. federal rules still require physical mirrors.
Do you need a side-camera rain shield for your Tesla?
A $30 aftermarket cover keeps rain off your Tesla’s side repeater cameras and the ‘camera visibility limited’ warning at bay — but only on Hardware 4 cars, and only for the rain problem, not the bigger FSD visibility question regulators are investigating.
Why doesn’t Tesla use LiDAR for self-driving?
Tesla skips LiDAR entirely, betting on cameras and AI instead — and just used a 1-million-mile Robotaxi milestone to make its case.
Two Tesla settings that quietly drain your battery when you’re not driving.
Sentry Mode and Keep Accessory Power both keep your Tesla partly awake while parked. Here’s what each one actually costs you in range.
Thinking about a Model Y L instead of a Model X? Read this first.
Tesla’s six-seat Model Y L and the three-row Model X both fit a family, but only one of them Tesla will still sell you new.
Tesla and SpaceX broke ground on a chip factory built for Cybercab and Optimus
Terafab, a planned 100-million-square-foot chip plant in Texas, is meant to supply the compute hardware behind Tesla’s self-driving and robotics programs.
These aftermarket Tesla Model Y floor mats add a metal plate to stop pedal jams
A new aftermarket mat design adds a rigid metal plate to keep the pedal-side edge from curling into the pedal. Here’s the actual safety standard behind it.
Your Tesla floor mat can jam your pedal. Here’s how to make sure yours can’t.
An unanchored floor mat can jam your Tesla’s accelerator or brake pedal. Here’s what actually prevents that, and one owner’s look at a popular mat-and-pedal-plate combo.
France is now road-testing Tesla’s FSD, and regulators say it found no major problems.
France’s transport ministry says its first road tests of Tesla FSD found no major obstacles, though a full EU-wide approval decision isn’t expected before October 2026.
PG&E will pay you up to $4,000 to turn your EV into a home battery.
PG&E’s expanded V2X pilot pays California customers to let an EV back up their home. Here’s what qualifies, and where a Tesla actually fits.
Tesla’s Cybertruck Off-Road Light Bar is no longer Foundation Series-only.
The $1,950 roof-mounted light bar, once exclusive to Foundation Series Cyberbeasts, is now available to any Cybertruck owner through the Tesla Shop.
Tesla is deploying Megapack batteries at a record pace.
Tesla’s grid-scale battery business is growing faster than its car business right now. Here’s what that has to do with the power behind your home charger.
What the Model Y L’s glass roof actually blocks.
The Model Y L’s panoramic glass roof stretches over both rows. Here’s what Tesla actually says it protects you from, and what it doesn’t.
Tesla just started large-scale cathode production in Texas.
Tesla is now processing battery cathode material at Gigafactory Texas, a step toward building more of its battery supply chain in the US.
Can swapping your Tesla’s wheels actually add range?
Wheel choice measurably affects a Tesla’s range. Here’s what independent testing has found, and a look at one owner’s real-world wheel swap.
What Tesla’s FSD 14.3.9 update actually changes
Tesla’s FSD 14.3.9 update, rolling out in North America starting September 6, 2026, adds a new Automatic Collision Evasion safety feature along with neural network and driving-behavior improvements.
Here’s what the 2026 Model Y actually costs, trim by trim.
The 2026 Model Y runs from $41,380 to $58,880 across five trims. Here’s what each one gets you, plus one owner’s real-world complaints on video.
Tesla launched Cybercab in Austin. Here’s what it actually does for riders.
Tesla opened Cybercab rides to the public in Austin on September 3, 2026. Here’s what the two-seat, driverless vehicle actually is, and how riders hail one.
Smart Summon can drive your Tesla to you. Here’s what it actually requires.
Smart Summon can drive your Tesla out of a parking spot to meet you — within a strict set of limits on speed, range, and where it’s meant to be used.
Tesla’s biggest-ever China recall adds eye tracking to 2.74 million cars
China’s market regulator ordered Tesla to add cabin-camera eye tracking to 2.74 million Model 3 and Y cars, ruling that steering-wheel torque alone doesn’t prove a driver is watching the road.
What charging a Tesla at home actually costs compared to gas
A full home charge runs about $12 to $16 at the national average electricity rate — roughly a third the per-mile cost of gas, though your state’s rate can swing that a lot.
What Tesla Home actually does with your Powerwall and EV charging
Tesla Home uses an AI engine called Opticaster to automate your Powerwall, solar, and EV charging around the cheapest electricity rates. Here’s what it actually controls.
Tesla renamed Dog Mode to Pet Mode. Here’s what actually changed.
Tesla renamed Dog Mode to Pet Mode with the Spring 2026 update, adding pet avatars and name display. Here’s what the feature actually requires and how much range it uses.
Is the six-seat Model Y L worth $12,000 more than a standard Model Y?
The Model Y L starts at $61,990, about $12,000 over a standard Model Y, for a third row with 4.7 inches more legroom. Dirty Tesla’s hands-on take, plus the specs behind it.
What a base Cybertruck AWD delivery actually looks like.
The base Cybertruck AWD now starts at $74,990 and skips air suspension, leather seats, and bed tie-down rails compared to Premium — here’s what that means walking into a real delivery.
What Tesla’s app update 4.60 actually adds, and what’s still coming.
Tesla app 4.60 adds Passkey support and hints at Cybertruck Powershare with Powerwall — Ryan Shaw breaks down what’s live and what’s still just code.
An owner retrofitted Hardware 4 into an older Model 3 — ahead of Tesla’s own upgrade program.
A software engineer swapped a Hardware 4 computer into his 2022 Model 3, months before Tesla’s own paid HW3 retrofit program is expected to exist.
What Tesla’s FSD 14.3.8 and the Summer Update actually change
Tesla shipped FSD 14.3.8 alongside the Summer Update on August 26, but only Hardware 4 cars get the full version. Here’s what’s new.
What Tesla has actually confirmed about FSD v15
Tesla says FSD v15 will run on today’s Hardware 4 computers and is targeting a late-2026 to early-2027 launch. Here’s what’s actually confirmed, and why the hardware promise deserves some skepticism.
What riding in the Model Y L’s third row is actually like on a real road trip.
The Model Y L’s six-seat layout is built for trips like this. Here’s what the seating actually offers, and one family’s real road-trip take on it.
Tesla’s Austin robotaxis went a full reporting window without an at-fault crash. Here’s the context.
New federal data shows zero at-fault incidents for Tesla’s Austin robotaxi fleet in one reporting window. The number is real, but it comes with caveats worth knowing.
What FSD 14.3.7 actually feels like in the new Model Y L.
FSD 14.3.7 shipped with a rewritten AI compiler for faster reaction time. Here’s what that update is meant to change, and one owner’s first drive with it in a Model Y L.
Tesla is building one of the East Coast’s biggest Superchargers, right in Queens.
A new Supercharger going up in Maspeth, Queens will tie for the largest on the East Coast, with dedicated pull-through stalls for trailers.
Tesla Semi just landed its biggest order yet — 500 trucks.
A Swedish freight company ordered 500 Tesla Semi trucks, the largest Semi deal to date. Here’s who’s actually buying and why.
What actually happens when you remove a Tesla wrap after years of sun.
A vinyl wrap has a real shelf life. Here’s how long a quality wrap actually lasts, and what removal looks like once it’s done its job.
Can FSD actually cut your Tesla insurance bill in half?
Lemonade will discount FSD-engaged miles by 50 percent, but only for Tesla owners with Hardware 4 in five states: Arizona, Oregon, Indiana, Colorado, and Tennessee.
How much fits in the Model Y L with the seats folded?
Tesla rates the six-seat Model Y L at up to 89 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat, and a hands-on video shows what that looks like loaded.
FSD Supervised vs. a robotaxi ride: what’s actually different.
Tesla says FSD (Supervised) never makes the car fully autonomous and still requires an attentive driver, while Waymo’s robotaxis operate with no driver at all.
How far does the Model Y L really go, and how fast does it charge?
The Model Y L’s official EPA range is 325 miles with a peak DC fast-charging rate around 256 kW, and a Dirty Tesla real-world test on August 20, 2026 shows how those numbers hold up on the road.
What upgrading a Hardware 3 Tesla to AI4 actually involves right now
There’s no way to buy a Hardware 3-to-AI4 computer upgrade today; here’s what Tesla has actually promised and what the headline retrofit really is.
How Tesla’s FSD software actually handles rain and standing water
Tesla’s FSD software locks the car into slower Chill or Sloth driving modes when it detects a hydroplaning risk, and the version tested here added a vision upgrade for low-visibility scenes.
How Tesla decides whether your problem needs mobile service or a shop visit.
Tesla service requests start in the app, and Tesla, not the owner, decides whether the fix happens at your driveway or a service center.
Tesla’s V2L power adapter costs $80 for some owners and $1,750 for others
Tesla’s V2L power adapter is an $80 accessory for newer Model Y Premium and Performance trims, but a roughly $1,750 parts-and-labor retrofit for older PCS1 cars with no formal customer program yet.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving still needs an attentive driver. Here’s why.
Tesla’s own documentation describes Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as a driver assistance system, not an autonomous one, and requires a fully attentive driver ready to take over.
Model Y L’s power seats and liftgate reverse when they hit resistance
On the Model Y L, the powered rear seats and liftgate stop and reverse when they sense an obstruction, a pinch-protection feature Tesla built in for hands, pets, and cargo.
Floor protection for your Tesla costs $25 or $300, depending on what you buy
Tesla’s own all-weather liners run into the hundreds of dollars. A lot of owners get similar coverage from a molded aftermarket mat set instead.
Is the six-seat Model Y L worth $61,990 over a regular Model Y?
Tesla’s stretched, three-row Model Y L costs about $15,000 more than a standard Model Y Long Range. Here’s what the extra length and money actually buy.
Tesla is using its cameras to start deploying airbags earlier
Tesla Vision can now tell the restraint system a crash is coming up to 70 milliseconds before the impact sensors do — but the sensors still make the call.
Is the cheaper Model Y the one to buy?
The Standard trim takes about $6,400 off a Model Y. What you give up decides whether that’s a bargain or a false economy.
Running a fridge in your Tesla: what the 12V socket will and won’t do
A parked Tesla can keep a cooler running, but only with the right setting turned on and only down to a battery floor.
What the charging stops look like on a 2,600-mile road trip
On a long drive the stops are shorter and more frequent than most new owners picture — and the rhythm is set by the charging curve, not by the range number.
The maintenance Tesla actually schedules
There’s no oil change and no annual service, but Tesla does publish intervals — tires, cabin filter, and a short list of the rest.
What your first ride with Full Self-Driving is actually like
The first FSD drive surprises most people twice: the car does more than they expected, and it still needs them the whole time.
How many days of driving one charge actually covers
For most drivers a single charge covers close to a week of ordinary driving, which is why home charging stops being something you think about.
What to buy first for a new Model 3 or Model Y
Charging comes first, protection second, and most of the accessory list can wait until you have driven the car for a month.
Can you buy a Tesla for under $40,000 in 2026?
The Model 3 Standard starts under $40,000 with destination included, but the federal credit is gone and the real number depends on fees, taxes and where you live.
Tesla is shipping a second FSD v14 Lite build to Hardware 3 cars
FSD v14.1 Lite arrives as firmware 2026.21.6 for older Hardware 3 Model 3 and Model Y cars, following reports of Autopilot computer overheating on the first v14 Lite release.
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