<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338972</docID> <postdate>2025-02-24 16:26:28</postdate> <headline>Tesla owners sue for cars ‘falling flat’ on tech claims</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-338973" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250224190052445487-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="988" height="659" /></p> <caption>An Australian class action claims Tesla has overstated what is vehicles are capable of achieving. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Miklos Bolza</b> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Australian owners have accused Elon Musk's Tesla of overstating its electric cars' battery life and self-driving capabilities in a class-action lawsuit.</strong></p> <p>In a consumer action filed in the Federal Court, Tesla Motors Australia has been accused of selling Model 3 and Y cars manufactured by the US-based Tesla Inc based on hyped-up claims.</p> <p>"Tesla made promises about their vehicles' safety, performance and features such as their 'full self-driving,' but it appears some of these promises are falling flat," Rebecca Jancauskas, director of the firm behind the lawsuit, JGA Saddler, said on Monday.</p> <p>The Model 3 and Y are the two most popular models of electric vehicles in Australia, together accounting for more than 40 per cent of all battery-only car sales nationwide 2024.</p> <p>The class action focuses on three alleged problems, including "phantom braking" - or the tendency for cars to reportedly turn on emergency braking for no reason while in cruise control or Autopilot modes.</p> <p>"This dangerous phenomenon ... would terrify you and your passengers and could, if it causes an accident, result in serious injury and/or death," Ms Jancauskas said.</p> <p>The firm is also accused of failing to deliver on promises to achieve cars' advertised maximum range or achieving fully autonomous self-driving capability.</p> <p>"Imagine your EV has never reached 75 per cent of its advertised battery range, or the promised self-driving features, that you paid a premium of more than $5000 for, have never been delivered," Ms Jancauskas said.</p> <p>"For many Tesla drivers these issues are their daily reality."</p> <p>Despite knowing about these defects for years, Tesla had overstated its cars' abilities and had failed to address the problems or pay compensation, Ms Jancauskas alleged.</p> <p>"It is hoped this claim underscores the importance for all EV manufacturers to be truthful in their marketing, deliver on their promises, and ensure their products are safe and reliable," she said.</p> <p>Drivers who purchased or leased a Model 3 or Y equipped with Tesla Vision, a camera-based system that assisted with automated driving, since May 2021 are eligible to join the class action.</p> <p>Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p> <p>The lawsuit is being financially backed by litigation funder Woodsford on a "no win, no fee" basis.</p> <p>If it is successful, Woodsford will apply for Federal Court approval to recoup its legal costs plus a commission taken out of the winnings.</p> <p>Mr Musk's Tesla, the world's most valuable car company by market capitalisation, has also been under scrutiny by US officials and forced to recall millions of defective vehicles.</p> <p>So far in 2025, there have been two major recalls in the US, affecting more than 370,000 vehicles with power steering problems and about 239,000 vehicles with a rear-view camera issue that could increase the risk of collisions.</p> <p>In 2024, the company recalled almost 700,000 vehicles in the US due to issues with the tyre-pressure warning system and about 1.85 million vehicles due to a software failure to detect an unlatched hood.</p> </body>