√Tesla withholds towing software from owners with non-genuine tow bars

Tesla owners in the US and the UK with non-genuine tow bars fitted to their vehicles claim the company has told them to remove their modifications and buy genuine parts – and withheld software calibrated for towing.

Tesla owners in the UK and US are reportedly being blocked from buying the company’s towing software if they have a non-genuine tow bar fitted to their electric car.

The move has forced affected Tesla customers to wait months for genuine accessories which are not in stock.

In a post on social media platform Twitter, UK-based Tesla owner Scott Helme claims the electric-car giant will not allow him to purchase its ‘Trailer Mode’ towing software, due to his Model Y being fitted with a non-genuine tow bar.

When a trailer or caravan is hitched to the Model Y, Trailer Mode limits the effect of the car’s autonomous emergency braking system, increases following distances to the car in front while radar cruise control is enabled and disables its lane-keeping assistance program.

@tesla want me to pay to have my tow bar removed, wasting all the money spent on it, then wait an unspecified amount of time to pay them for their tow bar to be installed at which point, they’ll allow me to tow something… pic.twitter.com/mjX4MLqX30
— Scott Helme (@Scott_Helme) October 28, 2022

Speaking to US publication The Drive, Mr Helme claims a Tesla representative said his Model Y would be unable to tow without the company’s genuine towing package installed, requiring the owner to pay for the non-genuine accessory to be removed and replaced with the official Tesla version.

In the UK, the Model Y’s Trailer Mode software is available as a part of Tesla’s £1200 ($AU2150) towing package – which includes a tow bar, two-inch hitch receiver, and trailer wiring harness.

Tesla claims the genuine set-up is capable of towing up to 1600kg, although Model Y owners are required to supply their own hitch and tow ball.

Research conducted by The Drive found Tesla’s towing package has been out of stock in the UK since June 2022, with a Tesla representative telling Mr Helme a “microprocessor supply issue” is to blame.

On Tesla’s Australian website, the Model Y towing package is priced from $1970 but not currently available to order, with the car-maker saying it is “coming soon”.

While Tesla’s Australian website also lists a $665 bike carrier for the Model X, it does not offer a genuine tow bar for the SUV.

According to a November 2021 post from the Tesla Motors Club online forums, US Model X owners have been unable to purchase the genuine towing software separately, claiming the electric-car giant would not supply it due to “warranty complications”.

For the Model X, Tesla’s owners manual says “towing capability is available only if Model X is equipped with the towing package”, adding the package is only available if the electric SUV was fitted with a towing label when it rolled off the production line.

In Australia, the Tesla Model 3 and Model S owner manuals state the electric sedans cannot be used for towing.

“Using Model 3/Model S for towing before Tesla-approved towing components and accessories are available may void the warranty,” says an excerpt from the owner’s manual.

Despite Tesla actively discouraging owners from towing with their Model 3 sedans, at least one company has developed a tow bar for local owners, claiming its accessory complies with Australian Design Rules (ADR).

In Australia, customer modifications to cars fall under the jurisdiction of state or territory regulators.

“The fitting of tow bars or couplings to passenger vehicles is not a mandatory requirement under Australia’s road vehicle legislation,” a spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts told Drive in a statement.

“However, if couplings or tow bars are fitted on a vehicle entering the Australian market, manufacturers and suppliers must comply with the requirements for these devices and their fitment as set out in ADR 62/02 – which is important to ensure an acceptable level of safety during normal use.”

While tow bars from other countries may fit your car, they might not be compliant with ADR 62/02.

If you are preparing to import a tow bar from overseas, be sure to check with the supplier to make sure it is legal to be used on Australian roads and won’t void your car’s warranty.

The post Tesla withholds towing software from owners with non-genuine tow bars appeared first on Drive.