How to Join the Tesla Full Self Driving Lawsuit

As of a recent San Francisco judge decision, a class action filed by California Tesla owners can move forward under claims that Tesla misled consumers about their vehicle’s full self driving systems.

Since that lawsuit is able to move forward, consumers can look into the class action and discover whether they are eligible to join.

However, joining a class action might not be the best choice for every consumer when compared to an individual claim.

In this article, we break down the newest developments in this ongoing legal dispute and provide information as to how consumers can join. To find out more, continue reading below.

Which Tesla Drivers Are Eligible to Join?

Class action lawsuits, as the name implies, have a “class” of people who come together and start a lawsuit. In order for a class action lawsuit to proceed, the class has to be defined.

In this case, the class of people eligible to join the California lawsuit are drivers who purchased the full self driving package between May 19, 2017 and July 31, 2024 and opted out of Tesla’s arbitration agreement.

Additionally, consumers who purchased the full self driving package between October 20, 2016 and May 19, 2017 are eligible.

The recent judge decision states that Tesla was essentially misleading consumers through statements made on their website, leading them to believe their vehicles contained full self driving when in reality, they did not.

Has There Been a Tesla FSD Recall?

Yes, Tesla issued a recall for their full self driving systems in February 2023 after beta tests revealed the software was prone to a number of errors.

The system engaged in illegal and often unsafe road maneuvers, endangering the occupants of the vehicle while the system was turned on.

At the time, almost 300 accidents were identified to be connected to Tesla’s driver assist technologies; since then, that number has likely only grown if the errors in the full self driving system have not been remedied.

For that recall in particular, the remedy was an over-the-air update to all vehicles with the self driving package. For more information regarding that recall, visit this article to learn more.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, has also been investigating Tesla’s self driving feature after a series of crashes in low visibility environments. For more information on that investigation, visit this article.

Three Steps to Join the Tesla Full Self Driving Lawsuit

As a consumer, there are three basic steps you can take to join the Tesla self driving lawsuit.

• Make Sure You Can Join the Class: As already mentioned, only certain drivers are eligible to join the class action lawsuit. If you accepted Tesla’s arbitration agreement, for example, and purchased your Tesla with the full self driving package after May 19, 2017, you are not eligible to join this class of plaintiffs.
• Contact the Law Firm Representing the Class: As of right now, the law firm representing the freshly certified class has not yet released a form for consumers to fill out and be notified of updates to the lawsuit, but these will likely be released soon following the judge’s order. It’s also possible that you will be contacted independently by a law firm representing the class.  
• Stay Up to Date on Class Action Developments: Once you have contacted the firm representing the case and provided them your information, the best thing to do is wait for updates to release. Staying up to date by following blogs like this one can help give you comfort that the case is moving along and keep you informed on where it is along the legal timeline.

Benefits of Joining a Class Action Lawsuit

When consumers discover they have purchased a defective vehicle, one option that may be available is joining a class action lawsuit.

A class action is a legal process where a large group of people with similar claims brings a case against the same manufacturer.

Rather than pursuing individual claims separately, class members combine their efforts, which can provide certain advantages depending on the situation.

One of the main benefits is efficiency. Instead of thousands of individuals filing nearly identical cases, a single proceeding addresses all claims at once.

This saves time for the courts and reduces the overall legal expenses that each consumer might otherwise face on their own.

Class members generally share the costs of litigation, which can make it more accessible for individuals who may not have the resources to bring a lawsuit independently.

A class action may also strengthen the position of consumers collectively. A large group of plaintiffs can put more pressure on a manufacturer than a single claimant might.

The manufacturer faces the possibility of significant financial exposure if the class is successful, which may encourage settlement or prompt the company to change its practices.

For consumers, this can result in compensation or other remedies that might not be as practical to obtain individually.

Another benefit is consistency. Since all class members’ claims are handled together, there is a uniform outcome rather than varied results across separate cases.

This can provide a measure of predictability, though it also means individuals give up some control over how their specific claim is pursued.

It is worth noting that class actions are not always the best option for every consumer. Compensation in a class action is often divided among many people, which can result in smaller individual payouts than might be achieved through an individual lemon law claim.

Benefits of Filing an Individual Lemon Law Claim

Other than filing a class action, your other option as a consumer is to file an individual lemon law claim. Lemon laws exist in most states, although the specific requirements and remedies can vary.

Unlike a class action, which combines many claims together, an individual lemon law claim focuses solely on the consumer’s unique circumstances.

One of the main advantages is the potential for a more substantial recovery. Because the case is handled individually, the consumer is not sharing compensation with others.

If successful, the outcome can involve a repurchase of the vehicle, a replacement, or a cash settlement, depending on the state’s laws and the details of the defect.

This direct remedy can often be more meaningful than the divided payouts that class actions typically provide.

Another benefit is control. Consumers who pursue a lemon law claim maintain greater influence over the process.

They, along with their attorney, can decide how aggressively to pursue the case, whether to accept a settlement, or whether to take the matter to trial.

This individualized attention can sometimes result in resolutions better tailored to the consumer’s needs.

Lemon law claims can also move more quickly than class actions. While class actions may take years to resolve because of the complexity of handling thousands of plaintiffs, an individual claim may be resolved in a shorter time frame, depending on the circumstances and the court’s schedule.

This can be important for consumers who need a resolution without waiting indefinitely.

Additionally, many state lemon laws include provisions requiring the manufacturer to pay the consumer’s reasonable attorney’s fees if the claim is successful.

This reduces the financial burden of pursuing a case and ensures that individuals are not deterred from filing due to cost.

While not every claim will succeed, and the process can still be time-consuming, filing an individual lemon law claim provides a direct path for consumers to assert their rights and potentially receive a complete remedy for a defective vehicle.

Reach Out to the Lemon Law Experts Today for Help! 

If you’ve been dealing with a defective vehicle, Tesla or otherwise, that won’t stay out of the shop long and continues to give you problems, don’t worry!

The lemon law in your state is there to protect you and get you the compensation you deserve.

At the Lemon Law Experts, our team works zealously to fight for your rights and ensure that you get back on the road as soon as possible.

Contact us today by calling (877) 885-5366 or by filling out an online contact form!