This is the one Tesla feature the internet can't quite get its head around
Published on Oct 12, 2023 at 2:58 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on May 15, 2025 at 6:25 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Thanks to AI and other smart tech devices, we’re slowly relying more and more on machines.
But what about when it comes to our cars?
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While we patiently await the imminent drop of the Tesla Cybertruck, drivers are getting used to new innovations in their Teslas.
And while the Autopilot and Sentry Mode features were welcomed by owners of the EV, there’s one feature that drivers aren’t quite on board with.
Over several days in May 2019, Tesla quietly launched a couple of new features.
One made it easier for Tesla owners to receive software updates.
Another made it easier to get your Tesla repaired if something goes wrong.
The sticking point? It can now diagnose its problems and pre-order the parts needed without a human overseeing the process.

The update was apparently first spotted by a Model 3 owner after a message appeared on their touch screen.
“An unexpected condition has been detected, with the Power Conversion System on your Model 3,” it said.
“A replacement part has been pre-shipped to your preferred Tesla Service Center.
“Please use your Tesla Mobile App or your Tesla account to schedule a Tesla service visit now.”
The Model-3 owner then tweeted about it via X (formerly Twitter).
“How phenomenal is this? Your @Tesla knows when a part needs replacing, and proactively orders the replacement itself! This is next level stuff!” he said.
Tesla was quick to respond to the positive feedback via their X account.
“Yep, our cars can keep tabs on certain components to let you know if they need replacing and order parts ahead of your next service visit,” it said.
“Like skipping the doctor and going right to the pharmacy.”

The update was apparently borne out of a recurring problem with the availability of Tesla parts.
However, not everyone was impressed with the update.
“Imagine checking your account to find out your car ordered itself new tires,” said @memezar.
Followers commented with similar concerns.
“Imagine the car is in a crash and it just orders like 70k worth of new parts,” one said.
They needn’t worry, though.
Musk said owners would be able to cancel the pre-preordered parts if they believed they weren’t necessary.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”