Tesla software update 2026.38.5.1, dated October 13, 2026, brings together Halloween entertainment, charging and navigation tools, and separate Full Self-Driving packages for HW3 and HW4 vehicles. Its fifteen documented entries include FSD (Supervised) v14.3 Lite for HW3 Model 3 and Model Y, alongside v14.3.12 for the listed HW4 vehicles. The version number alone should not be taken to mean identical features across every Tesla.
For HW3 Model 3 and Model Y, v14.3 Lite describes learning from the HW4 V14 system, with improvements to navigation, merging, pedestrians, traffic signals, and vehicles cutting into the lane. It also addresses unnecessary slowdowns, steering smoothness, and lane centering. Parking, unparking, and reversing are included, with destination arrival preferences and Speed Profiles available throughout supervised driving.
The associated HW3 controls make those functions easier to use. Start Self-Driving from Park checks driver presence, seat-belt use, and cabin-camera visibility, with a configurable Brake Confirm step. Arrival Options remember destination preferences, while the SLOTH Speed Profile favors slower, more conservative driving. Speed Profiles and Arrival Options can be adjusted directly from the driving visualization.
HW4 notes cover v14.3.12 improvements to perception, training, reaction time, parking, unusual road situations, and driver monitoring. Intervention feedback and intervention-free distance tracking provide additional information. Automatic Collision Evasion may engage supervised driving during manual driving under the described attention or unintended-disengagement conditions. Pothole avoidance and broader reasoning remain upcoming improvements. Both FSD packages require an attentive driver ready to intervene.
Halloween Mode adds themed vehicle graphics, visitor-triggered effects, a scheduled light show, and Photobooth effects on the listed AMD vehicles. AMD-equipped HW3 Model 3 and Model Y also receive richer vehicle imagery. Other entries cover pilot Supercharger maps for Intel vehicles, phone-based arrival-energy settings requiring Tesla App 4.58.0 or later, and headlight leveling on specific Model 3 and Cybertruck vehicles.
Emergency Drive Away permits shifting into Drive with a Supercharger cable connected strictly for emergencies; doing so damages the car and charger, may leave repair costs with the user, and shares short camera recordings with Tesla. Security improvements are also included. Below, the illustrated 2026.38.5.1 Release Notes explain each entry with its individual vehicle and hardware requirements.
Halloween Mode
New Feature
for Model S (New), 3, X (New), Y and CT
AMD / Available Worldwide
Add a ghost costume to the vehicle visualization, trigger spooky sounds and flickering lights as visitors approach, schedule a themed light show, and use Halloween Photobooth effects. The notes describe year-round access for the listed AMD-equipped vehicles.
Visual Updates
New Feature
for Model 3 and Y
AMD / HW3 / Available Worldwide
AMD-equipped HW3 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles receive more detailed vehicle imagery on the center display and a richer scene while parked.
Emergency Drive Away
New Feature
for Model S (New), 3, X (New), Y and CT
This emergency-only function permits shifting into Drive with a Supercharger cable still attached. Driving away in that state will damage the vehicle and Supercharger, and repair costs may fall to the user. Activation also sends Tesla short recordings from the vehicle cameras.
Supercharger Site Maps
New Feature
for Model S (Legacy), 3, X (Legacy) and Y
Intel / Available Worldwide
Tap View Site Map to inspect the layout of a supported Supercharger. At pilot sites, navigation shows the layout and live arrival information identifying available, occupied, or out-of-service stalls. This entry lists Intel-equipped legacy Model S and Model X, Model 3, and Model Y.
Set Arrival Energy
New Feature
for Model S, 3, X, Y and CT
Tesla App 4.58.0+ / Available Worldwide
Use the location tab in Tesla App version 4.58.0 or later to enter a destination and select Set Arrival Energy. This lets you specify your desired remaining energy at the end of the trip from your phone.
Dynamic Headlight Leveling
New Feature
for Model 3 and CT
Specific Vehicles / Available Worldwide
On eligible Model 3 and Cybertruck vehicles, the low beams adjust their aim automatically in response to driving conditions and surrounding traffic. The purpose is to improve visibility while limiting glare for other road users; availability is restricted to specific vehicles.
Automatic Collision Evasion
New Feature
for Model S (New), 3, X (New), Y and CT
HW4
For the listed HW4 vehicles, this function can engage FSD (Supervised) during manual driving when it detects insufficient attention or a possible unintended disengagement of FSD. It attempts to maintain safety and continue driving. The Owner's Manual provides further operating details.
FSD (Supervised) v14.3.12
New Feature
for Model S (New), 3, X (New), Y and CT
HW4
The HW4 v14.3.12 notes describe improvements to reinforcement-learning training and the vision encoder, targeting rare situations, reduced visibility, three-dimensional geometry, and traffic signs. A rebuilt AI compiler and runtime using MLIR is associated with a stated 20% improvement in reaction time and faster model iteration.
Driving changes address unnecessary lane bias and close following, improve the decisiveness of parking selection and maneuvers, and show the predicted parking location with a P map icon. Responses to emergency vehicles, school buses, right-of-way violations, and unusual vehicles are also covered.
Additional training targets small animals, compound traffic signals, curved approaches, yellow-light stopping, and objects extending into the road. Temporary system degradation can be handled by maintaining control and recovering automatically. Driver monitoring gains refinements to gaze tracking, eyewear handling, and performance under changing lighting.
The description also covers a unified model for Actually Smart Summon, FSD, and Robotaxi. After an intervention, drivers can choose a reason on the main screen. The Self-Driving App shows intervention-free distance and the longest streak, and destination parking choices appear on the map.
Broader reasoning beyond destination handling and pothole avoidance remain listed as upcoming improvements, rather than currently available functions.
Full Self-Driving (Supervised)
New Feature
for Model S (New), 3, X (New), Y and CT
HW4
With continuous driver supervision, FSD can leave a parked position, follow navigation through lane changes and junctions, navigate around vehicles and objects, turn, and park at the destination. It does not make the vehicle autonomous. Every authorized driver must remain attentive and ready to take over.
Use Start Self-Driving on the display or press the right scroll-wheel button once to activate it. The feature can be disabled in Autopilot Settings.
FSD (Supervised) v14.3 Lite
New Feature
for Model 3 and Y
HW3
For HW3 Model 3 and Model Y, v14.3 Lite uses knowledge distilled from HW4 V14, allowing the older hardware's system to learn from the newer system's training and models. The notes describe improved proactive and reactive responses in navigation, merges, forks, pedestrian interactions, traffic signals, and cut-in situations.
Comfort improvements target false slowdowns, steering smoothness, and consistent lane centering. Parking, unparking, and reversing are included. Arrival preferences can direct the vehicle toward a parking lot, street, or driveway, and Speed Profiles remain available throughout supervised driving.
Start Self-Driving from Park
New Feature
for Model 3 and Y
HW3
The start button appears when the driver checks are satisfied, including being seated, wearing the seat belt, and keeping the cabin camera unobstructed. With Brake Confirm enabled, the driver must press and release the brake before activation. With it disabled, the button can allow the system to apply the brakes and engage; a pedal confirmation is still required if driver detection checks are not met.
Brake Confirm can be configured under Self-Driving > Brake Confirm. This function does not provide autonomous operation: an attentive, licensed driver authorized to operate the vehicle must be ready to take over. Access to the driver's seat should be limited accordingly whenever the vehicle is outside Theater or Arcade modes.
Arrival Options
New Feature
for Model 3 and Y
HW3
Choose a destination arrival preference such as Parking Lot, Street, Driveway, or Pull Over for a drop-off. The system saves arrival preferences and preferred parking positions for each destination.
Speed Profiles
New Feature
for Model 3 and Y
HW3
FSD chooses speed using the selected profile, speed limits, and surrounding traffic. SLOTH adds slower driving and more conservative lane choices than CHILL, while more assertive profiles allow a higher maximum speed. Moving the right scroll wheel up or down changes the profile instead of a precise speed-offset setting.
UI Improvements
New Feature
for Model 3 and Y
HW3
Change Speed Profiles and Arrival Options directly within the Self-Driving visualization on the center display, keeping these controls close to the driving view.
Security Improvements
New Feature
for Model S, 3, X, Y and CT
Available Worldwide
The update includes security fixes and improvements. The notes do not specify individual vulnerabilities or give a detailed list of the corrections.
