Like thousands of Tesla fans, I bought into the dream of Full Self-Driving (FSD). The hype. The tweets. The promise that we were just “a few updates away” from a future where I could nap while my car drove me across town.

But after months of frustrating near-misses, false starts, and enough phantom braking to trigger actual anxiety, I finally hit the brakes—literally and metaphorically. I had to quit Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving. Here’s why.

It’s Not Actually Full Self-Driving

Let’s clear one thing up: it doesn’t drive itself. Despite the name, FSD still requires me to keep my hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, and heart in my throat.

Tesla sells it like it’s magic, but the reality feels more like an unreliable intern behind the wheel—sometimes confident, often confused, and occasionally terrifying.

I’ve had it try to take exits I didn’t select, attempt to swerve into parked cars, and once, while turning left at a major intersection, it just… stopped. I had to override it before someone honked me into another dimension.

Beta Testers in the Wild? Really?

What bothers me most is this: I paid to be a beta tester. On public roads. With no formal training. That’s not innovation—that’s gambling with other people’s lives.

And when it messes up? It’s my fault. I get the ticket. I take the blame. Meanwhile, the system quietly logs another “learning moment” and moves on.

The Tech Just Isn’t Ready—No Matter What Elon Says

Elon Musk has been promising robotaxis since 2019. Every year, the timeline shifts, and we get a new excuse or a new buzzword. Meanwhile, FSD is stuck in this awkward in-between phase where it’s too advanced for beginners but too unpredictable for trust.

And the worst part? You can’t get your money back. You either roll with the chaos, or admit the $12,000 you spent was on a dream that still lives in PowerPoint.

Safety First. And This Ain’t It.

After a particularly jarring incident where my Tesla tried to change lanes into a delivery truck, I realized something: I no longer trusted it.

Driving is stressful. FSD was supposed to make it easier. Instead, it added a layer of paranoia I didn’t sign up for.

I’m Out—for Now

I’ve turned it off. For good. I’m back to old-school driving. Mirrors, turn signals, human judgment. It’s not perfect—but it’s better than trusting a beta AI that can’t handle construction zones or unmarked intersections.

I still believe in the future of self-driving. I just don’t believe it’s here yet.

And until it is, I’m not risking my life—or anyone else’s—to find out.