by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla’s newly released FSD has been all the rage these last few days. Ever since Tesla debuted its new Full Self-Driving beta v9 software, it’s been in the news. Some Tesla owners love it; others are upset at the cost of a hardware update necessary for some Teslas to get FSD. Still others are concerned about safety. Consumer safety advocacy groups are among these. Consumer Reports hates Tesla’s FSD.

What does Tesla FSD do?

Tesla FSD is a more autonomous version of their Autopilot function. Autopilot is Tesla’s semi-autonomous driver assistance system that incorporates safety systems. These include lane keep assist, automatic braking, and adaptive cruise control. 

Full Self-Driving, or FSD, takes this one step further. FSD has the capabilities for Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, Autosteer, and Navigate. It also comes with auto lane change, autopark, summon, and smart summon. FSD also includes technology called Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control. This is where the Tesla recognizes a stop sign or traffic light, and behaves accordingly. 

Why does Consumer Reports hate Tesla FSD?

Tesla FSD is a beta prototype, meaning that customers are basically trialing it for the company. As FSD operates based on a neural network, it will constantly be adapting and making corrections. A neural network collects information, shares it with the network, and ‘learns’ from the information being collected by all of the Teslas using FSD.

Consumer Reports hasn’t received the FSD update for its Model Y yet, but they plan on testing it once they do. Until then, they’ve been staying on top of the FSD beta v9, and they don’t like what they see. The video above is from Consumer Reports’ summary of their issues with FSD. Tesla FSD users have posted videos that demonstrate how well (or not well) FSD is working in their vehicles, and the results are somewhat alarming. 

Among problems with FSD, users’ videos depict cars equipped with FSD “missing turns, scraping against bushes, and heading toward parked cars.” Naturally, this is cause for concern, as some people are under the impression that FSD is more autonomous than it really is. Even with Tesla’s standard Autopilot, which is just semi-autonomous, people have allowed their Teslas to operate as though fully autonomous, sometimes with dangerous and deadly consequences. 

Tesla’s website includes the following information about the level of autonomy that FSD offers: “Note: These features are designed to become more capable over time; however the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle autonomous. The currently enabled features require a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment.”

Consumer Reports is worried that drivers are essentially testing the software

And they’re right. The fact that Tesla has released a beta prototype means that it isn’t a fully tested, secure system. This is what concerns Consumer Reports the most. Consumer Reports points out that this means that other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are participating in the beta testing of Tesla FSD, completely unaware. 

Consumer Reports spoke with other companies with semi-autonomous vehicles, and they confirmed that they don’t beta test their vehicles with the general public. Rather, they used trained drivers. 

Consumer Reports wants Tesla to be more proactive in making sure that Tesla drivers are paying attention while operating a vehicle with FSD. Jake Fisher, senior director of CR’s Auto Test Center, says that Tesla should use in-car monitoring systems to make sure that drivers are paying attention. 

Fisher says, “When the software works well most of the time . . . a minor failure can become catastrophic because drivers will be more trusting of the system and less engaged when they need to be.”

There are obviously a lot of kinks that need to be worked out in Tesla’s FSD software, and Tesla drivers – and especially the unwitting public – shouldn’t be doing the testing. If you have a Tesla with FSD, make sure you have complete control at all times and are paying attention. If you’re on the road – be careful.

RELATED: Tesla Scraps Radar, Ships Cars Without It

The post Consumer Reports Hates Tesla’s New FSD appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Off-road enthusiasts complain that the Bronco Sport isn’t really an SUV. With the unibody construction and all-wheel drive, it doesn’t fit the typical body-on-frame off-road nirvana. But now that problems are starting to arise the Bronco Sport is really looking like it is just cheap and can’t hold a candle to its big Bronco brother.

More than just the PTU is keeping the cheap Bronco Sport from being a real Bronco

Now the forums are exploding with claims of issues with the PTU or Power Transfer Unit. Also called Ford’s twin-clutch rear differential, it kicks in when the ECU senses all-wheel-drive is necessary. The PTU is also what overheats, resulting in the Bronco Sport going into limp mode. Not good.

According to the forums, right before going into limp mode a “4WD Temporarily Disabled” message pops up. But it is happening even in instances where the Sport has an optional cooler. This is available with the Badlands model. Ford gave Jalopnik a response to this.

First of all, that’s not a small hill climb,” Bronco Sport vehicle engineering manager Eddie Khan told Jalopnik. When questioned, he said, “Would you do that in a normal vehicle?” They responded that this isn’t a normal vehicle, it has ‘Bronco’ in the name. 

Arguing with the Bronco Sport engineering manager is probably not a good idea

It’s usually not worth it to go into these arguments with automaker’s engineers. Especially with those responsible for signing off on what becomes the problem. But to add some fuel, there have already been three Bronco Sport recalls. One of them is for the rear-drive unit seizing. 

The recall advises, “There may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.” Other recalls are for suspension issues. Specifically, one for loose or missing bolts and incorrect lower control arms installed. Neither exactly endear one to purchase a Bronco Sport. 

Then there is the three-cylinder engine being the only one available until you get to the Badlands model. While US consumers have slowly warmed up to the idea of no V8s, and to turbo fours, a three slug engine is a bit of a stretch. Especially when Ford touts the Sport as having “legendary off-road capability.” 

Why does the Bronco Sport three-cylinder engine need cylinder deactivation?

The single-piston disc brakes and cylinder deactivation for the three-banger spell out “CHEAP” in bold letters. While cylinder deact has been around for years and mostly seamless, in a three-banger it comes in and out with a shudder. If you spec a turbo three-cylinder it should already have an advantage for the economy. Why would it also need cylinder deact? 

If it’s not especially economical, then what is it. Could it be for a weight advantage? The Sport does incorporate magnesium lower control arms, so the weight did get the engineer’s attention. 

Nah, it’s done for cheap. It’s cheaper to make a three-slug engine than a four- or six-piston one. Not to mention the vibration and generally tinny sound. Please, Ford, prove us wrong. 

“SCRAP IF DROPPED”

The final nail in the coffin is the ECU. Printed on its side is the warning, “SCRAP IF DROPPED.” No, we’re not kidding. That’s some fragile electronics right there. What happens if you hit a rut or rock just right? Could that render the computer to the scrap heap, too?

None of this is fun to write about. We want Ford to hit home runs with each new model. But it can’t do the cheapness thing that GM did in the 1970s. That got GM nowhere, and it will do the same for Ford.

RELATED: What Does the ‘Sport’ in the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Even Mean?

The post Watch: Ford Bronco Sport: Engineered To Be Cheap appeared first on MotorBiscuit.