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What is a Tesla steering wheel weight?
I drive a Tesla and love to use Tesla Autopilot, but my friend keeps suggesting using a steering wheel weight. What is a Tesla steering wheel weight, and what does it do?
Mary Alice Morris · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A Tesla steering wheel weight is an unapproved, unsafe, aftermarket device that tricks Tesla Autopilot into driving without human hands on the steering wheel.
Let’s start by being clear—using a steering wheel weight for your
Tesla
is a dangerous fad and a really bad idea. - Unsafe
- Tampers with the car’s autopilot functions
- Some manufacturers selling the weights have been banned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Tesla’s
self-driving
technology is not entirely, fully self-driving. In all production models, these cars rely on the intervention of a human being in some circumstances because they cannot perfectly navigate in a fully autonomous
mode.Please don’t buy it—but here’s how the device works, if you must know.
What it does: A Tesla steering wheel weight is an aftermarket device sold by third-party retailers.
How it works: The weight tricks the Tesla steering wheel into functioning as though the driver’s hands were on it by mimicking the presence or weight of human hands.
Why it works: The
Tesla Autopilot
only kicks in when the driver’s hands are on the wheel. This safety feature ensures the driver is ready to intervene at a moment’s notice—but attaching a weight to the wheel gets around this safety feature.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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