Tesla's FSD v14.1.7: Improvements and Lingering Challenges

Tesla's latest Full Self-Driving (Supervised) update, v14.1.7, brings notable enhancements in performance and smoothness, addressing long-standing issues. While the update shows significant progress, particularly in handling intersections and crosswalks, some challenges persist, especially concerning navigation and routing.

Key Takeaways

• Navigation and Routing: Remains a significant challenge, with instances of FSD selecting suboptimal routes and requiring driver intervention.

• Intersection Handling: Improvements are evident, with a reduction in stuttering and hesitation at intersections.

• Pedestrian Safety: FSD demonstrated proper handling of crosswalks, stopping for pedestrians when human drivers did not.

• Merging: The system successfully managed merging onto highways, yielding to traffic.

• Obstacle Avoidance: FSD showed patience and awareness in tight situations, navigating around debris and pedestrians.

Navigation and Routing Issues Persist

Despite overall improvements, Tesla's FSD suite continues to struggle with navigation and routing. Teslarati's testing revealed instances where the system chose inefficient paths, even requiring the driver to take over to correct the course. This issue, particularly noticeable around Superchargers, has been a persistent problem throughout the FSD's development.

Progress in Intersection and Crosswalk Handling

One of the most welcomed improvements in v14.1.7 is the enhanced performance at intersections. Testers reported a complete absence of the previously noted "stabbing" or stuttering braking behavior. Furthermore, FSD demonstrated a strong commitment to pedestrian safety, consistently stopping at crosswalks, a behavior not always mirrored by human drivers.

Confident Merging and Obstacle Awareness

The update also showcased improved highway merging capabilities, with the vehicle patiently waiting for traffic to pass before safely entering the freeway. In a particularly challenging scenario involving a tight alleyway with debris and pedestrians, FSD exhibited excellent situational awareness, patiently waiting for a clear path before proceeding, avoiding both the obstruction and the pedestrians.

Closing Thoughts on FSD v14.1.7

Overall, v14.1.7 represents a significant step forward for Tesla's FSD system. The attention to detail in addressing issues like brake "stabbing" is commendable, and the progress in areas like intersection handling and pedestrian safety is encouraging. While navigation and routing challenges still need refinement, this iteration marks Tesla's most advanced FSD suite to date.