Winter driving can challenge even the most confident drivers — and software is no exception. In the past few weeks, as snow is starting to fall all across the United States, Tesla owners put Full Self-Driving (FSD) v14 and its follow-up versions to the test on icy, snow-covered roads. The results are a mix of impressive progress and noticeable limitations. If you plan to use FSD in winter, these findings are worth reading.
Key Improvements in FSD V14
FSD V14 shows clear upgrades in snowy conditions compared with earlier versions. Owners report:
- longer hands-off driving stretches
- smoother lane-keeping, even on partially snow-covered pavement
- better behavior in slow traffic on plowed roads
Across Reddit and YouTube, many V14.2.1 reviews show Teslas holding lanes, making turns, and correcting minor slides more reliably than before. Some users also praise FSD for staying calm in snowy visual noise and for following the tire tracks of other vehicles. Many owners feel that FSD is finally becoming trustworthy in winter, at least under reasonable conditions.
But Challenges Remain in Heavy, Unplowed Snow
Other owners describe inconsistent behavior when roads are buried and visibility is low. Common issues include:
- choosing unsafe lines within the lane
- driving too fast for the conditions
- struggling when lane markings are completely covered
In short:
FSD performs impressively on plowed, structured roads, but becomes unpredictable on unplowed, low-visibility stretches.
This difference comes down to how much “structure” the environment provides — tracks, other cars, signs, and especially clean camera visibility.
Why Snow Is Tough for Camera-Based Systems
Tesla relies on cameras and neural networks. Snow creates two major challenges:
- Visual obstruction: Snow and ice cover lane lines, curbs, and roadway edges. Blowing snow and reflections can mislead the system.
- Camera contamination: Snow, slush, and salt reduce contrast and detail, degrading input quality.
Even if the AI can infer parts of the scene, poor sensor input lowers confidence — which explains sudden disengagements even when conditions look okay to the human driver. In practice, this means keeping the windshield and camera housings clean and always using winter tires.
Safety First: Supervision Still Matters
Remember: Tesla’s FSD is a driver-assist system, not a driver replacement. Regulators have taken note of various FSD-related incidents — the NHTSA is investigating traffic violations and crashes involving FSD — which underscores the importance of active supervision.
If lane boundaries become unclear or the system behaves oddly, the driver must take over immediately. Winter conditions only increase the need for alertness.
Practical Tips for Using FSD in Snow
-
Keep cameras and sensors clean.
Snow, mist, and road salt easily obstruct them. -
Use winter tires.
Good mechanical grip is the foundation for any driver-assist feature. -
Prefer plowed roads and main routes.
FSD performs best where the environment has clear structure. -
Lower expectations on unplowed backroads.
The car may attempt a reasonable path, but needing to intervene is normal. -
Watch the vehicle’s speed.
If FSD seems too aggressive, reduce the set speed and stay ready to override. -
Record issues calmly.
Share clips in forums or Tesla’s feedback tool to help engineers learn from edge cases.
