There are few things more unsettling than being told your car can’t move or charge because it decided now was the time for a software update. That’s exactly what happened to a Tesla driver whose late-night charging stop turned into an hour-long wait and a viral TikTok moment.
The frustration is palpable in the brief clip from TikTokker @lizmend97, who found herself stranded while trying to charge her Tesla late at night.
“A big red flag Tesla!” she wrote in the caption for the clip that’s been viewed more than 3,400 times.
The reason for the delay becomes clear thanks to an instrument panel that displays a warning that the car is undergoing a software update, noting that driving and charging are unavailable and advising the driver not to operate the vehicle until installation finishes.
EVs Update Like Your Phone
Tesla and other electric vehicles are more like computers on wheels than traditional mechanical machines. That means much of how they charge, brake, control their battery and even interact with charging stations is governed by software as much as hardware. Indeed, software defines real-time behavior for charging patterns, battery management and powertrain communication, making regular updates essential to keeping an EV operating as designed.
Tesla delivers most of its updates over the air, wirelessly via Wi-Fi or cellular networks, much like a phone or laptop receives an operating system patch. These updates may include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features that can refine everything from energy efficiency to driver-assist systems.
During the installation phase of an OTA update, the vehicle will generally not allow driving, and charging is paused if it was underway when the update began. That behavior is documented in Tesla’s owner manuals, which note that if a Model Y begins installing a software update while charging, the charging session will stop and resume only after the update is complete.
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In the clip, that automated safety logic became an inconvenient reality. As the car shut down, charging and displaying a progress bar showing a software update in progress, the driver was left waiting and unable to pull away just when she needed power most.
This is not a glitch but intended behavior. Tesla’s software will disable driving and charging during the install phase for safety reasons, a point corroborated by owner discussions and independent explanations of update mechanics.
For many Tesla owners, this dual lockout phase is familiar enough that it has become a topic of discussion and frustration in community forums. In threads on owner communities, drivers confirm that the install phase of a software update will indeed disable the vehicle’s drive systems until it finishes, and they note that this has been an expected part of Tesla’s update flow for years.
Scheduling Is Smart
Tesla’s software allows owners to schedule updates when the vehicle is parked and not in use. In the company’s system, owners can choose a window that works for them, ideally at home, where the car is connected to strong Wi-Fi and not needed for immediate travel.
When an update is scheduled, the touchscreen typically displays a countdown that allows owners to cancel before the installation begins. Once the install starts, however, there generally isn’t a way to stop it, and charging or driving remains disabled until completion.
That nuance is lost on many casual observers, especially those new to EVs. In comment threads, some viewers pointed out that the system does give a brief window to cancel or reschedule a pending update before it begins, information that didn’t save the stranded driver but may help others anticipate similar issues in the future.
For drivers migrating from gasoline cars, where software plays a much smaller role in vehicle behavior, the idea that a car can “decide” to stop charging or driving may feel foreign. But EVs increasingly resemble connected devices that require periodic updates, much like phones or computers.
In fact, the software in an electric vehicle can affect how the battery is used, how the motor responds, and how the car handles charging and regenerative braking.
As EVs proliferate, many manufacturers are adopting similar approaches to keep vehicles up to date with new features and fixes.
The viral clip highlights a broader lesson for EV owners: Plan software updates for times when you won’t need immediate access to charging or driving. Connecting to Wi-Fi, scheduling installations during long parking periods and checking the update notification timing can help prevent unwelcome mid-trip surprises.
Drivers who understand how and when updates trigger can better navigate the intersection of high technology and real-world usage.
InsideEVs reached out to the creator via direct message and comment on the clip. We’ll update this if they respond.
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