Published
March 20, 2025
Updated
August 1, 2026
An Australian class action accuses Tesla of misleading Model 3 and Model Y buyers about phantom braking, battery range, and autonomous-driving capability. The case is active, with no settlement or claim process.
Current Status
This is an active Australian lawsuit, not a settlement. No court-approved payout or settlement claim form exists. The Federal Court still lists the case as current, and a May 2026 case-management hearing addressed discovery; Tesla was given until July 31, 2026, to complete that work, with another case-management hearing scheduled for September 1, 2026.StatusActive Class Action
SettlementNone Announced
Claim FormNone
Next Listed StepCase Management — September 1, 2026
What Is the Tesla Australia Class Action?
The representative proceeding was filed in the Federal Court of Australia against Tesla Motors Australia and another Tesla entity. It concerns Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured from 2021 onward that use Tesla Vision, Autopilot, and the vehicles' battery systems. The case is brought on behalf of a proposed group of Australian purchasers and lessees, but it has not produced a settlement fund or a public compensation claim process.What Does the Lawsuit Allege?
The case raises three main sets of allegations. It claims some vehicles can brake abruptly in inappropriate circumstances, a behavior described as phantom braking. It also challenges whether vehicles can achieve or come close to advertised maximum range or the range displayed when the battery level is above 50%. Finally, it alleges that the relevant hardware cannot support fully autonomous or close-to-autonomous driving despite contrary marketing representations. These are plaintiffs' allegations, not findings of liability.How Has Tesla Responded?
Tesla is defending the case and has said it does not mischaracterize its products. Tesla's current Australian description of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) says the feature requires an attentive driver who must maintain control and be ready to act, and that it does not make the vehicle autonomous. The litigation will determine how the challenged earlier representations, vehicle behavior, and consumer-law claims apply to the proposed group.Who May Be a Group Member?
The case website describes group members as people who purchased or leased a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y in Australia between May 2021 and February 2025. It says the proceeding currently concerns vehicles manufactured from 2021 onward and equipped with Tesla Vision, Autopilot, and a battery. A person should use the case website's current criteria rather than assume that owning any Tesla, any model year, or a vehicle outside Australia creates eligibility.What Is Happening in Discovery?
At a May 15, 2026 pre-trial hearing, lawyers disputed the pace and completeness of Tesla's document production. The court set July 31, 2026, as a deadline for Tesla to wrap up discovery and scheduled another case-management hearing for September 1. Discovery concerns evidence and does not mean the plaintiffs have won, a class-wide payment has been ordered, or settlement talks have produced an agreement.Is There a Payout or Claim Form?
No. There is no settlement amount, payment estimate, court-approved class claim form, or filing deadline for compensation. The law firms' website allows potentially affected people to register their interest in the litigation, but registration is not a settlement claim and does not guarantee money. OpenClassActions does not collect registrations and should not receive vehicle purchase documents or personal information.What Could Happen Next?
The court can continue case management, decide evidence and procedural disputes, and eventually address liability, certification issues, trial, or a proposed resolution. The parties could also negotiate, but no settlement should be assumed before a written agreement and court process exist. If a settlement is later proposed, its class definition and notice process may differ from the current litigation group description.Where Can Owners Check the Case?
The Tesla Australia class action site summarizes the allegations and current group criteria. The Federal Court's current-class-actions list independently identifies Hansen v. Tesla Motors Australia & Anor, file NSD227/2025, as an active representative proceeding before Justice Thawley. Registration questions belong with the case website, not OpenClassActions.Official Information
Review the latest information on the Federal Court current class actions list website.
Case
Hansen v. Tesla Motors Australia & Anor
File Number
NSD227/2025
Court
Federal Court of Australia
Filed
February 21, 2025
Vehicles
Model 3 and Model Y
Settlement
None
Next Hearing
September 1, 2026
Official Website
Federal Court current class actions list
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