Tesla (TSLA) will soon deploy a new feature via a free over-the-air (OTA) software update that will enable Tesla drivers to leave a Supercharger station while the charging plug is still connected to the charge port in emergency situations.
The automaker announced this upcoming Emergency Drive Away feature in a new video on X. The Twin Falls shooting incident in August increased pressure on Tesla to let drivers flee in emergencies while the electric vehicle is still plugged in.
Tesla will begin rolling out Emergency Drive Away in the soon-to-be-released 2026.38.3 software update. As of this writing (October 2), this new update hasn’t started going out to non-employee Tesla owners.
The Emergency Drive Away feature should only be used to escape an emergency, as this can cause significant damage to the Supercharger and your vehicle’s charge port.
Cost of Damages to Supercharger and Charge Port
According to Tesla, the cost of damages to the Supercharger in case of using the Emergency Drive Away feature is around $25K. This is a huge cost for a single use.
If multiple vehicles are charging at a Tesla Supercharger station, the costs will multiply accordingly. However, because safety is Tesla’s top priority, it may be worth it if a driver can escape a shooting or another emergency.
Presumably, Tesla will bear the Supercharger plug, cable, and stall damages. However, the automaker has made it clear that deliberate use of this feature will incur penalties for Tesla owners.
Intended for emergency use only. Use of this feature will damage your vehicle and the Supercharger. Deliberate misuse will invoke additional penalties.
Driving away from a connected Supercharger will also damage your Tesla vehicle’s charge port as well. For a Model 3 or Model Y, parts alone can cost more than $700.
According to the Tesla Parts Catalog, a Tesla Model 3/Y charge port door costs $350, and the charge port itself costs $350. However, it does not include service charges or labor, as it will require a visit to the Tesla Service Center.
It’s not clear how much service and labor Tesla will charge for a charge port replacement.
Interestingly, a third-party product, EVject, costs only $279 and could save Tesla more than $25K and owners thousands (not sponsored).
How to use Emergency Drive Away
With the current firmware, Tesla vehicles don’t shift into Drive when connected to a Supercharger cable.
After installing software update 2026.38.3 or later, you can put the vehicle in Drive while it is still charging (charge port connected).
This feature will not be available on Model S and Model X vehicles manufactured before 2021. Tesla will roll out this emergency escape feature only to US Tesla cars.
The center display will display a warning message, saying:
Cannot shift while connected to a Supercharger. Activate Emergency Drive Away to override.
Driving with the cable connected will cause damage to your vehicle and the Supercharger. Use only in emergency.
Hold the brake pedal and tap Activate.
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Related Tesla Software Updates News
- Tesla Emergency Drive Away feature can cost $25K in Supercharger damages, coming in the 2026.38.3 update to the US only
- Tesla update 2026.38 improves car visuals and adds auto-leveling headlights for legacy HW3 cars (NHTSA recall, release notes)
- Tesla rolls out FSD v14.2 Lite: legacy Tesla owner reviews, rollout status
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- Tesla merges FSD v14.3.8 and the Summer Update (2026.26.6.5), Grok voice commands gain more control
- Tesla FSD v14.3.7 fixes regressions found in the previous version (video reviews)
 introduces an Emergency Drive Away feature while still connected to a Supercharger in software update 2026.38.3. Using it can trigger penalties and costs north of $25,000.){kind=link}