Tesla’s vehicle-sharing capability has become increasingly popular, allowing owners to grant app access to friends, family, or renters through platforms like Turo. However, a recent case shared on X revealed a serious privacy concern with the Additional Drivers feature, sparking direct attention from Tesla leadership.
Thank you for the feedback, we will review and adjust the service visibility based on driver profiles.
— Raj Jegannathan (@r_jegaa) August 28, 2025
The Problem
Despite recent updates that let owners restrict location visibility, Tesla’s current permission system remains too broad. Anyone with access to the app—not just the primary account holder—can review sensitive service information such as:
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Maintenance and repair history
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Service invoices containing names, contact details, and costs
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Upcoming service appointments
This lack of separation between primary owners and temporary drivers exposes personal details that should remain private. For short-term users, especially renters, this represents a clear oversight in privacy protection.
Tesla’s Response
After the issue was flagged online, Tesla VP Raj Jagannathan quickly acknowledged the concern and confirmed that the company will re-evaluate service record visibility within the app.
Possible Solutions
Tesla may introduce tiered permission levels to better align access with user roles. For example:
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Primary Owner: Full access, including service history and invoices
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Family Member: Broader permissions but without exposure to financial or service details
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Guest/Renter: Limited access restricted to driving-related controls only
Such an approach would mirror the recent “Restrict Location Visibility” feature, giving owners flexibility to decide what information each driver can see.
Conclussion
This case highlights Tesla’s real-time feedback loop: an owner identified a genuine problem, raised it on X, and received a direct, actionable response from Tesla leadership. While connected cars introduce new privacy challenges, Tesla’s ability to react quickly and adapt its software remains one of its strongest advantages.