Latest Bag of Tricks
Tesla has rolled out its 2026 Summer Update, bringing features such as more adaptive Automatic Navigation, Caraoke with scoring, and a new welcome animation. One standout addition is an updated set of traction-control modes, including Stuck Assist, designed to help owners get out of a sticky situation.
Stuck Assist is intended for use when a vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, or sand. The release notes don’t explain how the mode works, but the owner’s manuals for the now-discontinued Model S and Model X say it allows the wheels to spin at a limited speed, making it possible to rock the vehicle “out of a situation in which the wheels are stuck.”
Tesla’s 2026 Summer Update also includes new Traction Control Modes
📸: @PatchesHQ https://t.co/N9cD2lGP14 pic.twitter.com/ogLC5ROIgc
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 26, 2026
Three Ways to Find Grip
The other two modes under the updated traction-control settings are Auto and Slippery Surface. Both mode names could already be found in the owner’s manuals of Tesla’s EV models. Auto is designed for normal driving conditions, while Slippery Surface is recommended for icy or wet roads, distributing traction evenly across all four tires to improve stability.
Teslarati reported that the updated Traction Control Modes are rolling out to the Model 3 and Model Y – the two best-selling EVs in the U.S., ahead of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Toyota bZ.
It is worth noting that Stuck Assist is only an assistive feature, meaning drivers may still have to provide accelerator and steering inputs. Depending on the conditions, outside measures such as deflating tires to increase contact patch; placing rocks, branches, or traction boards beneath the tires; or having people push the vehicle from behind should still be necessary.
The settings can be accessed by selecting Controls, Dynamics, and then Traction Control Mode. The system resets to Auto at the start of every drive.
Always a Work in Progress
In addition to the updated traction control, the 2026 Summer Update also notably improves Grok, Tesla’s AI assistant. Grok can now make phone calls, play music, and adjust the climate, making it more comparable to the Rivian Assistant, which can even adjust the ride height.
Previous updates included the expanded Blind Spot Warning While Parked feature, Dashcam Clip Encryption, and the Full Self-Driving V14 Lite suite for older vehicles equipped with AI3 chips.
Tesla
