Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Slams Tesla’s Poor Software and User Interface

Apple’s Steve Wozniak calls Tesla the worst in user interface and software quality. Read his criticism of Autopilot, FSD, and in-car UX challenges.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has delivered a harsh critique of Tesla, accusing the automaker of steadily worsening its software and user interface — once considered one of its strongest selling points. In an interview with CNBC, Wozniak stated that every change Tesla had made to its in-car experience only degraded it further.

He remarked that each successive update made the system more frustrating, describing the current user interface as miserable. Coming from his background at Apple, he emphasized that user interface design and the way people interact with technology are of utmost importance to him — and in that regard, he believed Tesla ranked among the worst.

Among his specific complaints were the shifting position of the clock based on driving mode, favorite channel buttons on satellite radio not working properly, and the overall difficulty of interacting with buttons while driving due to a jittery interface.

Wozniak, who once praised his Model S as his favorite car, has grown increasingly critical of Elon Musk’s promises over the years. As early as 2018, he publicly expressed doubt over Tesla’s ambitions in Full Self-Driving, stating he no longer trusted the company’s bold claims in that area.

While Tesla continues to refresh its vehicles’ looks and interiors, the software remains largely unchanged. The recent Model Y refresh, for example, introduced several visual updates but left the core software experience untouched. This was a missed opportunity to deliver a revamped in-car interface — a move many critics believe is long overdue.

In December 2024, Tesla also issued a recall for around 700,000 vehicles due to issues with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), with the fix reportedly planned through a future software update. The problem involved TPMS indicators failing to illuminate under certain conditions, prompting safety concerns.

Neither Elon Musk nor Tesla has publicly addressed Wozniak’s comments. However, his frustration echoes a growing chorus among Tesla owners who have long voiced concerns over the carmaker’s interface, describing it as overly complex and lacking in usability.

Despite these recurring criticisms, Tesla appears unlikely to change direction anytime soon. With the company’s attention seemingly focused on other ventures, the software experience — once a defining feature of Tesla’s vehicles — continues to fall short of expectations. Wozniak’s remarks serve as yet another reminder that for a tech-forward brand, ignoring UI and UX fundamentals can leave even the most loyal supporters disillusioned.

Source: autoblog.com