Tesla adds three new Traction Control Modes to Model 3 and Y
Tesla's 2026 Summer Update (version 2026.26) adds three new Traction Control Modes — Auto, Slippery Surface, and Stuck Assist — to Model 3 and Model Y, extending terrain-specific driving modes that were previously exclusive to Model S, X, and Cybertruck. The mode resets to Auto at the start of every drive.
Until this update, Model 3 and Model Y were the only vehicles in Tesla's lineup without dedicated modes for different road surfaces. The 2026 Summer Update (version 2026.26) closes that gap, bringing a feature long available on the flagship Model S and X, and on Cybertruck, to Tesla's highest-volume models.
The three new modes are Auto for normal driving, Slippery Surface for icy or wet roads, and Stuck Assist for when the car is stuck in snow, mud, or sand. Drivers select the mode manually to match conditions, and it automatically resets to Auto at the start of the next drive.
The update has already begun rolling out to some owners. Given the notably conservative pace of the prior Spring Update, full fleet-wide availability is expected to take several more weeks.
The feature itself is minor, but it signals Tesla's continued refinement of software features on its best-selling models — a classic example of using over-the-air updates, rather than hardware changes, to close perceived gaps with rivals.
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