# Ninth Circuit decertifies Tesla Full Self-Driving false-advertising classes

Attorney advertising. Brief by Lou Schwartz, Schwartz & Associates, PC, Atlanta, Georgia. Published 2026-10-16; updated 2026-10-16. Responsible attorney: Lou Schwartz. Canonical: https://www.snalawyers.com/insights/ninth-circuit-decertifies-tesla-full-self-driving-false-advertising-cl

A three-judge Ninth Circuit panel vacated a California federal judge's order that had certified three classes of Tesla buyers who alleged the company misled them about the hardware capabilities needed for full self-driving. The panel, made up of Judges Ronald Gould, Jay Bybee and Daniel Bress, found individualized questions about which buyers actually saw the challenged website statement made class-wide treatment improper. The underlying false-advertising claims were not decided on the merits and the litigation continues on an individual basis. Plaintiffs' counsel said they disagreed with the panel's assessment of the facts.

**Why it matters.** The ruling raises the bar for plaintiffs seeking classwide treatment of consumer deception claims tied to statements buyers may not have uniformly seen, a theory relevant to other vehicle and tech marketing class actions.

## Sources

1. [Law360: 9th Circ. Decertifies Tesla FSD Classes](https://www.law360.com/articles/2539180/9th-circ-decertifies-tesla-full-self-driving-false-ad-classes-)
2. [Reuters via USNews](https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2026-10-16/us-appeals-court-blocks-class-actions-over-teslas-self-driving-claims)

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