Tesla FSD v14.3.12 Arrives in Update 2026.38.5, and It Brought a Ghost Costume

Tesla has merged its two big October storylines. Software update 2026.38.5, released October 10, pairs FSD (Supervised) v14.3.12 with the whole 2026.38 Halloween package. So your car can drive itself and dress up as a ghost. On a long trip, that’s peak multitasking.

The quick facts

• Version: 2026.38.5, which includes FSD (Supervised) v14.3.12 for HW4 and v14.3 Lite for HW3. It was released October 10, 2026, per Not a Tesla App.
• Rollout: A big U.S. wave followed. Tesla Oracle, citing Teslascope, reported one wave of about 1,430 cars, 92% HW4 and 8% HW3 with the AMD Ryzen chip. A follow-up build, 2026.38.5.1, arrived October 13 with the same notes. It’s the build that finally brought FSD v14.3 Lite to Intel Model S and Model X, which we covered here.
• Which cars: v14.3.12 is for HW4 cars: the new Model S and Model X, Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck. v14.3 Lite is for HW3 Model 3 and Model Y. 2026.38.5 isn’t a Japan release.

What’s new vs. v14.3.11?

On paper, nothing. Tesla’s v14.3.12 notes are word-for-word the same as v14.3.11, which shipped a week earlier in update 2026.33.5. Tesla Oracle reads it as bug fixes and tweaks. The real news is the merge: FSD moves onto the 2026.38 branch, so FSD owners no longer have to choose between the newest FSD and Halloween Mode.

FSD (Supervised) v14.3.12 for HW4: the official list, explained

• Upgraded RL training stage: Improvements across a wide range of driving scenarios.
• Upgraded vision encoder: Better in rare and low-visibility scenes, with stronger 3D geometry understanding and more traffic signs understood.
• AI compiler and runtime rebuilt with MLIR: A 20% faster reaction time, and faster model iteration.
• Less unnecessary lane biasing and minor tailgating.
• More decisive parking spot selection and maneuvering.
• Better parking pin prediction, shown on the map with a P icon.
• Better response to emergency vehicles, school buses, right-of-way violators and other rare vehicles.
• Better with small animals, thanks to harder RL examples and rewards for proactive safety.
• Better traffic light handling at complex intersections with compound lights, curved roads and yellow-light stops.
• Better with rare objects extending, hanging or leaning into the car’s path.
• Recovers from temporary system degradations on its own, for fewer unnecessary disengagements.
• Better driver monitoring: eye-gaze tracking, eyewear handling, and accuracy in variable light.
• One model for Actually Smart Summon, FSD and Robotaxi.
• Pick an intervention reason on screen after you take over.
• Intervention-free distance and your longest streak, shown in the Self-Driving app.
• Parking options on the map when you arrive.
• Coming next, per Tesla: Reasoning expanded beyond destination handling, and pothole avoidance.

FSD (Supervised) v14.3 Lite for HW3: the official list

• HW4 V14 intelligence distilled into HW3, unlocking HW4 improvements like RL and offline models.
• More responsive at navigation, merges and forks, pedestrians, traffic lights and cut-ins.
• Smoother: Fewer false slowdowns, smoother steering, more consistent lane centering.
• Parking, unparking and reversing.
• Arrival Options: Parking Lot, Street, Driveway or Robotaxi-style Pull Over, saved per destination.
• Speed Profiles at all times, including the new, extra-mellow SLOTH profile. The right scroll wheel now changes the profile.
• Start Self-Driving from Park once driver requirements are met, with optional Brake Confirm.
• UI improvements: Adjust Speed Profile and Arrival Options from the Self-Driving visualization.

Everything else in 2026.38.5

• Automatic Collision Evasion (HW4): FSD (Supervised) can take over to keep you safe if you’re driving manually and not paying enough attention, or if FSD was unintentionally disengaged, and then keep driving.
• Halloween Mode (AMD cars): Ghost costume, Trick or Treat Mode, a haunting light show and a spooky Photobooth. See the full walkthrough.
• Visual Updates (AMD and HW3 Model 3/Y): Higher-quality car images and a better park scene.
• Emergency Drive Away: Shift into Drive with a Supercharger cable still connected, for emergencies only. It can cause damage you may pay for, and camera clips are shared with Tesla.
• Supercharger Site Maps (Intel cars): Detailed layouts and live stall status at pilot sites.
• Set Arrival Energy from the Tesla app (v4.58.0 or later).
• Dynamic Headlight Leveling (specific Model 3 and Cybertruck vehicles): Low beams that aim themselves.
• Security Improvements.

Spotted, not official: Not a Tesla App reports that the Grok beta label is gone on this branch. On 2026.38.5.1, it also found that legacy Model S and Model X get FSD Streaks, which wasn’t in the notes. Separately, Tesla began rolling out a new North American maps package, NA-2026.38, on October 10. It downloads quietly over Wi-Fi with newer street, speed limit and lane guidance data. It’s a separate download, not part of 2026.38.5.

The EVX News take

Identical release notes don’t make this a dull update. Getting FSD and the seasonal features onto one branch is how Tesla gets its best software to the most cars faster, and a 20% faster reaction time is a big deal for any driver-assist system. Two FSD point releases in one week, plus Intel S/X finally invited to the v14 party? Tesla’s software crew is having a monster of a month.

Sources: Not a Tesla App (2026.38.5 release notes), Not a Tesla App (2026.38.5.1), Tesla Oracle, Teslascope, Not a Tesla App (maps), Tesla on X.

— The EVX News team

Featured image: FSD (Supervised) visualization in Halloween Mode. Image: Tesla, via X.