Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak, once an enthusiastic supporter of Tesla, has now turned into one of its most vocal critics—particularly when it comes to the car’s user interface. In a recent interview, Wozniak did not hold back in expressing his frustration, stating that Tesla’s interface is “the worst in the world.”
Wozniak, who initially praised his Model S as “the most of all our cars—ever,” has since grown disillusioned with Tesla and CEO Elon Musk. His frustration stems from the car’s ever-changing software, which he claims has made even simple tasks unnecessarily complex.
“Every step up, where they changed a thing in the car, it got worse and worse and worse,” he lamented. “And now it is just miserable for user interface.” According to Wozniak, the problem lies in Tesla’s reliance on a single touchscreen system that frequently alters the placement of essential functions.
For instance, he pointed out how something as basic as checking the time depends on the vehicle’s driving mode. Similarly, preset radio buttons fail to function consistently, making it frustratingly difficult to navigate entertainment options. “It takes so many tries to hit one button in your jiggly car, and it just doesn’t work,” he added.
Tesla was a pioneer in introducing touchscreen-based controls, replacing traditional physical buttons with a sleek digital interface. Some drivers have lauded this design for its futuristic appeal and the ability to update settings remotely. “Why have buttons when you have a screen?” one Tesla owner reportedly remarked. However, Wozniak argues that this constant evolution comes at a steep price—users can never be sure where critical functions are located at any given moment.
“The modes hide things that aren’t there, and your finger knows how to get them,” he said. “Nothing makes sense in that car, intuitively.”
Sharing a personal experience, Wozniak recalled how his wife was pulled over for failing to signal a turn. The officer, unfamiliar with Tesla’s controversial yoke-style steering wheel, struggled to understand the vehicle’s controls. “When you’re already turning you can’t find the buttons for the turn signal,” Wozniak explained. The situation worsened when the officer asked for proof of insurance—typically stored in the glove compartment. However, in this Tesla model, there was no visible button to open it. “You have to go and search in menus until you stumble into finding it—it’s horrible,” Wozniak recounted.
Despite mounting criticism from some users, Tesla has remained silent on the issue, declining to respond to any inquiries.