Tesla’s text message feature is convenient for sending and receiving text messages through your car’s screen and voice commands. However, this feature may sometimes not work properly for various reasons.
The most common reason Tesla text messages are not working is Bluetooth connection problems, network issues, issues with the user’s smartphone, and issues with voice commands.
In this article, we will explain some of the most common causes and solutions for Tesla text messages not working and many more.

What is Tesla Text Messages?
Tesla’s text messages are a feature that allows you to send and receive text messages through your car’s Bluetooth connection.
You can use voice commands to dictate and reply to messages or use the touchscreen to view and select messages. You can also have the car read the messages aloud to you.
Tesla’s text message feature is a convenient way to stay connected without taking your eyes off the road.

Why are Tesla Text Messages Not Working?
There are many reasons why your Tesla text message feature might not be working. Here are some of the most common ones:
1. Bluetooth Connection or Settings Problems
One of the possible reasons why your Tesla text message is not working is that your phone is not connected to your car via Bluetooth. To use the text messaging feature, you need to pair your phone with your car and enable the sync messages option in the Bluetooth settings.
Solution:
- Make sure your phone’s Bluetooth is turned on and your car’s Bluetooth is also on.
- Also, make sure to turn on “Show Notifications” from your phone’s Bluetooth setting.
- Tap the Bluetooth icon at the top of the touchscreen to go to Bluetooth settings.
- You’ll see a list of the phones and other gadgets that are connected to the vehicle. If you haven’t already, you should pair your phone now.
- Tap the left-side name of your device. On the right side, you’ll see options for that device. The “Sync Messages” option needs to be selected.
- You can also turn on the “Chime on New Message” option if you’d like the car to have an audible alert every time you receive a new message.
2. Network Issues
Another possible reason your Tesla text message is not working is that your phone or car has no network signal or connection. To send and receive text messages, you need to have a cellular network or a Wi-Fi connection.
Solution:
- Check your phone’s network signal and make sure it is not in airplane mode or do not disturb mode.
- Check your car’s network signal and make sure it is not in airplane mode or do not disturb mode.
- If you have a Wi-Fi connection, make sure it is working properly and has internet access.
- If you have a cellular network, make sure it is not roaming or has any restrictions.
3. Issues With Your Smartphone
Sometimes, your Tesla text messages may not work because of some issues with your smartphone. For example, your phone may have a low battery, incompatible apps, outdated software, or corrupted data.
Solution:
- Make sure your phone has enough battery and is not in power-saving mode.
- Make sure your phone does not have any incompatible apps that may interfere with text messaging. For example, some Samsung users reported that the Samsung Email app prevented text messages from showing up on the car. You may want to uninstall or turn off such apps if you have them.
- Make sure your phone has the latest software updates and security patches.
- Make sure your phone does not have any corrupted data or cache that may affect text messaging. You may want to clear the cache or data of your messaging app or perform a factory reset if necessary.
4. Issues with Voice Commands
The last possible reason why your Tesla text message is not working is that there are some issues with voice commands. To send a text message through your Tesla, you need to use voice commands. However, sometimes voice commands may not work properly due to various reasons.
Solution:
- Make sure you are using the correct voice command syntax. To send a text message, you need to say “Send a text to Name,” where Name is the person in your phone’s contacts that you want to message.
- Make sure you speak clearly and loudly enough for the car to hear you. Avoid any background noise or distractions that may interfere with voice recognition.
- Make sure you have your contacts synced to your car. You can do this by tapping the Phone icon on the screen and then tapping Contacts. You can also sync contacts manually by tapping Sync Contacts in the Bluetooth settings.
If none of the above solutions works for you, you should contact Tesla support. They will be able to assist you with further troubleshooting.
How Do You Set Up Tesla Text Messaging?
If you haven’t set up Tesla text messaging yet, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Pair your phone with your Tesla’s Bluetooth system. You can do this by tapping the Bluetooth icon at the top of the screen.
- Tap the name of your device on the left side of the screen and turn on the “Sync Messages” option on the right side.
- You may also want to turn on the “Chime on New Message” option if you want an audible alert for new messages.
To send a text message using your voice:
- Press the voice button on the steering wheel in Model S and Model X.
- Push in the right scroll wheel in Model 3 and Model Y.
Then say, “Send a text to Name,” where Name is the person in your contacts list that you want to message.
Read also: Tesla Vision vs Radar: An In Depth Discussion of Tesla’s New Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Why are my text messages not working even after reconnecting my iPhone SE with my Tesla?
You might need to remove the Bluetooth connection between the car and iPhone from both the car and iPhone Bluetooth settings and then repair the device.
Why are my Tesla text messages not working even after turning on all options in the Tesla menu for text messages?
This could be due to issues with your Bluetooth connection, network issues, issues with your smartphone, or issues with voice commands.
Why are my Tesla text messages not working after updating my iPhone to iOS 15.2.1?
This could be due to the iOS update interfering with the Sync Messages feature in your Tesla.