Additional Coverage:
- U.S. opens Tesla probe after more crashes involving its so-called full self-driving technology (pbs.org)
Federal Regulators Launch New Probe Into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving System After Dozens of Incidents
WASHINGTON – Federal auto safety regulators have opened a new investigation into Tesla’s “full-self driving” (FSD) technology following numerous reports of vehicles allegedly violating traffic laws, which in some cases resulted in crashes and injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated in a recent filing that it has received 58 incident reports detailing Tesla vehicles operating in FSD mode that ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road. Many drivers who reported these incidents claimed the vehicles provided no warning before exhibiting the unexpected behavior.
This latest probe encompasses approximately 2.9 million Tesla vehicles, essentially all models equipped with the FSD technology. This includes cars with Level 2 driver-assistance software, known as “Full Self-Driving (Supervised),” which requires drivers to maintain full attention on the road. Tesla continues to test a more advanced version that would not require driver intervention, a feature CEO Elon Musk has long promised.
The new investigation adds to a growing list of inquiries into Tesla’s driver-assistance features. Earlier this year, a Miami jury found Tesla partly responsible for a fatal 2019 crash in Florida involving its Autopilot system-a distinct technology from FSD-and ordered the company to pay over $240 million in damages to the victims. Tesla has announced it will appeal that decision.
NHTSA is also conducting investigations into Tesla’s “summon” technology, which allows vehicles to drive to a driver’s location, a feature linked to minor collisions in parking lots. Another probe, initiated last year, is examining driver-assistance features in 2.4 million Teslas after several crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that resulted in a pedestrian fatality. Furthermore, NHTSA launched an investigation in August into why Tesla allegedly failed to promptly report crashes to the agency as required by regulations.
NHTSA investigations often culminate in vehicle recalls. While Tesla consistently asserts that its FSD system cannot drive itself and human drivers must always be prepared to intervene, Mr.
Musk has publicly pledged to deploy hundreds of thousands of fully self-driving Tesla cars and robotaxis on roads by the end of next year. Following the news of the new investigation, Tesla shares saw a 2% decline on Thursday.