Yahoo Autos Tesla Facing NHTSA Investigation of 2.4 Million Cars Over Full Self-Driving Crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Friday that it has opened an investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving driver assistance system, following reports of four collisions related to the hands-free software, including one fatal accident involving a pedestrian. Crucially, these four crashes were discovered by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation to all involve reduced roadway visibility when FSD was engaged.
NHTSA will use the investigation to study Full-Self Driving’s ability to detect and respond to reduced visibility conditions in an appropriate manner. The investigation covers a wide swath of Tesla models, including 2016–2024 model year versions of the Model S and Model X, 2017–2024 Model 3 sedans, 2020-2024 Model Y crossovers, and 2023-2024 Cybertrucks. The filing states that some 2,410,002 Tesla vehicles are covered by the investigation.
The investigation comes after Tesla recalled some two million vehicles in December, during which the brand was required to install new safeguards related to Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assistance systems. Back in April, NHTSA confirmed that it would continue proving to ensure that said update was an adequate step. Tesla previously faced legal scrutiny for two previous accidents involving one of its driver-assistance systems.
Both of Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies, Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, are monitored systems that require driver attention and input. That said, the system does not employ the same safeguards as others on the market. Tesla vehicles exclusively use the brand’s suite of onboard cameras paired with software to study the roadway and traffic conditions surrounding the vehicle; other automakers, like Ford and GM, utilize a more comprehensive suite of sensors, including lidar, radar, and ultrasonic sensors alongside more traditional cameras. Tesla also doesn't geofence its driver-assistance systems as other automakers do, allowing customers to activate assistance features anywhere, rather than just on limited-access highways.
Such an investigation could have serious impacts on Tesla’s future plans. Just last week, CEO Elon Musk reconfirmed the brand’s plans involving the Cybercab, a fully-autonomous Tesla vehicle without any sort of driver-utilized controls that's slated to use the brand’s camera suite and artificial intelligence to navigate roadways. This isn’t the first time Tesla has made such promises; in fact, Musk first made promises about autonomous taxis back in 2019. Musk now claims these vehicles will arrive for 2027.
You can find more information related to the investigation at the link provided here. Road & Track will update you if this investigation does ultimately led to another recall announcement.
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