Tesla Recall Investigation by Auto Safety Regulators
The US auto safety regulators have initiated a new probe into Tesla’s recall process concerning over 2 million vehicles. This action by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) follows concerns that arose after crash events occurred even after Tesla’s software updates were installed. These updates were intended as safeguards for the Autopilot system.
The NHTSA’s decision to investigate comes on the heels of closing a nearly three-year inquiry into Tesla’s Autopilot. The previous investigation highlighted a “critical safety gap” due to Tesla’s driver engagement system not being robust enough for the Autopilot’s capabilities. Moreover, the NHTSA pointed out that Tesla’s remedy for the issue requires owner opt-in and can be easily reversed by drivers, which may not effectively mitigate the unreasonable safety risk.
December’s recall, Tesla’s largest to date, aimed to ensure drivers remain attentive while using the advanced driver assistance system. The current investigation encompasses a wide range of Tesla models equipped with Autopilot, from Model Y to the Cybertruck, spanning model years 2012 to 2024.
During its initial Autopilot safety probe launched in August 2021, the NHTSA discovered at least 13 crashes involving fatalities and numerous serious injuries where driver misuse of the system was a significant factor. The agency also expressed concerns that the Autopilot name might overstate the system’s capabilities, potentially leading to overreliance by drivers.
Consumer Reports recently weighed in on the issue, stating that Tesla’s recall update did not sufficiently address many of the safety concerns raised by the NHTSA. The nonprofit urged the agency to compel Tesla to implement more substantial measures.
While Tesla has disagreed with some of the NHTSA’s findings, it has committed to deploying an over-the-air update to enhance controls and alerts when Autosteer is engaged. This is part of Tesla’s efforts to ensure driver engagement with Autopilot. The recall also includes measures like increasing visual alert prominence and disengaging Autosteer if drivers ignore inattentiveness warnings, with additional restrictions on Autopilot use following significant improper usage.
In light of these developments, Tesla has been under scrutiny from various angles, including a criminal investigation into its Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Autopilot systems by the US Justice Department. Furthermore, Tesla recently recalled 362,000 US vehicles to update its FSD Beta software after NHTSA identified non-compliance with traffic safety laws.
As the investigation unfolds, Tesla has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the latest probe by auto safety regulators.
