Current:Home > Scams'Critical safety gap' between Tesla drivers, systems cited as NHTSA launches recall probe -TradeStation
'Critical safety gap' between Tesla drivers, systems cited as NHTSA launches recall probe
View
Date:2025-04-13 11:55:37
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the adequacy of Tesla's December 2023 recall of more than 2 million vehicles to update its autopilot features after numerous crashes.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation is opening the investigation after it identified 20 crashes involving Tesla vehicles with updated software, the agency said in documents filed Friday.
After the software updates were deployed, "ODI identified concerns due to post-remedy crash events and results from preliminary NHTSA tests of remedied vehicles," the agency said in the filing.
The agency also closed a nearly three-year investigation analyzing 956 crashes involving Tesla vehicles up to Aug. 30, 2023. Nearly half of the accidents (467) could have been avoidable, ODI said, but happened because "Tesla’s weak driver engagement system was not appropriate for Autopilot’s permissive operating capabilities."
Crash test results:Only 1 of 10 SUVs gets 'good' rating in crash test updated to reflect higher speeds
In that investigation, the agency found at least 13 crashes "involving one or more fatalities and many more involving serious injuries in which foreseeable driver misuse of the system played an apparent role," it said.
Last week, a Tesla driven by someone with Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta feature reportedly engaged hit and killed a motorcyclist in Washington state. That feature isn't a total self-driving mode, but does more than autopilot – navigating turns and stopping at lights and signs – and still requires drivers to pay attention.
NHTSA: Tesla autopilot system has 'critical safety gap'
While often referred to as self-driving cars, Teslas actually have driver support features that make driving easier, but not totally automatic. Autopilot involves using Tesla's Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, which matches the speed of other traffic, and Autosteer, which helps keep the vehicle within a lane but drivers are supposed to have their hands on the wheel.
But drivers may be expecting their Tesla to do too much, federal regulators say.
A "critical safety gap between drivers’ expectations of (Tesla's drivers' assistance system's) operating capabilities and the system’s true capabilities … led to foreseeable misuse and avoidable crashes," the agency said in its closed investigation report.
In those 467 accidents, ODI said attentive drivers should have been able "to respond or mitigate the crash" in many cases. Other times, cars went off the road when Autosteer – Tesla's hands-on steering assist feature – "was inadvertently disengaged by the driver's inputs," or the features were being used in "low traction conditions such as wet roadways," the agency said.
The new investigation will "evaluate the adequacy of (the December 2023 recall), including the prominence and scope of Autopilot controls to address misuse, mode confusion, or usage in environments the system is not designed for," the agency said.
What Tesla vehicles were recalled?
When announced in December, the recall involved 2,031,220 vehicles: the 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles, all equipped with Tesla's Autosteer driver-assistance feature.
In its issuance of the December 2023 recall, Tesla noted that, "In certain circumstances when the Autosteer feature is engaged, and the driver does not maintain personal responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash."
The ODI investigation includes newer models and the Tesla Cybertruck, too.
Models included in NHTSA investigation:
- 2024 Tesla Cybertruck
- 2017-2024 Tesla Model 3
- 2021-2024 Tesla Model S
- 2016-2024 Tesla Model X
- 2020-2024 Tesla Model Y
Motor Trend:The 2024 Tesla Cybertruck takes an off-road performance test
The new investigation lands as Tesla recently announced a decline in first quarter revenue and layoffs in Austin and the Bay Area. CEO Elon Musk, however, remained bullish on the company's self-driving technology and electric cars. And the company is expected to unveil its robotaxi on Aug. 8.
Reuters reported in October 2022 that Tesla was under criminal investigation over its self-driving claims. Tesla said in October 2023 that the Justice Department had issued subpoenas related to its self-driving and autopilot technology.
Contributing: Emily DeLetter, James Powel, USA TODAY, and Reuters.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
veryGood! (25439)
Related
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Ranking Oil Companies by Climate Risk: Exxon Is Near the Top
- Several States Using Little-Known Fund to Jump-Start the Clean Economy
- How well does a new Alzheimer's drug work for those most at risk?
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Read the transcript: What happened inside the federal hearing on abortion pills
- Jimmy Buffett Hospitalized for Issues That Needed Immediate Attention
- Wedding costs are on the rise. Here's how to save money while planning
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- You'll Be Crazy in Love With Beyoncé and Jay-Z's London Photo Diary
Ranking
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- This Week in Clean Economy: U.S. Electric Carmakers Get the Solyndra Treatment
- N.Y. Gas Project Abandoned in Victory for Seneca Lake Protesters
- How Taylor Lautner Grew Out of His Resentment Towards Twilight Fame
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Why Bre Tiesi Was Finally Ready to Join Selling Sunset After Having a Baby With Nick Cannon
- Jersey Shore’s Nicole Polizzi Hilariously Reacts to Her Kids Calling Her “Snooki”
- Ranking Oil Companies by Climate Risk: Exxon Is Near the Top
Recommendation
Could your smelly farts help science?
What is Juneteenth? Learn the history behind the federal holiday's origin and name
Pete Davidson charged with reckless driving for March crash in Beverly Hills
Kourtney Kardashian announces pregnancy with sign at husband Travis Barker's concert
The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
Colorectal cancer is rising among Gen X, Y & Z. Here are 5 ways to protect yourself
How Taylor Lautner Grew Out of His Resentment Towards Twilight Fame
North Dakota Supreme Court ruling keeps the state's abortion ban on hold for now