The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software following a series of accidents that occurred under low-visibility conditions.
The U.S. auto safety regulator began looking into the situation following four reported collisions, including a 2023 fatal crash. All four accidents took place in “an area of reduced roadway visibility conditions” with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, either in beta or supervised mode, activated. According to the NHTSA, the crashes happened in “reduced roadway visibility” caused by factors such as “sun glare, fog, or airborne dust” while the vehicles were operating in FSD mode.
The report adds that in one of the crashes, “the Tesla vehicle fatally struck a pedestrian,” while “one additional crash in these conditions involved a reported injury.”
NHTSA said the “review will assess the timing, purpose, and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact.”
Tesla’s website states, “The currently enabled Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
The investigation covers approximately 2.4 million vehicles, including all 2016-2024 Model S and Model X, 2017-2024 Model 3, 2020-2024 Model Y, and 2023-2024 Cybertrucks equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology.
Tesla’s increasing focus on self-driving
The increased scrutiny of Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system follows a report from ReadWrite suggesting that CEO Elon Musk aims to shift the company’s focus toward self-driving technology and robotaxis, amid rising competition and weakening demand in its automotive business.
Rides in the city of the future https://t.co/swCCGwLP1X pic.twitter.com/mu5IfQD6AN
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 17, 2024
Last week, Musk revealed the “Cybercab” robotaxi concept, a two-seater, two-door vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals. The Cybercab would rely on cameras and artificial intelligence for navigation, but Tesla would need approval from the NHTSA to deploy a vehicle lacking human controls.
In December, Tesla recalled most of the two million vehicles it had sold in the U.S. to urgently address a malfunctioning system intended to keep drivers alert while using Autopilot.
ReadWrite has reached out to Tesla for comment.
Featured image: Tesla