The leading U.S. automotive safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has initiated a new investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” software following four reported crashes in low-visibility conditions. One of these incidents resulted in the tragic death of a pedestrian.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation announced on Friday that the probe aims to determine whether Tesla’s driver-assistance system can effectively “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions” such as “sun glare, fog, or airborne dust.”
Additionally, the agency is investigating whether other similar crashes may have occurred under these conditions beyond the four that have been reported.
Details of the Crashes Under Investigation
The investigation specifically addresses four incidents involving Tesla vehicles using the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software, all occurring between November 2023 and May 2024:
- November 2023, Rimrock, Arizona: A Tesla Model Y struck and killed a pedestrian in a fatal crash.
- January 2024, Nipton, California: A Tesla Model 3 collided with another car on the highway during a dust storm.
- March 2024, Red Mills, Virginia: A Tesla Model 3 crashed into another vehicle on the highway under cloudy conditions.
- May 2024, Collinsville, Ohio: A Tesla Model 3 hit a stationary object on a rural road in foggy conditions, resulting in an injury.
Background and Context
This investigation follows NHTSA’s recent scrutiny of Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies. In April, the agency concluded a nearly three-year probe into Tesla’s Autopilot software, which investigated nearly 500 crashes where the system was active.
Of those, 13 were fatal. At the same time, NHTSA launched a separate investigation into the recall fix Tesla issued to address Autopilot problems.
The Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system, a more advanced version of Autopilot, has also drawn legal challenges. The Department of Justice is probing Tesla’s claims regarding the capabilities of its driver-assistance systems.
Similarly, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has accused Tesla of overstating the functionality of its software. Additionally, the company is facing numerous lawsuits tied to Autopilot-related crashes, including one high-profile case settled earlier this year.
Tesla has consistently maintained that drivers are required to actively monitor both Full Self-Driving and Autopilot systems and be ready to take control at any time.
Recent Developments and Musk’s Announcements
The new investigation comes on the heels of Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiling the prototype for the “Cybercab,” a two-seater vehicle envisioned as a robotaxi.
During the event, Musk claimed that Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y vehicles would be capable of operating without supervision in California and Texas by 2025. However, he provided no specific details on how this ambitious goal would be achieved.
Investigation Scope and Timeline
NHTSA classifies its investigations into four stages: Defect Petition, Preliminary Evaluation, Recall Query, and Engineering Analysis. This new probe is categorized as a Preliminary Evaluation, with the agency aiming to complete such investigations within eight months.
NHTSA’s findings from this investigation could have significant implications for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology and its broader push toward autonomous driving solutions.