The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently launched an investigation into whether Tesla’s recall fix for over 2 million cars in December adequately addressed safety concerns related to its Autopilot driver assistance system. The NHTSA determined that Tesla’s Autopilot could potentially discourage drivers from taking manual control of the vehicle as it deactivates Autosteer lane-centering assistance. The investigation focuses on the software update Tesla implemented in December, which includes increased warnings and alerts to prompt greater driver attention while using Autopilot and Autosteer. Some of the remedies introduced require Tesla owners to opt in and allow them to reverse the safety updates if desired.
Several new collisions that have occurred post-software update, as well as tests conducted by the NHTSA on modified vehicles, have prompted the new investigation. The agency is also evaluating updates to Autopilot that Tesla has released subsequent to the initial fix to understand why they were not included in the initial recall update. The probe includes all Autopilot-equipped Tesla vehicles produced between 2012 and 2024, including the Cybertruck, which is undergoing a recall for defective accelerator pedals. This scrutiny is not the first time the software update has faced criticism, with robotics expert Missy Cummings and safety experts at Consumer Report suggesting the remedy may not be sufficient to prevent misuse or address the root causes of driver inattention.
The NHTSA’s investigation comes in light of concerns surrounding the effectiveness of Tesla’s software update in addressing safety issues with its Autopilot system. The agency’s assessment revealed that the Autopilot feature in Tesla vehicles may hinder drivers from taking manual control as it deactivates lane-centering assistance. The software update introduced in December prompts drivers with increased warnings and alerts to ensure greater attention while using Autopilot and Autosteer. Tesla owners are required to opt in to some of the remedies and have the option to reverse the safety updates if desired.
The new investigation initiated by the NHTSA was prompted by a series of post-update collisions and tests conducted on modified vehicles. The agency is also examining subsequent updates rolled out by Tesla to understand why they were not included in the initial recall fix. The investigation includes all Autopilot-equipped Tesla vehicles manufactured between 2012 and 2024, including the Cybertruck with defective accelerator pedals. Earlier criticisms of the recall fix from experts like Missy Cummings and Consumer Report suggested that the remedy may not be comprehensive enough to prevent misuse or address underlying issues of driver inattention.
Overall, the NHTSA’s investigation into Tesla’s recall fix for its Autopilot system aims to determine the effectiveness of the software update in addressing safety concerns. The agency found that the Autopilot feature may discourage drivers from taking manual control as it deactivates lane-centering assistance, prompting the need for increased driver attention. Tesla’s software update introduced in December includes various warnings and alerts, some of which require driver opt-in and can be reversed if desired. The investigation is driven by recent collisions and tests on modified vehicles, as well as an evaluation of subsequent Autopilot updates not included in the initial recall fix.