US regulators to investigate Tesla vehicles over fatal self-driving tech accidents

Roughly a week after it unveiled its robotic self-driving vehicle, Tesla may be coming under some scrutiny over its self-driving software. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Friday, October 18, 2024, that it has opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the automaker’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. 

The probe was in response to four reported collisions, including one fatal crash, where the technology was used in reduced visibility conditions.

Tesla’s FSD has limitations

The US auto safety regulator is looking into Tesla’s 2016-2024 Model S and X vehicles, 2017-2024 Model 3, 2020-2024 Model Y, and the 2023-2024 Cybertruck. 

This evaluation is the first step of the NHTSA’s investigation. The probe could lead to the regulator demanding a recall of these vehicles if it finds that they pose considerable risks to public safety.

The investigation will review how well Tesla’s FSD software is equipped to “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions.” 

The NHTSA will also be looking for other cases of crashes under similar low-visibility conditions. Finally, it will check to confirm if the EV maker has updated its FSD system enough to impact its performance in inclement weather. 

Speaking about the EV maker’s FSD issues and the investigation, Jeff Schuster, Vice President at GlobalData, said that “weather conditions can impact the camera’s ability to see things.” He added that he expects regulators to look into it. 

In the past, Tesla has publicly admitted on that its FSD software “requires active driver supervision and does not make vehicles autonomous,” despite the name suggesting otherwise. 

The news comes as CEO Elon Musk continues his push for the company to pivot into self-driving technology and robotaxis to shore up declining demand in its auto business. 

Tesla has had regular scrapes with the NHTSA 

It’s roughly a week since Musk unveiled the two-seater, two-door “Cybercab” robotaxi, a futuristic car without a steering wheel and pedals. The robotaxi will rely solely on cameras and artificial intelligence, a move that Tesla’s rivals have yet to fully embrace as they continue to stick to sensor technologies like lidar and radar. 

The EV maker has faced legal scrutiny over its autonomous driving technology in the past. A notable incident occurred in April when a Tesla Model S in full self-driving mode struck and killed a 28-year-old motorcyclist in Seattle. This, along with other incidents, has raised concerns over the safety of Tesla’s self-driving capabilities. The move becomes even more audacious considering that it chose not to include some of the additional backup sensors that its competitors use. 

The latest NHTSA investigation follows a December 2023 recall of over 2 million Tesla vehicles to install new safeguards in its autopilot advanced driver-assistance system. The regulator is reportedly still investigating whether that recall was adequate. 

Industry analysts suggest that if the NHTSA deems Tesla’s approach to self-driving technology as flawed, it could have broader implications for the future of autonomous vehicles. 

The latest NHTSA investigation into FSD technology will likely focus on whether the automaker has implemented updates to address risks associated with reduced roadway visibility and the effectiveness of those updates. 

The regulators will also examine Tesla’s assessment of the safety impact of these updates as it determines the future regulatory direction for autonomous driving technologies.