NHTSA Officially Opens Investigation On Millions Of Tesla Cars Due To Fatal Accident Using FSD

The wheelhouse of Tesla Cybertruck. (Doc. Tesla)

JAKARTA - Tesla's FSD technology has been in development for years and aims at high automation, where its vehicles can handle most of the driving tasks without human intervention.

In December last year, Tesla recalled more than two million US vehicles to install new safeguards in its advanced Autopilot driver assistance system.

Recently, the United States (NHTSA) traffic safety agency, has opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after four accident reports, including one fatal accident in 2023.

Launching Reuters, October 19, this initial investigation was the first step before NHTSA could request a vehicle recall if deemed to pose an unnatural risk to safety.

NHTSA said it had opened an investigation after four reports of accidents in which FSD was activated during reduced road visibility conditions such as solar, fog, or dust carried by the wind. A pedestrian died in Rimrock, Arizona, in November 2023 after being hit by Tesla Model Y 2021, according to NHTSA. Another accident under investigation involved a reported injury.

This investigation includes the 2016-2024 Model S and X vehicles with an optional system as well as the 2017-2024 Model 3 vehicles, the 2020-2024 Model Y, and the 2023-2024 Cybertruck.

Tesla said on its website that FSD software on on-road vehicles requires active driver supervision and does not create autonomous vehicles.

NHTSA is reviewing FSD's engineering control capability to "detect and respond appropriately to reduced road visibility conditions."

NHTSA also asked for information on whether another similar FSD accident had occurred under reduced road visibility conditions, and whether Tesla had updated or modified the FSD system in a way that could affect the system under these conditions.

NHTSA said "the review will assess the timing, objectives, and capabilities of each of these updates, as well as Tesla's assessment of the impact of its safety," the agency said.