U.S. investigates Tesla's 2 million vehicle recall over autopilot lapses.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Friday that it has initiated an investigation into the adequacy of Tesla’s recall of over 2 million vehicles, which was announced in December last year to implement new Autopilot safety measures.

The agency expressed concerns regarding crash incidents that occurred after vehicles received the recall software update, along with preliminary test results of the remedied vehicles. This probe follows the closure of a nearly three-year investigation into Autopilot, during which NHTSA found evidence suggesting that Tesla’s driver engagement system was insufficient for the system’s permissive operating capabilities, resulting in a significant safety gap.

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“While Tesla has issued software updates to address some of these issues, they have not been officially included in the recall nor recognised as remedies for potentially hazardous defects,” NHTSA said.

In December, Tesla announced its largest-ever recall, covering approximately 2.03 million vehicles in the U.S., aimed at enhancing driver attention while using its advanced driver assistance system. However, NHTSA’s latest investigation focuses on Tesla Model Y, X, S, 3, and Cybertruck vehicles equipped with Autopilot produced between 2012 and 2024.

Tesla had previously acknowledged that its Autopilot system controls might not effectively prevent driver misuse, thereby increasing the risk of accidents. Notably, NHTSA’s Autopilot safety investigation, initiated in August 2021, identified at least 13 crashes involving Tesla vehicles, resulting in fatalities or severe injuries, where driver misuse of the system was apparent.

Additionally, NHTSA raised concerns about Tesla’s branding of Autopilot, suggesting that the name might lead drivers to overestimate the system’s capabilities, potentially fostering overreliance on automation.

Also, Consumer Reports, in February, criticised Tesla’s recall update for not adequately addressing safety concerns highlighted by NHTSA, urging the agency to mandate stronger measures. The nonprofit organization stated that Tesla’s recall primarily addressed minor inconveniences rather than resolving underlying safety issues.

Tesla’s Autopilot system is designed to assist with steering, acceleration, and braking within a lane, with enhanced capabilities for highway lane changes. However, NHTSA’s investigation proved the need for improved driver engagement and usage controls to mitigate foreseeable misuse of the system.

In response to NHTSA’s findings, Tesla committed to deploying an over-the-air software update to enhance controls and alerts, emphasizing the importance of driver responsibility while Autopilot is engaged. Nonetheless, the investigation signals ongoing scrutiny of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology and the necessity for robust safety measures to prevent accidents and ensure public safety.