NHTSA investigates Tesla recall of Autopilot system

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla’s December recall of its Autopilot driver-assistance system in 2M vehicles. In documents posted to its website, the agency said, “The Office of Defects Investigation is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its Autopilot system, which Tesla described as an SAE Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System. Autopilot is the simultaneous engagement of Tesla’s Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer. In describing the safety defect, Tesla’s Defect Information Report explained that ‘the prominence and scope of the system’s controls may be insufficient to prevent driver misuse,’ and Tesla committed to the deployment of a multipart remedy aimed at improving system and engagement controls and reducing mode confusion. EA22002 was opened to investigate whether Tesla’s Autopilot contained a defect that created an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety and involved extensive crash analysis, human factors analysis, vehicle evaluations, and assessment of vehicle control authority and driver engagement technologies. The work conducted in these investigations aligns with Tesla’s conclusion in its 23V838 recall filing. During EA22002, ODI identified at least 13 crashes involving one or more fatalities and many more involving serious injuries in which foreseeable driver misuse of the system played an apparent role. Tesla filed Recall 23V838 to address concerns regarding the Autopilot system investigated in EA22002. Following deployment of the remedy in Recall 23V838, ODI identified concerns due to post-remedy crash events and results from preliminary NHTSA tests of remedied vehicles. Also, Tesla has stated that a portion of the remedy both requires the owner to opt in and allows a driver to readily reverse it. Tesla has also deployed non-remedy updates to address issues that appear related to ODI’s concerns under EA22002. This investigation will consider why these updates were not a part of the recall or otherwise determined to remedy a defect that poses an unreasonable safety risk.”( Reference Link):(https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INOA-RQ24009-12046.pdf)