Tesla is facing one new probe from US auto safety authorities in connection with this Autopilot driver assistance technology, even if a separate investigation has been completed.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it would investigate the Austin, Texas-based company Recall of more than 2 million electric vehicles – which make up almost all Tesla vehicles on US roads – in December. NHTSA identified concerns about Tesla’s software fix, citing incidents in which vehicles equipped with the fix experienced “accident events” as well as NHTSA’s own preliminary testing.
The new probe comes as NHTSA concludes its nearly three-year investigation into Autopilot, which included an analysis of 956 crashes. In 467 of these incidentsThe ODI found that Tesla’s software did not sufficiently require driver attention, although it gave drivers more confidence.
The “mismatch” led to preventable crashes and foreseeable abuse, regulators said. At least 13 accidents investigated by NHTSA resulted in one or more fatalities and “many more” serious injuries; Regulators added that “foreseeable misuse of the system by the driver appears to have played a role” in these incidents.
The NHTSA said Friday that Tesla had issued software updates to address issues related to its concerns but had not made them part of the recall. Regulators also fear that part of Tesla’s remedy requires consent from the vehicle owner and that the driver can reverse the decision.
The new recall investigation affects electric cars from model years 2012-2024, Model Y, Tesla last week 3,878 Cybertruck electric pickups recalled about defective accelerators.
In December, Tesla said Autopilot controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver abuse” and could increase the risk of accidents. The company said it disagrees with NHTSA but will “incorporate additional controls and warnings to the controls already in place on affected vehicles” to encourage drivers to remain focused on the road.
In February, Consumer Reports said the recall may have made warnings and driver notifications more visible. but they actually distract the driver’s attention from the road.
“In addition, the vehicle did not restrict the use of Autopilot or warn to pay attention when we covered the camera and left one hand on the steering wheel,” he said the nonprofit said in its reportand noted that “the driver could be asleep or completely distracted and the car would not warn him as long as he is holding the steering wheel.”
Tesla’s driver assistance programs earlier this year failed Testing from a leading auto safety nonprofit organization. And unlike other systems promoted by other automakers, Tesla’s marketing – and its CEO – imply that drivers don’t have to give their full attention to the road.
Elon Musk’s car manufacturer was False advertising is alleged from the California Department of Motor Vehicles and examined by the Attorney General’s Office for its marketing practices. The U.S. Department of Justice has also issued subpoenas related to Tesla’s fully self-driving technology.
This article was originally published by quartz.