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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an inquiry into the effectiveness of the measures Tesla has implemented under Recall 23V838. This action follows a detailed investigation into the potential risks posed by the Autopilot feature across all Tesla models. This system, classified as a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), combines Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer functions but has been identified for potentially allowing misuse due to the insufficiency of its control mechanisms.
Key Highlights of the Investigation:
- Investigative Focus: Assessing the sufficiency of controls to prevent misuse and confusion in Tesla’s Autopilot system.
- Previous Findings: 13 fatal crashes and numerous serious injuries linked to foreseeable misuse of Autopilot.
- Current Concerns: Post-remedy crash events and preliminary test results indicate ongoing risks despite the implemented fixes.
- Remedy Components: Part of the remedy requires user opt-in and can be easily disabled by the driver, raising questions about its effectiveness.
This investigation, codenamed RQ24009, scrutinizes whether the remedies provided in the previous recall are adequate in preventing the kinds of driver errors and mode confusion previously documented. Tesla’s initial response to these concerns was a multipart remedy aimed at enhancing system controls and reducing confusion. Despite this, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has noted ongoing issues in incidents post-remedy deployment.
Further complicating the issue, Tesla has implemented additional non-remedy updates, which the ODI fears may not sufficiently address the underlying safety risks. The probe will also explore why these updates were not initially included as part of the formal recall strategy.
Recall Details:
- Action Number: RQ24009
- Component Involved: Electrical System
- Period of Review: From April 25, 2024, to present
- Tesla’s Commitment: To deploy multipart remedies improving engagement controls and reducing confusion.
Summary of Incident Reports:
- Total Incidents Reported: 20, exclusively involving crashes within three primary categories.
- Injuries and Fatalities: No separate reports of injuries or fatalities not linked to the crashes already detailed.
The outcome of this investigation could lead to further actions to ensure the safety of Tesla’s Autopilot features. As the inquiry progresses, updates and results from the NHTSA’s evaluations will be closely monitored to determine the next steps in this significant safety-related issue.
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