Investigation into Tesla’s Recall and Autopilot Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States has launched an investigation into whether Tesla’s recall of over 2 million vehicles, announced in December, to install new Autopilot safeguards is sufficient. The investigation was prompted by concerns raised after crash events occurred following the installation of the recall software update. Preliminary tests conducted by the NHTSA on remedied vehicles also contributed to the decision to open the probe.
This latest investigation comes after the NHTSA concluded a three-year long investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot system. The NHTSA found evidence supporting their claim that Tesla’s driver engagement system was inadequate for Autopilot’s permissive operating capabilities, resulting in a critical safety gap. In addition, Tesla’s statement regarding requiring the owner to opt in and allowing the driver to easily reverse the remedy raised concerns for the NHTSA.
Tesla’s largest-ever recall, affecting 2.03 million vehicles in the US, was initiated to improve driver attention while using the advanced driver assistance system. The recall covers various models, including the Model Y, X, S, 3, and Cybertruck, produced between 2012 and 2024.
The NHTSA’s investigation also highlighted concerns about Tesla’s use of the Autopilot name, which may mislead drivers into believing that the automation has greater capabilities than it actually does. The agency expressed worry that this could lead drivers to place excessive trust in the system.
Consumer Reports, a reputable nonprofit organization that evaluates products and services, conducted testing on Tesla’s Autopilot recall update and concluded that the changes made did not adequately address safety concerns raised by the NHTSA. They urged the agency to require Tesla to take stronger measures, as they believed the recall only addressed minor inconveniences rather than addressing the underlying problems effectively.
Autopilot itself is designed to enable vehicles to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically within their lane. Enhanced Autopilot can assist with lane changes on highways but does not make the vehicles fully autonomous. One of the components of Autopilot, called Autosteer, helps maintain a set speed or following distance and keeps the vehicle in its driving lane.
Tesla responded to the NHTSA’s analysis by stating that they did not agree with it but would deploy an over-the-air software update to further enhance controls and alerts for drivers when Autosteer is engaged. This update aims to encourage drivers to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility.
The NHTSA’s previous top official, Ann Carlson, emphasized the need for increased driver engagement when Autopilot is in use, noting that drivers are not always paying attention while the system is active.
The NHTSA began investigating Autopilot in August 2021 after multiple instances of Tesla vehicles colliding with stationary emergency vehicles. The agency concluded that Autopilot can provide insufficient driver engagement and usage controls, leading to foreseeable misuse.
In addition to this recent recall, Tesla has faced numerous special crash investigations since 2016. These investigations focus on cases where driver systems like Autopilot were suspected of being utilized, and there have been 23 reported crash deaths as of now.
As part of the recall, Tesla will make visual alerts more prominent and disengage Autosteer if drivers fail to respond to warnings of inattentiveness. They will also implement additional checks upon engaging Autosteer. Tesla has also stated that if significant improper usage is detected, Autopilot use will be restricted for one week.
It is worth noting that Tesla has been under scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department. In October 2022, it was reported that Tesla was under criminal investigation related to its Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Autopilot systems. This adds another layer of concern regarding the safety and functionality of Tesla’s autonomous driving features.
In conclusion, the NHTSA’s investigation into Tesla’s recall and Autopilot safety aims to ensure that the updated safeguards are adequate and address the issues of driver engagement and usage controls. The increased scrutiny comes as Tesla faces ongoing concerns about the capabilities and potential misuse of its Autopilot system. The findings of this investigation will be significant for the future of autonomous driving technology and its safe implementation on public roads.