Federal safety regulators are currently investigating whether Tesla's massive recall of 2 million vehicles in December adequately addressed the safety concerns related to its 'Autopilot' feature. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ordered the recall over a software update aimed at limiting the use of Autopilot, following a two-year probe of crashes involving the feature.
The NHTSA found that the Autopilot feature gave drivers a false sense of security and could be misused in dangerous situations where the technology may fail to navigate safely. The software update required owners to opt in and allowed drivers to easily reverse it, prompting the NHTSA to question the adequacy of the remedy.
This investigation is a setback for Tesla and CEO Elon Musk's efforts to promote their vehicles as capable of autonomous driving. Musk recently announced plans for a fleet of 'robotaxis,' which would allow Tesla owners to earn money by offering driverless taxi rides when not using their vehicles.
Tesla has claimed that vehicles equipped with Autopilot features are safer than human drivers, but the NHTSA identified several crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries where driver misuse of the system was a factor. The software update aimed to provide more warnings to drivers not paying attention while using Autopilot's 'Autosteer' function.
Despite Tesla's marketing of Autopilot, the owner's manuals specify that 'Autosteer' should only be used on highways and limited-access roads with a fully attentive driver. Following the recall, Tesla vehicles with Autosteer now monitor driver attention more closely and may disengage if the driver is not attentive or in certain driving conditions.
Tesla has not responded to requests for comment regarding this latest investigation. The outcome of the NHTSA's inquiry will be crucial in determining the future of Tesla's Autopilot feature and its claims of enhanced vehicle safety.
