The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after four reported crashes, including a fatal collision involving a pedestrian, Reuters reports.
The investigation was prompted by crashes occurring in low-visibility conditions such as sun glare, fog, or airborne dust, one of which involved a Tesla fatally striking a pedestrian. The probe covers Tesla models from 2016 to 2024, including Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y, and the Cybertruck. NHTSA will assess FSD’s ability to detect and respond to low-visibility conditions and will examine whether Tesla has updated the software in ways that affect this particular issue. If deemed unsafe, the investigation could lead to a recall.
Tesla emphasizes that its FSD requires active driver supervision and does not make vehicles fully autonomous. The FSD technology has faced legal challenges due to previous fatal accidents, highlighting concerns over its camera-only approach, which some experts believe could struggle in adverse weather conditions, especially as rivals use more advanced sensors like lidar and radar.
Tesla previously recalled over 2 million vehicles in December to enhance safety features in its Autopilot system, and NHTSA continues to evaluate whether those changes were sufficient.
