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NHTSA Intensifies Scrutiny on Tesla Amid Rising Complaints
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to take a firm stance on Tesla, having initiated three new recalls since the Trump administration began. The latest recall involves 46,000 Cybertrucks that need inspection due to concerns that exterior panels may detach because of inadequate adhesive use.
The NHTSA’s focus on Tesla extends to eight active investigations, with five centered on the company’s claims regarding the Autopilot driver-assistance system and Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. These features are integral to Tesla’s market appeal and have become the focal point of numerous customer grievances.
Since the introduction of the FSD software, the NHTSA has been inundated with an average of 20 complaints per month, as highlighted by an analysis from the Financial Times that examined over 10,000 consumer submissions.
A notable increase in reports regarding “phantom braking” emerged at the beginning of 2022, prompting one of the investigations. In one specific incident from mid-October 2024, a Tesla Model 3 operating in FSD unexpectedly halted in front of an approaching vehicle, which would have led to a collision if the driver hadn’t swiftly regained control and accelerated.
“Software is so far from being ready to be safely used,” remarked the Model 3 driver in their complaint.
Despite multiple software updates designed to address braking issues in the last two years, other software glitches continue to arise. The Financial Times’ analysis, which utilized artificial intelligence for complaint categorization, indicates that errors related to driver-assistance technologies like FSD and Autopilot constitute a significant portion of the complaints filed against Tesla over the past year.
In another alarming instance reported in February, a driver of a 2024 Cybertruck claimed that the FSD feature deactivated unexpectedly, leading to a sudden acceleration that nearly resulted in a head-on collision with another vehicle. The owner stated that despite reaching out to Tesla service for assistance, the vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired.
As it stands, former Apple executive Jonathan Morrison has been nominated by Trump to take the helm of the NHTSA, a role that will require him to navigate the complexities of oversight involving Tesla, particularly amidst concerns of potential conflicts of interest related to Elon Musk. Morrison faces the challenge of fostering advancements in autonomous vehicle technology while ensuring public safety and accountability.
“Elon has achieved remarkable feats in technology that were once deemed unattainable,” noted a former NHTSA official. “However, Tesla’s approach is often characterized by speed and disruption, which raises safety concerns. We have witnessed preventable fatalities, making this a pressing issue for us.”
Source
arstechnica.com