Tesla’s December Recall and NHTSA Investigation
The December recall marked Tesla’s largest ever, affecting 2.03 million vehicles in the US. This recall covered nearly all of Tesla’s vehicles on American roads, according to a report by Reuters.
Crashes and Concerns
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that Tesla disclosed 20 crashes involving Autopilot after the recall of over two million vehicles in December. These crashes specifically involved vehicles with the new Autopilot software updates installed under the recall.
The crashes, along with agency tests, raised concerns about the effectiveness of the remedy. The NHTSA is investigating whether the recall of Tesla’s driving system adequately ensures that drivers pay attention to the road.
NHTSA Statement
The NHTSA stated, “The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838.” This recall, filed by Tesla on December 12, 2023, applies to all Tesla models with any version of the Autopilot system, described as an SAE Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
Tesla’s Defect Information Report highlighted that “the prominence and scope of the system’s controls may be insufficient to prevent driver misuse.”
Autopilot Safety Concerns
The US auto regulator revealed that during its Autopilot safety probe initiated in August 2021, it identified 13 Tesla crashes involving at least one fatality and numerous others resulting in serious injuries. The NHTSA emphasized that foreseeable driver misuse of the system played a role in these incidents.
The NHTSA also noted that Tesla’s December recall allows drivers to easily reverse the software update. While Tesla issued additional software updates to address concerns, these updates are not part of the official recall.
Recalled Tesla Models
The NHTSA’s investigation covers Tesla models Y, X, S, 3, and Cybertruck vehicles in the US equipped with Autopilot produced between the 2012 and 2024 model years.
