NHTSA Opens Investigation Into Tesla’s Recall Effectiveness and Requests Detailed Information

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently initiated a Recall Query, identified as RQ24009, to evaluate the effectiveness of Tesla’s previous safety recall (23V838). This investigation stems from concerns that the implemented remedies may not adequately address the identified safety defects in Tesla’s Autopilot system. The recall in question was issued following a series of meetings with Tesla, where issues regarding the Autopilot system’s controls and driver engagement were discussed. Tesla had proposed a multipart remedy aiming to enhance system engagement and reduce instances of driver misuse by modifying system controls and alert features.

Key aspects of Tesla’s proposed remedies include the introduction of a single-pull activation feature for the Autopilot, stricter driver attentiveness requirements, and enhanced monitoring immediately after Autopilot activation. However, preliminary analysis by NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) shows that these measures have not significantly altered the incidence or nature of related crashes, prompting a deeper investigation into their effectiveness and adequacy.

NHTSA’s ongoing investigation will not only scrutinize the existing remedies but also examine Tesla’s non-remedy updates, which were not included in the official recall. These updates were aimed at addressing other conditions observed in the Autopilot system but were deemed insufficient by NHTSA for recall inclusion. The agency has requested extensive information from Tesla, covering vehicle production details, the design and validation processes of the recall remedies, and any future plans to address ongoing safety concerns.