US safety regulators have stepped up their investigation into Tesla’s Full Self Driving software. The probe now moves into a deeper engineering analysis stage. This is the highest level of review before a possible recall.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the focus is on how the system performs in low visibility. The agency began looking into the issue after multiple crashes were reported. One of those incidents involved a pedestrian death.
Officials say Tesla’s system failed to detect common road conditions in several cases. The software also did not alert drivers early enough when visibility dropped. In some crashes, the system lost track of vehicles ahead or failed to detect them at all.
The agency is also running a second investigation into Tesla’s driving software. That probe covers more than 80 incidents where the system may have broken traffic rules. These include cases like running red lights.
Regulators say Tesla has not provided all requested information. The company reportedly started working on a fix in mid 2024. However, it has not confirmed whether the update was fully released or which vehicles received it.
This matters because Tesla is pushing forward with plans for robotaxi services. Any safety concern around its software could delay those plans. It may also impact trust in self driving technology.
The agency also warned that some crashes may not have been fully reported. Data limitations could mean more incidents exist than currently known.
The investigation is ongoing. A final decision could determine whether Tesla is required to issue a recall or make major changes to its system.
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