The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system following reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one fatal incident involving a pedestrian. The probe was initiated after the company reported four crashes where Teslas encountered sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.
The investigation covers approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles from the 2016 through 2024 model years. Tesla has maintained that the system cannot drive itself and that human drivers must be prepared to intervene at all times.
Last week, Tesla unveiled a fully autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, aiming to have autonomous Models Y and 3 running without human drivers next year, with robotaxis without steering wheels available in 2026 in California and Texas.
The investigation could impact Tesla’s self-driving ambitions and the approval of autonomous vehicles without controls by NHTSA. The agency will assess the system’s ability to detect and respond to reduced visibility conditions and investigate whether any updates affected the system’s performance.
NHTSA previously closed an investigation into Tesla’s less complex Autopilot system after crashes involving parked vehicles on highways. However, the current probe focuses on the capabilities of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology, marking a shift towards evaluating autonomous driving capabilities rather than driver attention.
Critics have raised concerns about Tesla’s reliance on cameras for hazard detection, suggesting that the system lacks proper sensors to achieve full self-driving capabilities. CEO Elon Musk has defended this approach, claiming that cameras should be sufficient for autonomous driving.
The investigation raises questions about the future regulation of autonomous vehicles and the development of self-driving technology, positioning NHTSA at the forefront of scrutinizing the safety and effectiveness of advanced driving systems.
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