Tesla Recalls Over 2 Million Vehicles in the US Due to Autopilot Safety Concerns

WASHINGTON—Tesla is recalling just over two million vehicles in the United States fitted with its Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system to install new safeguards, after a safety regulator said the system posed safety concerns.

Background

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating Tesla for over two years regarding the effectiveness of its Autopilot system in ensuring driver attention. The recall, which is the largest ever for Tesla, covers nearly all of its vehicles on U.S. roads.

Tesla stated in a recall filing that the software controls of Autopilot “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse” and could increase the risk of accidents. This comes after Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson expressed concerns about humans over-trusting technology.

Understanding Autopilot

Tesla’s Autopilot system is designed to enable cars to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically within their lane. While enhanced Autopilot can assist in changing lanes on highways, it does not make vehicles fully autonomous.

One component of Autopilot is Autosteer, which maintains a set speed or following distance and keeps the vehicle in its driving lane.

‘Foreseeable Misuse’ and NHTSA’s Investigation

NHTSA initiated a probe into Autopilot in August 2021 after identifying multiple crashes involving Tesla vehicles colliding with stationary emergency vehicles. The agency upgraded its investigation in June 2022. After reviewing 956 crashes where Autopilot was allegedly in use, NHTSA focused on 322 Autopilot-involved crashes.

NHTSA found that Tesla’s unique design of its Autopilot system could lead to inadequate driver engagement and usage controls, resulting in foreseeable misuse. The agency has opened more than three dozen special crash investigations involving Tesla since 2016, with 23 crash deaths reported so far.

The Recall and Tesla’s Response

Tesla disagreed with NHTSA’s analysis but announced that it would deploy an over-the-air software update to enhance driver controls and alerts when Autosteer is engaged. The company aims to encourage drivers to maintain their responsibility while using Autopilot.

It is unclear whether the recall will extend beyond the United States or if China will demand a recall for the same issue. The Italian Transport Ministry and German regulators have not reported similar actions in their respective countries.

Remedies and Future Monitoring

NHTSA’s investigation into Autopilot will remain open as it monitors the effectiveness of Tesla’s remedies. The software update will be rolled out to approximately 2.03 million Model S, X, 3, and Y vehicles in the United States, dating back to the 2012 model year.

The update will include visual alerts on the user interface, simplified engagement and disengagement of Autosteer, and additional checks upon engaging Autosteer. Tesla has not provided specific details on how the alerts and safeguards will change.

Conclusion

Tesla’s recall of over two million vehicles in the United States due to Autopilot safety concerns highlights the ongoing debate surrounding advanced driver-assistance systems. As technology continues to evolve, regulators and automakers must work together to ensure the safety of both drivers and pedestrians on the road.