NHTSA announces investigation into Tesla self-driving accidents

NHTSA investigation overview: 

• Who: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it has opened an investigation following four reports of accidents involving Tesla vehicles in self-driving mode.
• Why: The agency said it is investigating the ability of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode to “detect and respond appropriately” to reduced roadway visibility conditions, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. 
• Where: The NHTSA investigation follows four accidents that occurred in the United States. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it is investigating Tesla following four reports of accidents involving Tesla vehicles in self-driving mode. 

The Tesla accidents, which include one in which a pedestrian was struck and killed, occurred after the vehicles entered areas with “reduced visibility conditions” while in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode, according to the NHTSA. 

The agency said the reduced roadway visibility present during the Tesla accidents was caused by conditions such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. 

“This Preliminary Evaluation is opened to assess … the ability of FSD’s engineering controls to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions,” the NHTSA said. 

The investigation will also determine whether any similar crashes have occurred while a Tesla vehicle was in FSD mode while driving in reduced roadway visibility conditions and, if so, what the “contributing circumstances” were. 

NHTSA investigation to look into whether software updates played role in Tesla accidents

The agency said it is also investigating whether there are any updates or modifications from Tesla that could affect the performance of its FSD mode while operating in reduced roadway visibility conditions. 

“In particular, this review will assess the timing, purpose, and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact,” the agency said. 

The investigation applies to the approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD — model year 2023-2024 Tesla Cybertruck vehicles, 2017-2024 Model 3 vehicles, 2016-2024 Model S and Model X vehicles and 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. 

Tesla recently issued recalls for its model year 2024 Tesla Cybertruck vehicles and certain Model X, Model S, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over concerns involving various defects. 

The automaker was also recently given an Aug. 29, 2025, pretrial date for litigation of claims the company fostered a hostile work environment toward Black employees at its production plant in Fremont, California. 

Have you been involved in an accident with a Tesla vehicle in self-driving mode? Let us know in the comments.

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