The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is widening its investigation into Tesla’s “full self-driving” technology, the agency announced Thursday, this time probing its ability to handle poor driving conditions.
The probe comes after Teslas were involved in nine incidents, resulting in two injuries and one death, according to the agency. The agency said the recent incidents “raise concerns” about a system that aims to detect and warn drivers in bad visibility situations.
More than 3 million Teslas would be affected by the inquiry: 2016-2026 Model S and Model X, 2017-2026 Model 3, 2020-2026 Model Y,and 2023-2026 Cybertruck equipped with FSD.
The inquiry, known as an engineering analysis, is conducted when NHTSA investigators have moved past a preliminary phase and determine that further investigation is warranted. If NHTSA finds a safety-related defect and Tesla does not issue a recall, a panel would be convened to determine whether the agency needs to force a recall.
