Tesla Recalls 362,000 Cars With Risky Self-Driving Systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered Tesla to take all of Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) that have been equipped with full self-driving driver (FSD)-assistance system that its safety officers found it could increase the risk of accidents, Neal E. Boudette reported for the New York Times.

Photo Insert: Tesla hesitated in issuing the recall order, arguing that it was unaware of any death or injury caused by the flaws, which it had acknowledged earlier.

Tesla hesitated in issuing the recall order, arguing that it was unaware of any death or injury caused by the flaws, which it had acknowledged earlier. In the end, Tesla said it had agreed to the recall of 362,000 cars and planned to fix the flaws through an over-the-air (OTA) software update.

Tesla and NHTSA say FSD’s advanced driving features do not make the cars autonomous and require drivers to pay attention, the Associated Press (AP) also reported.

The company’s technology, which can steer, accelerate, brake and change lanes on its own, allows vehicles to travel above legal speed limits and through intersections in “an unlawful or unpredictable manner,” the NHTSA said Thursday in documents posted on its website.

Tesla shares were down 1.6% at $210.76 on Thursday afternoon, Reuters also reported. The recall covers 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with FSD Beta software or pending installation.

The setback for Tesla’s automated driving effort comes about two weeks before the company’s March 1 investor day, during which Chief Executive Elon Musk is expected to promote the EV maker’s artificial intelligence capability and plans to expand its vehicle lineup.

The NHTSA has an ongoing investigation it opened in 2021 into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with driver assistance system Autopilot over a string of crashes with parked emergency vehicles.

The NHTSA is reviewing whether Tesla vehicles adequately ensure drivers are paying attention. The agency said as well that, despite the FSD recall its “investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot and associated vehicle systems remains open and active.”

Last year, Tesla recalled nearly 54,000 US vehicles with FSD Beta software that may allow some models to conduct “rolling stops” and not come to a complete stop at some intersections, posing a safety risk, NHTSA said.

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