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Tesla has initiated a recall of nearly 2 million vehicles in the US to address a flaw in its Autopilot self-driving feature. This action affects all Model Y, S, 3, and X vehicles manufactured from October 2012 to last week, following a two-year National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation linked to crashes reportedly caused by misuse of the software.
The NHTSA’s investigation highlighted concerns about Tesla’s method of monitoring driver attention, suggesting it might be inadequate and lead to misuse, increasing crash risks. To address this, Tesla is rolling out a software update starting next week. This update aims to enhance how Autopilot tracks driver attention, offering more consistent warnings and restricting the use of auto-steering features under certain conditions.
According to the recall documents, “If the driver attempts to engage Autosteer when conditions are not met for engagement, the feature will alert the driver it is unavailable through visual and audible alerts, and Autosteer will not engage.”
Although Tesla disagreed with the NHTSA’s findings, it has agreed to the recall and software update. Autopilot, a key Tesla feature, allows for automated lane changes, acceleration, and braking, but it is not a fully autonomous system. There have been criticisms of the software being susceptible to misuse, with drivers potentially being less attentive or not even seated in the driver’s position.
This recall adds to the recent scrutiny of Tesla, which has faced multiple recalls and safety investigations by the NHTSA, including issues with its self-driving software. In a statement, the NHTSA mentioned that their investigation into Tesla continues to monitor the effectiveness of these remedies. The agency also raised concerns earlier in July about a “secret” Autopilot feature, referred to as “Elon mode,” which potentially relaxes controls to ensure driver engagement.
