NHTSA Elevates Tesla FSD Probe To Engineering Analysis - CleanTechnica

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated its investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system to the "engineering analysis" phase, signaling increased scrutiny of the technology. This move follows numerous reports from Tesla drivers about FSD failures that have, in some cases, led to serious injuries or fatalities. The probe potentially involves 3.2 million Tesla vehicles in the U.S. The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has expressed concerns that Tesla's degradation detection system fails to adequately detect or warn drivers under conditions of reduced visibility, such as glare or airborne obscurants like dirt or snow on the windshield. The system reportedly did not provide timely alerts or detect lead vehicles in the path, contributing to crashes. The engineering analysis will focus on Tesla's updated degradation detection system, its capability to identify visibility impairments, and the effectiveness of driver alerts. The investigation was intensified after incidents where FSD was active shortly before collisions,