The US government is set to launch an investigation into Tesla’s “full self-driving” system following reports of four crashes in low-visibility conditions and the death of a pedestrian.
According to international media, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made the announcement on Thursday, citing incidents where multiple Tesla vehicles encountered poor visibility environments, including sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.
In addition to the pedestrian’s death, another crash resulted in an injury, the agency stated.
Investigators will examine the capability of “full self-driving” to “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions, and if so, the contributing circumstances for these crashes.”
The NHTSA said the probe will cover approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles from the 2016 to 2024 model years.
The agency also plans to determine whether any other similar crashes involving “full self-driving” have occurred under low visibility conditions.
The NHTSA is also seeking information from Tesla regarding any updates to the system that may have influenced its performance in these environments.
“In particular, his 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.
Tesla has already recalled “full self-driving” twice following investigations by the NHTSA, which in July gathered information from law enforcement and the company after a motorcyclist was struck and killed by a Tesla using the system near Seattle.
Reports from the Associated Press indicated the recalls were due to the system being programmed to run stop signs at low speeds and other violations of traffic laws.
