The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system following reports of crashes in low-visibility situations, including one fatal incident involving a pedestrian, AP reported.
According to NHTSA documents, Tesla reported four accidents where vehicles using the system encountered sun glare, fog, or airborne dust.
Among these crashes, one led to the death of a pedestrian in Rimrock, Arizona, in November 2023. The crash occurred on Interstate 17, where a Tesla Model Y struck a pedestrian after two vehicles had collided, blocking the lane. Sun glare was cited as a factor.
The investigation will assess whether Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system can effectively detect and respond to such hazardous conditions. NHTSA will also examine if any system updates impacted performance in low-visibility environments. Approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles from model years 2016 to 2024 are covered under the investigation.
Tesla has been scrutinized for its self-driving claims, with critics arguing the system lacks the advanced sensors used by other companies for autonomous driving.
