Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ Under Federal Investigation After Fatal Crash Raises Safety Concerns

The U.S. government has started a federal investigation into Tesla’s partial-automation system called Full Self-Driving (FSD) due to several crashes, including one that was deadly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Friday that it will examine whether Tesla’s FSD can effectively detect and respond to low visibility conditions, like fog. There have been four crashes reported while FSD was in use during these conditions.

In one incident, a Tesla hit and killed a pedestrian, while another crash led to injuries. Tesla representatives have not commented on the investigation.

This inquiry could be a significant challenge for CEO Elon Musk, who is trying to promote Tesla as a leader in self-driving technology. Just last week, the company showcased its autonomous vehicle concepts at an event in Los Angeles. Tesla has charged customers thousands of dollars for FSD, which still requires drivers to pay attention.

This investigation adds to a previous recall inquiry initiated by NHTSA in April regarding whether Tesla has done enough to prevent drivers from misusing its Autopilot feature. The agency is looking into a software update from last year to see if it keeps drivers engaged while using the system.

NHTSA has pointed out a “critical safety gap” between what drivers believe Autopilot can do and its actual capabilities.