Current:Home > BackTesla recalls over 2 million vehicles to fix defective Autopilot monitoring system-InfoLens
Tesla recalls over 2 million vehicles to fix defective Autopilot monitoring system
View Date:2024-12-23 11:17:12
DETROIT — Tesla is recalling more than 2 million vehicles across its model lineup to fix a defective system that's supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention when they use Autopilot.
Documents posted Wednesday by by U.S. safety regulators say the company will send out a software update to fix the problems.
The recall comes after a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use. Some were deadly.
The agency says its investigation found Autopilot's method of ensuring that drivers are paying attention can be inadequate and "can lead to foreseeable misuse of the system."
The recall covers nearly all of the vehicles Tesla sold in the U.S. and includes those produced between Oct. 5, 2012, and Dec. 7 of this year.
The software update includes additional controls and alerts "to further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility," the documents said.
The software update was sent to certain affected vehicles on Tuesday, with the rest getting it at a later date, the documents said.
Autopilot includes features called Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control, with Autosteer intended for use on limited access freeways when it's not operating with a more sophisticated feature called Autosteer on City Streets.
The software update apparently will limit where Autosteer can be used.
"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," the recall documents said.
Recall documents say that agency investigators met with Tesla starting in October to explain "tentative conclusions" about the fixing the monitoring system. Tesla, it said, did not agree with the agency's analysis but agreed to the recall on Dec. 5 in an effort to resolve the investigation.
Auto safety advocates for years have been calling for stronger regulation of the driver monitoring system, which mainly detects whether a driver's hands are on the steering wheel.
Autopilot can steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane, but is a driver-assist system and cannot drive itself despite its name. Independent tests have found that the monitoring system is easy to fool, so much that drivers have been caught while driving drunk or even sitting in the back seat.
In its defect report filed with the safety agency, Tesla said Autopilot's controls "may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse."
A message was left early Wednesday seeking further comment from the Austin, Texas, company.
Tesla says on its website that Autopilot and a more sophisticated Full Self Driving system cannot drive autonomously and are meant to help drivers who have to be ready to intervene at all times. Full Self Driving is being tested by Tesla owners on public roads.
In a statement posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, Tesla said safety is stronger when Autopilot is engaged.
NHTSA has dispatched investigators to 35 Tesla crashes since 2016 in which the agency suspects the vehicles were running on an automated system. At least 17 people have been killed.
The investigations are part of a larger probe by the NHTSA into multiple instances of Teslas using Autopilot crashing into parked emergency vehicles that are tending to other crashes. NHTSA has become more aggressive in pursuing safety problems with Teslas in the past year, announcing multiple recalls and investigations, including a recall of Full Self Driving software.
In May, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes NHTSA, said Tesla shouldn't be calling the system Autopilot because it can't drive itself.
In its statement Wednesday, NHTSA said the Tesla investigation remains open "as we monitor the efficacy of Tesla's remedies and continue to work with the automaker to ensure the highest level of safety."
veryGood! (7897)
Related
- 'Yellowstone's powerful opening: What happened to Kevin Costner's John Dutton?
- Navy parachutist crash lands on mother and daughter during San Francisco Fleet Week
- As Solar Booms in the California Desert, Locals Feel ‘Overburdened’
- Lawyers for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ask judge to release identities of his accusers
- Multi-State Offshore Wind Pact Weakened After Connecticut Sits Out First Selection
- Lawyers told to apologize for blasting recorded screams in a Philly neighborhood
- Liam Payne's Family Honors His Brave Soul in Moving Tribute After Singer's Death
- Dylan Sprouse Shares How Wife Barbara Palvin Completely Changed Him
- Is the stock market open on Veterans Day? What to know ahead of the federal holiday
- Thanksgiving Grandma Wanda Dench Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Ranking
- Stock market today: Asian shares meander, tracking Wall Street’s mixed finish as dollar surges
- Arizona counties won’t be forced to do citizenship checks before the election, a judge rules
- Dunkin' Munchkins Bucket and Halloween menu available this week: Here's what to know
- Thanksgiving Grandma Wanda Dench Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis
- Mechanic dies after being 'trapped' under Amazon delivery van at Florida-based center
- Emily Osment Reveals Role Brother Haley Joel Osment Had at Her Wedding
- Protesters demand Kellogg remove artificial colors from Froot Loops and other cereals
- Liam Payne's family mourns One Direction star's death at 31: 'Heartbroken'
Recommendation
-
Colts' Kenny Moore II ridicules team's effort in loss to Bills
-
SpaceX accuses California board of bias against Musk in decisions over rocket launches
-
NFL MVP rankings: Lamar Jackson outduels Jayden Daniels to take top spot after Week 6
-
Liam Payne's Family Honors His Brave Soul in Moving Tribute After Singer's Death
-
Stock market today: Asian stocks dip as Wall Street momentum slows with cooling Trump trade
-
Some coaches may get surprise if they reach College Football Playoff. And not a good one.
-
Supporting Children's Education: Mark's Path of Philanthropy
-
Federal judge is skeptical about taking away South Carolina governor’s clemency power