Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" system faces upgraded investigation by U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

MaticHoleFiller · 2026-03-20T14:19:54+00:00

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is facing an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), focusing on safety hazards under low-visibility conditions, including potential failures to recognize routes or issue timely alerts. The investigation involves 3.2 million vehicle models and has been escalated to the engineering analysis phase.

MaticHoleFiller

2026-03-20 14:19:54

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Author: Laura Calordini

Key Points

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is facing an upgrade investigation by U.S. federal agencies.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an engineering analysis of Tesla’s FSD to determine its safety for drivers under low visibility conditions such as fog and bright sunlight.

According to a document published on the NHTSA website on Thursday, the agency has upgraded its investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) system.

This investigation focuses on potential safety defects — specifically, whether using the system in fog, bright sunlight, or other low-visibility road conditions poses risks to drivers.

The document states that the investigation, which began last year, involves 3.2 million Tesla vehicles, including Model S, X, 3, Y, and Cybertruck models equipped with the company’s FSD driver assistance system.

The agency notes that Tesla’s FSD may experience inability to properly recognize road conditions or failure to issue appropriate warnings to drivers in conditions of reduced visibility, such as glare or obstructions from floating particles in the air.

In multiple incidents under review, Tesla’s system “failed to recognize common road conditions affecting the camera’s view, and/or did not issue timely alerts when camera performance declined, only reacting just before the accident occurred.”

Previously, there have been multiple complaints about accidents involving vehicles with FSD enabled within 30 seconds before impact, including one where a Tesla with FSD struck and killed a pedestrian. As a result, the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis phase.

As of now, Tesla has not responded to requests for comment.

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