NHTSA Rejects Tesla Recall Petition, Deepens FSD Safety Investigation

NHTSA Rejects Tesla Recall Petition, Deepens FSD Safety Investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has denied a petition to recall 2.3 million Tesla vehicles over their one-pedal driving feature, determining that the approximately 200 incidents of sudden unintended acceleration were caused by driver error. Simultaneously, NHTSA has escalated its investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

The One-Pedal Petition

Costas Lakafossis filed a detailed petition arguing:

• Design flaw: Tesla's one-pedal driving creates confusion because drivers don't need to hold the brake when starting
• Pattern evidence: 200 incidents of Teslas crashing into garage walls or parked objects
• HMI critique: The human-machine interface programming lacks appropriate preemptive safety measures

NHTSA's Decision

NHTSA rejected the petition:

• Driver error confirmed: All investigated crashes determined to be driver error
• Industry standard: One-pedal driving is common across the EV industry
• No recall: Adding a brake transmission interlock to 2.3 million Teslas "will not happen"

FSD Investigation Escalation

On the same day, NHTSA upgraded its FSD probe:

• Preliminary to engineering analysis: Deeper technical investigation of FSD's Autopilot system
• Safety concerns: Issues with camera-based vision systems in challenging conditions (glare, fog)
• Scope: Multiple model years and FSD versions under review

The Broader Context

Tesla faces mounting regulatory pressure:

• Multiple NHTSA probes: Separate investigations for FSD, Autopilot, and phantom braking
• DOJ investigation: Criminal probe into Tesla's self-driving claims
• International scrutiny: European and Chinese regulators also examining Tesla's ADAS

Source: Ars Technica