NHTSA Probes 2.6 Million Tesla Vehicles Over 'Actually Smart Summon' Feature Launched in September Amid Crash Reports

Jan 7, 2025, 12:19 PM

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a probe into approximately 2.6 million Tesla vehicles following reports of crashes associated with the 'Actually Smart Summon' feature, which was launched in September. The investigation was prompted by one complaint and at least three media reports of incidents where Tesla vehicles failed to detect obstacles like posts or parked cars during the use of this driverless feature. The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation is examining the feature's maximum speed, its use on public roads, line of sight requirements, remote control through a smartphone app, connectivity delays, and performance in unanticipated conditions. This marks the second major investigation into Tesla's automated driving features within four months, following a previous probe into vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving software. The predecessor to Actually Smart Summon, known as Dumb Summon, allowed users to move their car forward or backward into or out of a parking spot.