NHTSA opens probe into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles due to summon feature
“People need to be aware that they are fully responsible for anything that occurs while they’re using (the summon feature),” Brooks said. “If you’re holding a button down on your phone to make your vehicle move and that vehicle then runs over a child in a grocery store parking lot, you are ultimately going to be held responsible. That’s not an autonomous vehicle. Tesla is not going to step in and save you from liability.”
By Karoline Leonard
January 7, 2025
Federal regulators have opened a probe into roughly 2.6 million Tesla vehicles after a remote summoning feature reportedly led to crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the probe on Tuesday, stating it received one complaint alleging a crash due to the Actually Smart Summon feature and is investigating reports of three additional crashes.
The “Actually Smart Summon” feature launched in September and enables drivers to remotely summon or move their vehicles to another location via a button on a mobile phone app. Tesla previously had a feature, called Smart Summon, that allowed drivers to move their cars into or out of a parking spot. According to the notice, the Office of Defects Investigation has received 12 complaints related to the Smart Summon feature.
The four crashes, according to the notice about the investigation, relate to the Tesla vehicles failing to detect posts or parked vehicles, resulting in crashes when the Actually Smart Summon feature is on.
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