Tesla Critics Say the Autopilot Recall Fixes Don’t Go Far Enough

“…There don’t appear to be any answers or fixes relating to the system’s repeated failures to detect and respond to emergency personnel and other related hazards.”

By Keith Laing
December 14, 2023

Tesla Inc.’s decision to fix more than 2 million vehicles’ Autopilot systems in the midst of federal probes drew some praise from safety advocates, but many said the company must do more to ensure drivers are paying full attention at the wheel.

“It’s a good initial step, but there’s a lot that still needs to be done,” said Mary “Missy” Cummings, a George Mason University professor who has been critical of Tesla’s automated-driving systems.

More than two years into a defect investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined Tesla’s Autopilot doesn’t do enough to guard against misuse, prompting Tesla’s largest recall ever.

Tesla said in its Dec. 12 recall report that it expected to start deploying an over-the-air software to incorporate additional controls and alerts on that day or soon after. The company, which has disbanded its media relations department, did not respond to a request for comment on the recall or NHTSA’s investigation, which remains open.

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