Tesla exonerated by federal authorities in investigation of remote self-driving capability.

NHTSA Closes Investigation into Tesla’s Remote Control Feature

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday that Tesla has been cleared of at least one federal inquiry regarding self-driving vehicles. This follows a lengthy 15-month investigation focused on the capability of owners to control their cars remotely over short distances.

The investigation was initiated last year after several Tesla vehicles were involved in accidents linked to the Smart Summon feature, which permits users to maneuver their cars in parking areas through an app.

Most reported incidents involved collisions with parking gates, stationary cars, or small poles meant to manage traffic flow, according to authorities.

Fortunately, none of these incidents resulted in injuries or fatalities, and federal representatives noted that only a “small portion” of the “millions of citation sessions” reported “minor property damage.”

Some crashes were attributed to weather conditions—like snow obscuring the camera’s view—and instances where drivers did not properly instruct the vehicle to stop.

One specific incident saw a car collide with a parked vehicle due to insufficient driver input.

In light of these findings, Tesla has updated its software to mitigate these issues, as per NHTSA’s statement.

The investigation was ultimately concluded by the department’s Criminal Division, citing the minor severity of the incidents as the reason for closure.

In contrast, NHTSA has intensified its investigation into Tesla’s “fully self-driving” technology. This ongoing inquiry includes nine crash incidents, one of which was fatal. Additionally, back in March, the agency began evaluating six recent cases that may also be connected.

This scrutiny can be traced back to 2024 when a fully self-driving Tesla was involved in a crash that claimed the life of a 28-year-old motorcyclist in Seattle, leading to the driver being charged with vehicular manslaughter.

Government officials raised concerns that the FSD technology, which necessitates the driver’s involvement, failed to identify adverse driving conditions or provide timely warnings.

They pointed out that the software did not recognize “common road conditions that impair camera visibility” until it was too late for drivers to react effectively.