Federal regulators probe Tesla over not properly reporting crashes involving Autopilot and Full Self-Driving

Core Viewpoint - Tesla is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for allegedly failing to report crashes involving its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems in a timely manner [1][2]. Investigation Details - The NHTSA requires car manufacturers to report crashes involving autonomous or advanced driver assistance systems within five days of notification, but Tesla reportedly submitted reports months later, sometimes in batches [2]. - Preliminary discussions between the NHTSA and Tesla indicated that the delays in reporting were due to issues with Tesla's data collection, which the company claims have been resolved [3]. Crash Reporting Methodology - Tesla's crash-counting methodology only includes incidents where airbags are deployed and Autopilot was engaged within five seconds prior to the crash, as pointed out by a tech safety advocacy group [4]. Previous Investigations - In 2022, the NHTSA investigated Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y for "phantom braking," where vehicles unexpectedly brake without cause [8]. - Tesla CEO Elon Musk previously stated that phantom braking would be addressed in a software update, but there have been no further comments on the issue since then [8]. Legal Issues - A Florida judge ordered Tesla to pay $242 million in damages related to a 2019 crash involving Autopilot, which resulted in a fatality and serious injuries [9]. - California's Department of Motor Vehicles has filed a lawsuit against Tesla, alleging misleading advertising regarding the capabilities of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, which could lead to a suspension of Tesla's sales rights in California for at least 30 days [10]. - Tesla's legal team has denied the allegations, asserting that the company has informed customers they "cannot fully rely" on FSD or Autopilot [11].