NHTSA Closes Probe into Tesla's "Actually Smart Summon" After Software Fixes
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation into Tesla's "Actually Smart Summon" autonomous parking feature covering 2.59 million vehicles, after determining it was linked only to low-speed collisions with minor property damage and no injuries. Tesla addressed the issues through software updates improving obstacle detection and environmental factor handling, and the regulator stated it reserves the right to take further action if warranted.
What happened
The NHTSA closed its probe into Tesla's 'actually smart summon' feature, which allows users to remotely move vehicles over short distances in parking areas or private property using a smartphone app.
The feature was linked to low-speed incidents with no injuries or fatalities, with most incidents involving vehicles striking obstacles such as parked cars, garage doors or gates, often early in a summon session when visibility or situational awareness was limited.
Tesla addressed the identified issues through over-the-air software updates aimed at improving obstacle detection, camera blockage identification, and vehicle response to dynamic objects such as gates, as well as reducing errors caused by environmental factors such as snow or condensation.
Reported impact
The incidents resulted in minor property damage with no reported injuries or fatalities across approximately 2.59 million vehicles.
Index analysis
The NHTSA concluded that the low frequency and severity of the incidents did not warrant further action at this time.
The agency noted that closing the probe does not mean that a safety-related defect did not exist and reserved the right to take further action if warranted.
Governance controls
Tesla implemented over-the-air software updates to improve obstacle detection, camera functionality, and responsiveness to environmental factors affecting camera performance.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.