NHTSA investigates Tesla Full Self-Driving after crashes including pedestrian death
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla's Full Self-Driving system following reports of four crashes, including one fatal incident involving a pedestrian struck by a Tesla with FSD engaged. A Zoox cofounder has also publicly criticized Tesla's FSD as unreliable and stressful to use, citing its reliance on cameras and lack of radar technology.
What happened
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla's Full Self-Driving following reports of four crashes, including one fatal incident during which a pedestrian was struck by a Tesla that had FSD engaged.
Jesse Levinson, cofounder and chief technical officer of Zoox (an Amazon-backed robotaxi company), publicly stated at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference that Tesla's FSD 'often makes the right thing until it doesn't', describing the driving experience as 'a bit stressful'. Levinson owns a Tesla and uses FSD, which requires constant driver supervision.
Reported impact
The investigation by NHTSA was triggered by reports of four crashes involving Tesla FSD, one of which resulted in a pedestrian fatality.
Index analysis
Levinson criticized Tesla's approach to autonomous driving, stating that the system's reliance on cameras is insufficient to achieve safe, fully autonomous driving. He joined other critics who have objected to Musk's decision to eliminate radar technology from the system.
Governance controls
Tesla's website states that FSD systems require 'active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.