Greater than 750 Tesla homeowners have complained to US security regulators that automobiles working on the automaker’s partially automated driving techniques have out of the blue stopped on roadways for no obvious motive.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration revealed the quantity in an in depth info request letter to Tesla that was posted on Friday on the company’s web site.
The 14-page letter dated 4 Could asks the automaker for all shopper and area stories it has acquired about false braking, in addition to stories of crashes, accidents, deaths and property injury claims. It additionally asks whether or not the corporate’s “full self driving” and automated emergency braking techniques had been lively on the time of any incident.
The company started investigating phantom braking in Tesla’s Fashions 3 and Y final February after getting 354 complaints. The inquiry covers an estimated 416,000 autos from the 2021 and 2022 mannequin years. In February, the company stated it had no stories of crashes or accidents.
The letter offers Tesla a deadline of 20 June to reply to the knowledge request however says the corporate can ask for an extension.
A message was left early on Friday searching for remark from Tesla.
In opening the investigation, the company stated it was trying into autos geared up with automated driver-assist options reminiscent of adaptive cruise management and “autopilot”, which permits them to routinely brake and steer inside their lanes.
“Complainants report that the speedy deceleration can happen with out warning, and infrequently repeatedly throughout a single drive cycle,” the company stated.
Many homeowners wrote of their complaints that they feared a rear-end crash on a freeway.
Within the letter, NHTSA asks for the preliminary velocity when the automobiles started to brake, the ultimate velocity and the typical deceleration. It additionally asks if the automated techniques detected a goal impediment, and whether or not Tesla has video of the braking incidents.
The company is now searching for info on guarantee claims for phantom braking together with the homeowners’ names and what repairs had been made. Additionally it is searching for info on Tesla’s sensors, any testing or investigations into the braking issues, or if any modifications had been made.
The letter focuses on Tesla’s testing of the automated techniques with regards to detecting steel bridges, S-shaped curves, oncoming and cross site visitors and totally different sizes of autos together with giant vans. The company additionally desires info on how cameras take care of reflections, shadows, glare and blockage attributable to snow or heavy rain.