NHTSA seeks more info from Tesla in ‘phantom braking’ safety probe

WASHINGTON — The nation’s top rated automobile protection regulator is requesting more information and facts from Tesla Inc. to help its investigation of selected Model 3 and Model Y motor vehicles outfitted with Autopilot immediately after stories alleging “phantom braking.”

NHTSA’s request arrives soon after the company in February opened the investigation into an approximated 416,000 Product 3 and Design Y vehicles from the 2021-22 product years immediately after acquiring 354 problems of unexpected braking though making use of Autopilot’s driver-help characteristics.

In a letter despatched May perhaps 4 to Eddie Gates, Tesla’s director of discipline high quality, NHTSA mentioned the variety of reports of sudden brake activation in people vehicles experienced greater to 758.

The agency is now trying to get even more information from Tesla, together with any complaints or lawsuits similar to the alleged defect as well as stories involving a crash, injuries or dying.

Tesla has right until June 20 to answer, or it could face civil penalties of up to practically $115 million.

According to the letter, posted Friday, NHTSA is inquiring Tesla to explain any assessments, tests, scientific studies, simulations or equivalent actions that have been carried out by, or for, the automaker as it relates to the alleged defect. The company also wishes to know what components and software program modifications have been produced to the afflicted autos considering the fact that the get started of creation.

Other requests contain a thorough description of the process style and design and procedure, like all connected sensor technologies, as properly as Tesla’s assessment of the alleged defect, circumstances that might end result in unpredicted brake activation and related protection pitfalls.

Tesla, which disbanded its media relations department, did not promptly reply to a request for comment.

The electric car or truck maker has continued to confront better regulatory scrutiny below the Biden administration.

Final yr, NHTSA opened an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot program following a collection of crashes involving its types and emergency motor vehicles. The ongoing probe addresses an approximated 765,000 Teslas from the 2014-21 model decades. Most of the crashes transpired immediately after darkish and in whole resulted in 17 injuries and a single dying.