US Elevates FSD Defect Probe to Engineering Analysis... Tesla Faces Dual Pressure from Regulation and Lawsuits [Tesla's Solo Run... Hyundai Strikes Back]

NHTSA Elevates Investigation Into FSD Defects
Fatal Tesla Crash in Texas Last Month Raises Concerns
Continuous Updates and Innovation Foster Loyal Fanbase

Tesla, which is promoting its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, is now under dual pressure from regulatory scrutiny and litigation. In the United States, regulators have escalated their defect investigation to its highest level, targeting 3.2 million vehicles. Meanwhile, consumer lawsuits claiming Tesla exaggerated FSD's performance are spreading across the United States, China, and South Korea.

Just days after Dutch regulators approved the use of Tesla's autonomous driving software, on April 17 (local time) in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tesla enthusiast Keith Rollantschaf was driving his electric vehicle hands-free. Photo by Reuters

According to foreign media and the automotive industry on July 14, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently raised the FSD defect investigation on 3.2 million Tesla vehicles to the engineering analysis stage. Engineering analysis is the highest level in the NHTSA's investigation process and involves rigorous verification to confirm technical defects. The investigation was prompted by accidents caused when the system failed to properly recognize the road ahead due to conditions such as fog or strong sunlight glare impairing visibility.

Last month in Texas, an FSD-enabled Tesla crashed into a house, resulting in the death of a 76-year-old man. The driver, Michael David Butler (44), claimed the crash occurred while FSD was engaged, but Tesla countered that the vehicle had exited FSD mode because the driver pressed the accelerator pedal. The victim's family has filed a punitive damages lawsuit of 1 million dollars against both Butler and Tesla.

In South Korea, drivers have also reported near-collisions with barriers at highway ramps or rear-end crashes with stationary construction vehicles at night, while using driving assistance features. These cases have been widely shared in consumer communities, highlighting the limits of Tesla's camera vision system.

Tesla asserts that FSD is more than ten times safer than human drivers, citing its own statistics showing a significantly lower accident rate. However, some foreign media outlets have pointed out that Tesla's statistics only include major accidents resulting in airbag deployment, while accident data for other carmakers includes even minor incidents, making Tesla's safety claims appear inflated.

Marketing focused on autonomous driving has ultimately led to legal battles. Lawsuits filed by consumers over alleged overstatement of FSD performance are underway in the United States, China, and South Korea.

Nevertheless, consumer enthusiasm remains high. Analysts suggest this is driven by a desire to experience evolving technology ahead of others, even as the risks of defects and accidents are well known.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.