NHTSA Demands Internal Document in Tesla FSD Crash Investigation
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated its inquiry into Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) technology, specifically targeting incidents that occurred under poor visibility. A crucial part of this enhanced investigation involves NHTSA's demand for an internal Tesla document titled "Radar Saves Us." This document is seen as pivotal in understanding Tesla's own assessment of the performance limitations of its vision-centric FSD system, particularly when confronted with conditions like sun glare, fog, or airborne dust that can impair camera functionality. The broader investigation encompasses approximately 3.2 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD in the United States, following nine reported crashes under reduced visibility, resulting in one fatality and one injury.
The formal request, outlined in a 24-part information demand issued on July 2, highlights a key area of concern: Tesla's decision to remove radar sensors from its vehicles in favor of a camera-only system, branded as "Tesla Vision." This shift, implemented in May 2021 for front-facing radar and followed by the removal of ultrasonic sensors in 2022, is at the heart of the current probe. NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation Director, Tanya Topka, has communicated this demand to Tesla's field quality director, Eddie Gates, marking a significant step in the ongoing Engineering Analysis (EA26002). This analysis represents the final investigative phase before a potential recall or the closure of the case.
Among the various requests, "Request No. 4" explicitly seeks all internal communications, technical documentation, test records, and supporting data related to the "Radar Saves Us" document. This document, initially submitted by Tesla during an earlier preliminary investigation (PE24031-01), is now considered highly relevant to understanding Tesla's design changes for its degradation detection system and its awareness of the constraints inherent in a vision-only system for object and event detection and response (OEDR), particularly in the compromised visibility conditions associated with the reported crashes. The name of this document, "Radar Saves Us," was previously undisclosed to the public, underscoring its potential significance.
Furthermore, NHTSA is scrutinizing Tesla's marketing practices and internal operational adjustments. "Request No. 12" challenges 15 specific marketing statements made by Tesla and Elon Musk, questioning whether they convey a higher level of FSD capability than the system actually possesses. Examples include claims about FSD operating in "whiteout conditions" or "all conditions," and promotional content depicting drivers engaging in non-driving activities while FSD is active. Another critical aspect, detailed in "Request No. 14," concerns a 2024 alteration that changed the "FSD Degraded" alert from red to yellow and removed an audible chime. NHTSA is demanding studies and justifications for this change, which effectively softened a crucial warning indicating compromised system visibility. Additionally, several requests delve into Tesla's "Direct Photon-Count Capability," a camera enhancement touted as a solution for glare, and the company's "Vision Failsafe Ranker," alongside its use of "regressions" as a performance metric. These inquiries aim to reconstruct Tesla's internal processes for determining when its vision-only system can no longer perceive its surroundings and the subsequent actions taken.
The ongoing investigation could reveal whether Tesla, despite internal knowledge of a safety gap in its camera-only system and the existence of a proven radar-based solution, proceeded to deploy the vision-only technology in millions of vehicles. This would elevate the situation from a design choice to a known defect, potentially leading to a recall. The timeline for Tesla to fully respond to NHTSA's demands is August 12, with substantial civil penalties for non-compliance. While the ultimate outcome remains uncertain, the nature of NHTSA's current line of questioning suggests a rigorous examination of Tesla's FSD system and its implications for public safety.