Greater than 750 Tesla house owners have complained to US security regulators that automobiles working on the automaker’s partially automated driving methods have all of a sudden stopped on roadways for no obvious cause.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration revealed the quantity in an in depth data request letter to Tesla that was posted on Friday on the company’s web site.
The 14-page letter dated 4 Might asks the automaker for all client and area experiences it has obtained about false braking, in addition to experiences of crashes, accidents, deaths and property injury claims. It additionally asks whether or not the corporate’s “full self driving” and computerized emergency braking methods have been energetic 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 mentioned it had no experiences of crashes or accidents.
The letter offers Tesla a deadline of 20 June to reply to the data 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 mentioned it was wanting into autos geared up with automated driver-assist options equivalent to adaptive cruise management and “autopilot”, which permits them to robotically 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 mentioned.
Many homeowners wrote of their complaints that they feared a rear-end crash on a freeway.
Within the letter, NHTSA asks for the preliminary pace when the automobiles started to brake, the ultimate pace and the common deceleration. It additionally asks if the automated methods detected a goal impediment, and whether or not Tesla has video of the braking incidents.
The company is now searching for data on guarantee claims for phantom braking together with the house owners’ names and what repairs have been made. It’s also searching for data on Tesla’s sensors, any testing or investigations into the braking issues, or if any modifications have been made.
The letter focuses on Tesla’s testing of the automated methods relating to detecting metallic bridges, S-shaped curves, oncoming and cross site visitors and totally different sizes of autos together with massive vans. The company additionally desires data on how cameras take care of reflections, shadows, glare and blockage as a consequence of snow or heavy rain.
