NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. regulators are investigating 2.6 million Tesla vehicles following reports of crashes potentially linked to the company’s ‘Summon’ feature, which allows drivers to remotely move their cars using a smartphone app.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the investigation on Tuesday, noting that Tesla had not reported any of the accidents related to the technology. The agency is required to investigate crashes on “publicly accessible roads” involving vehicles using autonomous driving technology.
The new probe follows another ongoing investigation launched in October into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system. That investigation was prompted by reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that resulted in a pedestrian fatality, and covers approximately 2.4 million Teslas from the 2016 to 2024 model years.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The NHTSA stated that they are reviewing a complaint filed by a driver following a crash while using Tesla’s “Smart Summon” feature and are looking into three similar incidents based on media reports. In total, the agency is investigating 12 incidents reported by users of the technology.
According to the NHTSA, each of the vehicles involved failed to detect obstacles or other parked vehicles. Regulators believe the cars struck objects because drivers had inadequate reaction time. This was due to either limited visibility or the time it took to release the phone app button, which stops the vehicle’s movement, the NHTSA said.
Shares of Tesla Inc., based in Austin, Texas, dropped more than 4% in late afternoon trading Tuesday.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has previously voiced concerns about U.S. regulations, claiming they hinder the progress of self-driving car development. Ethics experts are worried that Musk may attempt to influence President-elect Donald Trump to ease oversight of Tesla, which has recently experienced its first decline in annual sales in over a decade. Musk donated an estimated $250 million to Trump’s presidential campaign and is a frequent visitor at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
The NHTSA also stated Tuesday that it intends to look into the maximum speed Teslas can achieve when using the “Summon” technology, as well as limitations on public roads and line-of-sight requirements. Additionally, the agency plans to investigate potential “connectivity delays” with the app that could lead to increased stopping distances.
Tesla’s Model 3 owner’s manual states that its “Summon” feature is designed exclusively for use in parking lots and driveways on private property and should not be used on public roads.
The new probe covers 2016-2025 Model S and X vehicles, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y equipped with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving driver assistance system.
