Tesla is issuing a vehicle defect recall for about 54,000 cars equipped with its Full Self-Driving software to disable a feature, which under certain conditions allows vehicles to roll slowly through intersections without stopping. According to a report in The New York Times, this decision from Tesla came after the automaker was criticized on social media for enabling “rolling stops,” violating traffic regulations.
Increased Risk of a Crash with Full Self-Driving Software
In a letter to Tesla, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that there is an increased risk of a crash when vehicles do not fully stop at stop signs. This recall covers only Tesla vehicles equipped with software that the company calls Full Self-Driving and includes Tesla models S, X, 3, and Y produced between 2016 and 2022.
Full Self-Driving is more advanced than Tesla’s more widely used Autopilot driver assistance system. In spite of their names, neither system can actually operate a car without a human driver being present and engaged. Tesla allows consumers to purchase Full Self-Driving software at an extra cost of $12,000. The software is still in the test phase, and only a select group of customers can activate it.
Series of Safety Issues
The rolling-stop issue is just the latest in a series of safety issues involving Tesla. In August, NHTSA opened a formal investigation into a series of crashes in which Teslas in Autopilot mode collided with emergency vehicles that had stopped or parked. The agency is trying to determine why Teslas in Autopilot mode sometimes failed to see and stop for emergency vehicles with their lights flashing.
A month later, Tesla issued an over-the-air update to improve the vehicles’ ability to recognize emergency vehicles. NHTSA responded by reminding Tesla that federal law mandates automakers to initiate a recall any time it corrects a safety issue. In addition, the agency has ordered Tesla to provide data about its FSD software and raised concerns that the automaker may be preventing customers from sharing safety information with NHTSA.
In November, Tesla modified the software in about 12,000 cars to fix a braking issue and filed a formal recall. The automaker also recalled 458,000 cars in December for two separate mechanical safety defects. Also in December, Tesla disabled a feature allowing front passengers and drivers to play video games while vehicles were in motion.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to Tesla Autopilot or Full Self-Driving features, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. An experienced Newport Beach car accident lawyer will be able to advise you regarding your legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/business/tesla-recall.html
