Federal regulators have opened an investigation into roughly 2.6 million Tesla vehicles in the U.S. following reports of crashes linked to a feature that allows drivers to remotely move their cars.
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The investigation, led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), was prompted by several incidents involving Tesla's "Actually Smart Summon" feature, raising concerns about its safety and potential risks.
The feature, launched in September, allows users to remotely move their vehicle to their location or another designated spot, using a phone app. Actually Smart Summon replaced Smart Summon and provided users with extended vehicle operating range while expanding vehicle connectivity through phone app live camera feeds.
The NHTSA said it is aware of at least four crashes involving Tesla vehicles operating with Actually Smart Summon that failed to detect posts or parked vehicles. Regulators said the users "had too little reaction time to avoid a crash, either with the available line of sight or releasing the phone app button, which stops the vehicle's movement."
The NHTSA said it is also aware of 12 crashes involving Tesla's Smart Summon feature, which were "similar to the crashes experienced by users of Actually Smart Summon during sessions with little time for operators to react."
The investigation covers 2016-2025 Model S and X vehicles, 2017-2025 Model 3 vehicles and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles with the optional Full Self-Driving driver assistance system.
The preliminary evaluation will determine if a recall is needed. The NHTSA said it will evaluate aspects of Actually Smart Summon such as the top speed that a vehicle can attain, operating restrictions for use on public roads, and line of sight requirements.
The probe is also expected to include review of remote vehicle control through the phone app, including connectivity delays resulting in increased stopping distance and the ability to utilize Actually Smart Summon in operating conditions for which the current version of the system is neither intended nor designed.
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