The recall followed the NHTSA’s determination that Tesla’s driver assistance system is not safe enough. In 2021, the regulator already started an investigation into the electric car manufacturer’s Autopilot after a series of collisions. The NHTSA had already requested more information from Tesla about the new Autopilot software that the company has introduced.
Autopilot is intended to allow Tesla cars to automatically steer, accelerate and brake within their lane. In addition, the advanced version of Autopilot can help with lane changes on highways. However, according to the regulator, there is an increased risk of accidents in situations where the driver assistance system is switched on and insufficient care is taken to ensure that drivers continue to pay attention when using Autopilot.