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DETROIT (AP) — More than 750 Tesla owners have complained to US safety regulators that vehicles running on the automaker’s partially automated driving systems suddenly stop on the roads for no apparent reason.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disclosed the number to Tesla in a detailed information request letter posted on the agency’s website Friday.
The 14-page letter, dated May 4, requests information on all consumer and field reports it has received from the automaker regarding faulty braking, as well as claims of accident, injury, death and property damage. It also asks if the company’s “Full Self Drive” and automatic emergency braking systems are active in the event of an incident.
The agency began investigating phantom braking on Tesla’s Model 3 and Y last February after receiving 354 complaints. The probe covers an estimated 416,000 vehicles from the 2021 and 2022 model years. In February, the agency said there were no reports of accidents or injuries.
The letter gives Tesla a deadline of June 20 to respond to its request for information, but says the company may seek an extension.
Earlier on Friday, a message was left from Tesla asking for comment.
While unpacking the probe, the agency said it’s examining vehicles equipped with automatic driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and “Autopilot”, which lets them brake and steer automatically in their lanes.
“Complainants report that rapid deceleration can occur repeatedly without warning and often during a single driving cycle,” the agency said.
Many car owners wrote in their complaints that they were afraid of being hit from behind on the highway.
In the letter, NHTSA asks for the initial speed at which vehicles begin to brake, the final speed, and the average deceleration. It also asks if the automated systems have detected a target obstacle and if the Tesla has video of braking events.
The agency is now seeking information on warranty claims for phantom braking, including the names of owners and what repairs were made. It also requests information on Tesla’s sensors, any testing or research related to braking issues, or if any changes have been made.
The letter focuses on Tesla’s testing of automated systems when it comes to detecting vehicles of different sizes, including metal bridges, S-shaped curves, oncoming and cross traffic, and large trucks. The agency also seeks information on how the cameras deal with reflections, shadows, glare, and congestion caused by snow or heavy rain.
The agency is asking Tesla to detail its assessment of the “alleged defect” in automated systems, including what causes unnecessary braking, what fails, and the motor vehicle safety risk caused by the problem. It asks Tesla “what alerts, if any, the operator and others inside and outside the vehicle will receive that the alleged defect has occurred or that the subject component is faulty.”
The investigation is another in a series of enforcement efforts by the agency that includes Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving” software. Despite their names, both properties cannot drive vehicles without supervising people.
This is the Texas automaker’s fourth official investigation in the past three years, and NHTSA has been overseeing 23 Tesla recalls since January 2021.
The agency is also investigating complaints that automatic emergency braking systems in more than 1.7 million new Hondas may stall vehicles for no reason.
In addition, NHTSA is conducting a broader investigation into accidents involving partially automated driving systems of all automakers. Since 2016, the agency has sent teams to 34 accidents where systems are in use or are suspected to be working. Of the 34, 28 involved Teslas.
Fifteen people were killed and at least 15 injured in the crashes that NHTSA investigated. According to agency documents, 14 of the deaths occurred in accidents involving Teslas.
NHTSA is also investigating why Teslas on Autopilot crash into emergency vehicles parked on the roads.
Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have been battling US and California government agencies for years, with the NHTSA and most importantly the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Musk offered to buy Twitter for $44 billion and turn it into a private company, but said he suspended the deal due to allegations that the social media platform has more automated bot accounts than it disclosed.
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