Tesla’s Smart Summon Faces Scrutiny by Federal Investigators

Tesla is under federal investigation for the Actually Smart Summon (A. S. S. ) feature of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. This technology allows Tesla owners to command their vehicles to move from one location to another using the Tesla app. The federal agency, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened this investigation after collecting complaints about the feature causing crashes. One complainant stated that the A. S. S. mode led their vehicle to crash. Additionally, NHTSA reviewed three media reports and stiffened with 12 more complaints noting similar events.

Tesla’s previous versions of the Summon feature faced issues, including failures to detect obstacles like curbs, poles, and even trees. In a notable incident, a Tesla crashed into a $3. 5 million private jet while using Smart Summon. Despite Tesla not officially reporting any crashes linked to A. S. S. , the NHTSA is scrutinizing over 2. 58 million vehicles equipped with FSD software, produced between 2016 and 2025. These vehicles include Model S, X, 3, and Y. The inquiry looks into the maximum speed a vehicle can achieve with A. S. S. engaged, line-of-sight requirements, and any designed restrictions for public road usage. The NHTSA plans to assess remote control via Tesla’s app and conduct other tests of the software. Before this, the NHTSA probed Tesla’s Autopilot software, linking it to over 200 crashes and 29 fatalities. Dan O’Dowd, a frequent Tesla critic, has urged the NHTSA to ban these technologies, asserting that A. S. S. and FSD are defective and not safe for road use.

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