US to probe Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ system after pedestrian killed

Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ system is being investigated by the US National Highway Safety Administration (Michel Euler/AP)

The US government’s road safety agency is again investigating Tesla’s “full self-driving” system, this time after getting reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian.

The National Highway Safety Administration says in documents that it opened the probe on Thursday after the company reported four crashes after Teslas entered areas of low visibility including sun glare, fog and airborne dust.

In addition to the pedestrian’s death, another crash involved an injury, the agency said.

Investigators will look into the ability of full self-driving to “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions, and if so, the contributing circumstances for these crashes.”

The investigation covers roughly 2.4 million Teslas from the 2016 through to the 2024 model years.

Tesla, which has repeatedly said the system cannot drive itself and human drivers must be ready to intervene at all times, has been contacted for comment.

Last week Tesla held an event at a Hollywood studio to unveil a fully autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals.

Chief executive Elon Musk said the company plans to have fully autonomous vehicles running without human drivers next year, and robotaxis available in 2026.