NHTSA Investigates Tesla's 'Actually Smart Summon' Feature in 2.6 Million Vehicles Amid Crash Reports

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The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla's "Actually Smart Summon" (ASS) feature, which is available in approximately 2.6 million Tesla vehicles, including the 2016-2025 Model S and Model X, the 2017-2025 Model 3, and the 2020-2025 Model Y. The probe was initiated on Monday, January 6, 2025, after receiving complaints and reports of crashes linked to the ASS feature.

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received one complaint alleging that an ASS session resulted in a crash. Additionally, the ODI has reviewed reports of at least three more cases where ASS reportedly failed to detect obstacles such as posts or parked vehicles, leading to crashes. The investigation aims to assess the ASS feature's maximum speed, its use on public roads, line of sight requirements, remote control through a smartphone application, connectivity delay impacts, and system performance in unanticipated conditions.

This investigation is the NHTSA's second major probe into Tesla's automated driving features in about four months. The previous investigation, opened in October 2024, involved 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) software following reports of four collisions, including a fatal crash in 2023.

Tesla has not yet responded to the NHTSA's probe, and the scrutiny comes at a time when the company is focusing on advancing its self-driving technology and the development of robotaxis.