The inquiry, initiated in early 2022 following a surge in consumer reports, scrutinized 416,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Drivers had raised concerns regarding sudden deceleration while using Autopilot, Full Self-Driving, and Traffic Aware Cruise Control. NHTSA officials determined that Tesla’s transition to a vision-only sensing architecture likely triggered the phantom braking behavior, yet confirmed that no crashes were directly linked to these events.
In section Market Quotes
NHTSA Closes Tesla Phantom Braking Investigation
Three incidents reported since the start of 2026 prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to close its long-standing investigation into Tesla’s unexpected braking issues. Federal regulators concluded that software updates effectively mitigated the risks, signaling a shift in the safety profile of the automaker’s driver-assistance systems.
Complaints have dwindled significantly over the past three years. Reported incidents dropped from 45 in 2024 to 19 in 2025, reaching the current low of three. Despite closing the evaluation, the agency reserved the right to pursue further action should new safety data emerge. The investigation serves as a case study in how over-the-air software adjustments can address complex hardware-software interactions in modern electric vehicles.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!