Key Points
- NHTSA has warned Tesla about misleading social media posts about its FSD system and must respond by December 18 or risk up to $135.8 million in fines.
- Some posts suggest Tesla’s FSD operates as a fully autonomous system, conflicting with official messaging that human supervision is required.
- The investigation stems from crashes involving FSD, including a fatal pedestrian incident.
- Tesla posts on X reportedly suggested FSD is safe when drivers are fatigued or even inebriated.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has warned Tesla, alleging that the automaker’s social media posts have misrepresented its vehicles as fully autonomous, potentially endangering drivers. In a May email made public on Friday, NHTSA official Gregory Magno stated that Tesla’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) could mislead users regarding the true capabilities of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature, a system still requiring active human supervision.
Magno’s email emphasized that some of Tesla’s posts conflict with the company’s official messaging, which states that drivers must always remain in control of their vehicles. Tesla drivers using FSD still need to be ready to steer or brake when necessary, and the system cannot operate as a fully autonomous robotaxi.
Tesla has been given until December 18 to respond to the NHTSA’s letter. The NHTSA also requested detailed information about Tesla’s cars and FSD technology. If Tesla fails to comply, the automaker may face a fine of up to $135.8 million. The company can request an extension to respond.
The NHTSA’s investigation follows multiple incidents involving Tesla’s FSD, including crashes that reportedly happened within 30 seconds of FSD activation. One tragic incident involved a pedestrian fatality caused by a Tesla driver using the FSD feature.
Magno highlighted a range of posts that Tesla shared on X, some of which suggested FSD could be safely used under conditions that typically require full driver attention, such as during illness or fatigue. One post featured a driver using FSD while heading to a hospital, allegedly during a heart attack. At the same time, another shared the experience of a driver using FSD for a 50-minute ride home after a sporting event. In these posts, Tesla reportedly suggested that FSD could be advantageous when drivers are inebriated or fatigued, which contradicts safety guidelines.
The NHTSA has requested that Tesla’s online communications align with the system’s actual capabilities and safety guidelines. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk advocates establishing a federal motor vehicle safety standard for autonomous vehicles. Despite the scrutiny, Tesla’s shares have surged, climbing 28% following the election and pushing the company’s market cap above $1 trillion. Tesla has yet to comment on the NHTSA’s letter.
