Tesla's FSD is being investigated at the federal level following a series of accidents in low visibility conditions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is conducting an investigation into the capabilities of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in relation to four accidents. These incidents occurred under reduced visibility conditions, utilizing beta or supervised versions of the FSD. One of the accidents, which took place in November 2023 in Arizona, involved a Model Y that unfortunately struck and resulted in the death of a pedestrian, according to reports. In another of the three accidents, which occurred between March and May of this year, an injury was reported, all involving electric Model 3 vehicles.

The NHTSA has indicated that factors such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust contributed to the poor visibility during these episodes. The agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is evaluating the FSD's ability to "detect and appropriately respond to reduced visibility conditions on the road." They will also investigate whether there have been other accidents in similar situations with the FSD active. Additionally, the ODI will examine any modifications made by Tesla to the system "that may affect FSD performance in low visibility conditions." This review will include an assessment of the timing, purpose, and capabilities of such updates, as well as Tesla's analysis of their impact on safety.

In April, the NHTSA concluded an investigation into hundreds of accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot system, determining that 13 of them were fatal. The agency concluded that in many of these accidents, drivers "were not sufficiently attentive" and that "the warnings provided by Autopilot when activated did not adequately ensure that drivers maintained their focus on the driving task."

Recently, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, commented that the Model 3 and Model Y SUV will be able to operate unsupervised in California and Texas starting next year. At the same event, Musk introduced the Cybercab, a two-seat robocab that lacks a steering wheel and pedals, which the company plans to begin production on by 2027. Tesla does not have a media relations department that can be contacted for comment.