U.S. Investigating Autopilot Problems on 765,000 Tesla Vehicles; 11 Known Accidents Have Occurred Since 2018

Issues reported about Teslas include:

crashes and other potentially fatal mechanical and operational issues, some of which have led to recalls (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
battery and vehicle fires that have been difficult to extinguish (see 1, 2)
rapid battery degradation
high levels of harmful electromagnetic radiation emissions

In regard to accidents, testimonies from survivors are horrifying. Now almost every vehicle that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since 2014 is under investigation.

From The Seattle Times:

US probing Autopilot problems on 765,000 Tesla vehicles

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot partially automated driving system after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles.

The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Of the crashes identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of the probe, 17 people were injured and one was killed.

NHTSA says it has identified 11 crashes since 2018 in which Teslas on Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control have hit vehicles at scenes where first responders have used flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board or cones warning of hazards. The agency announced the action Monday in a posting on its website.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Tesla owners considered suing the company if full self-driving isn’t possible. Maybe they’ll have an answer soon.

Of course, there have also been complaints about high costs associated with all EVs – not just Tesla’s. There have been recalls due to battery fires with other manufacturers’ vehicles as well (see 1, 2, 3). Additionally, EV batteries in general have been identified as very difficult to recycle.

In other EV news, Toyota has been accused of funding a smear campaign to slow EV sales and an EV entrepreneur has been indicted for lying to increase stock sales.