The recall comes as NHTSA continues its investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist system after a series of crashes in the U.S. that resulted in more than a dozen injuries and one death.
In June, NHTSA upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis, covering an estimated 830,000 Tesla vehicles from the 2014-22 model years.
The agency also opened a separate investigation involving Tesla vehicles after receiving hundreds of complaints alleging unexpected activation of the automatic emergency braking system, characterized by some Tesla owners as “phantom braking.”
In a statement Thursday, NHTSA said analysis and testing performed as part of the investigation revealed that in certain situations, Tesla’s “Autosteer on City Streets” feature in the FSD beta “led to an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on insufficient adherence to traffic safety laws.”
“As required by law and after discussions with NHTSA, Tesla launched a recall to repair those defects,” the agency said.
NHTSA said it will continue to monitor the recall remedies for effectiveness and that its investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot and associated vehicle systems such as FSD “remains open and active.”
Tesla’s FSD beta — a complement to the standard Autopilot system — is sold as a $15,000 option or a $199 monthly subscription.
Tesla describes the proprietary FSD software as “an advanced driver-assistance system that assists your car with steering, accelerating and braking for other vehicles and pedestrians within its lane.” Unlike other automaker systems, FSD is designed to be used on city streets.
Tesla warns on its website that, despite its confusing name, Full Self-Driving is only an assistance feature and that drivers are responsible for the operation of their vehicles at all times.
Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst for e-mobility at Guidehouse Insights, said in an interview last month that Tesla’s standard Autopilot software and optional Full Self-Driving feature have gotten a pass from regulators despite a spate of vehicle crashes and statements by the company that some have called misleading.
“What should happen is that regulators somewhere need to say: ‘Look, you’re selling something that doesn’t work as marketed, and you need to give customers back their money,’ ” Abuelsamid told Automotive News.
“These cars are never, ever going to be able to operate as robotaxis,” he added.
Manufacturers are required to issue a recall for any repair, including a software update, that remedies an unreasonable risk to safety, according to NHTSA. They also are required to submit any communications to owners, dealers and others about any software updates that address a defect, whether or not it is safety related.
Laurence Iliff contributed to this report.
