In a continuing series of setbacks for Tesla, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expressed concerns regarding the effectiveness of the company's massive recall to fix its Autopilot driver-assist system. The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has been closely examining Tesla's Autopilot since August 2021, following a series of crashes involving Teslas operating under Autopilot and colliding with parked emergency responder vehicles.

The investigation, which initially started as a preliminary inquiry, was upgraded to an engineering analysis in June 2022. As a result of this analysis, Tesla was compelled to recall over 2 million vehicles in December 2023 due to the lack of adequate driver-monitoring systems and the potential for "foreseeable misuse" within the design of the Autopilot system.

Following an extensive engineering analysis of a total of 956 crashes, the NHTSA has categorized 467 Autopilot-related crashes into three distinct groups. Out of the total crashes, 221 included frontal collisions where the Tesla crashed into a car or obstacle, even with sufficient time for an attentive driver to respond. Another 111 crashes occurred when the system was unintentionally disengaged by the driver, and the remaining 145 crashes occurred under low grip conditions, such as on wet roads.

According to the NHTSA's report, Tesla's Autopilot system has a more permissive operational design domain compared to other driver-assistance systems, and it requires the driver to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. However, the report suggests that the increased control authority and easy engagement of Autopilot have led to overconfidence among drivers, resulting in disengaged drivers who fail to react appropriately during critical situations. Tragically, at least 13 fatalities have been reported as a consequence.

Moreover, the NHTSA findings regarding Tesla's telematics system revealed significant gaps. Contrary to popular belief among Tesla enthusiasts, the system records accidents only when airbags deploy, which occurs in just 18% of police-reported crashes, according to NHTSA data.

The agency also criticized Tesla's marketing, stating that the term "Autopilot" gives the impression of a higher level of automation than it actually provides. This terminology can lead drivers to overly trust the system and believe it has greater capabilities than it truly does.

In response to the NHTSA's concerns, the ODI has initiated a recall query to assess the effectiveness of the December fix. The agency is skeptical that the recall has truly improved the safety of the Autopilot system, as evidenced by subsequent crashes and their own testing of the updated system.

Of particular concern is the fact that "a portion of the remedy both requires the owner to opt in and allows a driver to readily reverse it," as stated by Tesla. The NHTSA seeks clarification on why subsequent updates have addressed issues that should have already been fixed with the December recall.

Tesla's week has been marked by disappointing sales and profitability figures, and now, the NHTSA's ongoing scrutiny of the Autopilot system raises further doubts about its safety. As the investigation continues, the pressure on Tesla to address these concerns and improve the safety and reliability of their Autopilot system only grows.