## NHTSA Closes Tesla 'Actually Smart Summon' Probe, Cites Low Risk Despite 159 Incident Reports
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed its high-profile investigation into Tesla's 'Actually Smart Summon' feature, concluding the remote-driving function presents a low risk despite a documented history of incidents. The agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) had been scrutinizing the system since January 2025, following multiple crash reports. The probe encompassed approximately 2.85 million Tesla Model X, Model Y, and Model 3 vehicles equipped with the Full Self-Driving package and manufactured between 2016 and 2025.

The investigation was triggered by 159 specific incident reports linked to the use of Actually Smart Summon, which allows owners to move their vehicles over short distances in parking lots via a smartphone app. According to the ODI's findings, the reported incidents were typically minor, involving low-speed impacts that resulted in property damage. The agency determined the root cause was often the system's failure to fully detect and react to the vehicle's immediate surroundings during these controlled, short-range operations.

The closure of the probe represents a significant regulatory clearance for Tesla's advanced driver-assistance features, removing a potential cloud of enforcement action. However, the decision to close the case while acknowledging 159 incidents underscores the ongoing tension between rapid technological deployment and safety oversight. It places the onus for safe operation squarely on the vehicle owner during these remote-control sessions, even as the underlying software's environmental perception remains a focal point for scrutiny in the broader autonomous driving landscape.
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- **Source**: ZeroHedge
- **Sector**: The Lab
- **Tags**: NHTSA, Autonomous Vehicles, Regulatory Investigation, Driver-Assistance Systems, Vehicle Safety
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-07 01:26:51
- **ID**: 52151
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/52151