Tesla gets extension in federal probe of Full Self-Driving violations

On the Dash:

• NHTSA extended Tesla’s response deadline to Feb. 23 in its Full Self-Driving traffic violation probe.
• Regulators are reviewing complaints, crash data, and internal records tied to alleged violations.
• Tesla says overlapping federal investigations are straining its ability to respond quickly.

U.S. auto safety regulators have granted Tesla a five-week extension to respond to an investigation into whether vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving system violated traffic laws.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday it extended Tesla’s deadline for key responses to Feb. 23 after the automaker requested additional time. Tesla told regulators it needs to manually review thousands of records to identify incidents potentially tied to the probe.

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The investigation centers on whether Tesla vehicles operating with Full Self-Driving engaged in committed traffic violations. The review is part of broader federal scrutiny of advanced driver-assistance systems as regulators assess their real-world performance and safety claims.

NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation in October. In December, the agency sent Tesla an extensive information request seeking data tied to alleged traffic violations involving Full Self-Driving. The request covered consumer complaints, internal field reports, crash data, lawsuits, and company assessments related to the system.

So far, NHTSA has received 62 consumer complaints linked to the issue and has identified additional media reports and crash data that could be relevant. The agency has not disclosed whether the incidents resulted in injuries or fatalities.

In a Jan. 12 filing, Tesla said it still needed to review 8,313 records and estimated it could process roughly 300 records per day. The automaker argued that the volume of material required more time to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Tesla also cited the strain of responding to multiple active NHTSA investigations simultaneously. In addition to the Full Self-Driving review, the company is facing separate federal probes into delayed crash reporting and reports of inoperative door handles. The EV makers said the overlapping demands increase the risk of incomplete or lower-quality submissions.

The extension does not indicate whether regulators have identified violations or plan further enforcement action. NHTSA said the review remains ongoing as it evaluates whether additional steps are warranted.