Tesla is under increasing pressure about the marketing and capabilities of its Fully Autonomous Driving (FSD) system. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers FSD to be insufficient for actual use.

Tesla FSD may not be good enough

Tesla is under investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for allegedly making misleading statements in its Full Autonomous Driving (FSD) advertisements. According to documents revealed in the US, NHTSA has asked Tesla to reconsider its adverts to ensure compliance with the limitations set out in its user manuals.

The investigation began after a series of accidents involving Tesla models in poor visibility conditions with fog, dust and smoke. Accordingly, it was stated that names such as Fully Autonomous Driving and Autopilot make users believe that the systems are fully autonomous. In reality, it was stated that it requires driver supervision. US Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg described Tesla’s marketing strategy as dangerous.

The institution also drew attention to some of the adverts Tesla shared on X. Accordingly, there were some posts showing that drivers trust the FSD by removing their hands from the steering wheel. For example, Tesla shared a story about a man using FSD to reach the hospital while having a heart attack.

However, Tesla states that the use of FSD and Autopilot without human supervision has not passed safety and legal approval. NHTSA has given Tesla until 18 December to provide details about the warnings given by the FSD system.

The investigation is unlikely to be completed by January, but major changes could be on the way for Tesla FSD in 2025.