After a series of recalls against electric vehicle companies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating more than 400,000 Tesla vehicles for brake problems.
The investigation, which stems from 354 complaints received by NHTSA in the past nine months, will cover Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars in 2021-2022. The investigation will examine deficiencies in Tesla's Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) capabilities, known as autonomous driving.
"The complaint alleges that the vehicle accidentally braked while driving at high speeds while utilizing ADAS features, including adaptive cruise control," NHTSA said. "Complainants report that during the drive, rapid deceleration can occur randomly without warning and often repeat itself." The complaint warns that brake failures can be potentially dangerous.
One of the complaints read: "The braking from a slight throttle response to deceleration to a complete emergency braking that rapidly and drastically reduces speed has created unsafe driving conditions for my occupants and those who may be following me."
Tesla's recall led to four Tesla models, including the Model 3 and Model Y, due to software failures, involving issues with collision warnings (FCWs) and automatic emergency braking (AEB).