The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into crashes reportedly linked to Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” feature.
This parking assist feature allows Tesla owners to summon their vehicles from a parking space without being inside the car.
The preliminary investigation involves approximately 2.6 million Tesla vehicles equipped with this technology and was disclosed on Monday.
NHTSA stated it is aware of “multiple crash allegations” in which users were unable to prevent collisions, citing issues such as limited line of sight or inadequate reaction time.
This marks the latest in a series of federal probes into Tesla’s autonomous driving features.
The timing of the investigation coincides with President-elect Donald Trump’s imminent inauguration.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump during and after the election, is expected to play an influential role in shaping federal policies, including those related to autonomous vehicle technology.
Since the November election, Tesla shares have surged more than 60%, fueled by investor optimism that the incoming administration will pursue policies favorable to the company, such as easing regulatory hurdles for autonomous vehicles.
This inquiry follows another NHTSA investigation announced in October into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature.
That probe focused on incidents including a fatal pedestrian accident and three additional crashes, one of which caused injuries.
The incidents under scrutiny in this new investigation are less severe but nonetheless concerning. NHTSA confirmed one accident reported directly by a Tesla owner and at least three others highlighted in news reports.
“All four incidents involve the subject Tesla vehicles operating in Actually Smart Summon failing to detect posts or parked vehicles, resulting in a crash,” NHTSA said in its statement.
It also noted that 12 other crashes have been reported by car owners and are under review.
Tesla’s website states that the “Actually Smart Summon” feature is intended for use only on private property, such as parking lots and driveways, and not on public streets.
The site also advises users to maintain a clear view of the vehicle and its path while operating the feature through a phone app, so they can intervene if necessary.
While Tesla has offered “self-driving” features for years, these come with a warning that drivers must remain prepared to take control of the vehicle to prevent accidents if needed.