In order to address the issue, Tesla recalls its [approx.] 363,000 vehicles with their “Full Self-Driving” feature to monitor and fix how it behaves around intersections and adhere to posted speed limits.
The recall was initiated as part of a larger investigation into Tesla's automated driving systems by U.S. safety regulators. Regulators had expressed doubts about how Tesla's system responded in four locations along roadways.
According to a document published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Thursday, Tesla will address the issues with an online software upgrade in the coming weeks. The document adds that although Tesla is doing the recall, it does not agree with the agency’s analysis of the issue.
As per the NHTSA analysis, the system, being tested by around 400,000 Tesla owners on public roads, flags unsafe actions like driving straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, failing to stop completely at stop signs, and driving through an intersection during a yellow traffic light without taking proper precaution.
Moreover, the document deems that the system does not satisfactorily respond to the transformation in speed limits or might not take into account the driver's adjustments to speed. "FSD beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash," the document says.
A message was left Thursday urging a response from Tesla, which has shut down its media relations department.
In addition to this, Tesla has received 18 warranty claims, supposedly caused by the software from May 2019 through September 12, 2022, pertaining to the issue.
NHTSA said in a statement that it discovered the issue while conducting testing as part of an inquiry into "Full Self-Driving" and "Autopilot" software that performs some driving-related tasks. According to the NHTSA, "As required by law and after discussions with NHTSA, Tesla launched a recall to repair those defects."
Despite the infamous claim by Tesla CEO Elon Musk that their “Full Self-Driving” vehicles do not require any human intervention in order to function, Tesla on its website, along with NHTSA confirms that the cars cannot drive themselves and that owners must always be prepared to intervene at all times.