January 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM Feds to Investigate Tesla's 'Smart Summon' Feature Justin Sullivan - Getty Images Tesla customers have come to expect high-tech, often cutting-edge features from their cars. But it seems at least one example of such a feature — the ability to remotely bring a user's Tesla vehicle to the driver — has come under federal investigation, according to a January 6th announcement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. An official report filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation alleges that a Tesla operating under the brand's app-based summoning command was involved in a crash, prompting the federal watchdog agency to open an investigation into the autonomous technology. Initially launched under the name "Smart Summon," Tesla eventually updated the software and renamed it "Actually Smart Summon," a name which we at Road & Track suspect may have been something of a backronym. Using Tesla's smartphone-based app, owners who pay for can request their Full-Self-Driving equipped Model X, Model Y, Model S, or Model 3 to autonomously come to their location. NHTSA aims to investigate the speed and driving limitations available while the autonomous feature is engaged. The official complaint has been corroborated by three media reports of similar crashes, the feds say. "NHTSA will evaluate the top speed that a vehicle can attain while Actually Smart Summon is engaged, designed-in operating restrictions for usage on public roads, and line of sight requirements," the preliminary investigation reads. Investigators will review remote vehicle control through the app as a primary means of better understanding the reported incident. Specifically, NHTSA says its team will examine if connectivity delays are responsible for poor driving characteristics, and if the software is being used in environments it was not designed for. This investigation builds on a probe that was opened in Tesla's semi-autonomous Autopilot feature late last year. The official count for crashes involving the software stands at one, but preliminary investigation documents state that NHTSA is aware of dozens of vehicle owner inquiries alleging crash typology, suggesting the number of actual incidents related to the software may be higher. However, Tesla has officially reported zero Smart Summon crashes or Actually Smart Summon crashes through the U.S. government's standing general order for crashes involving ADS or Level 2 ADAS, which is a requirement for manufacturers engaged in semi-autonomous testing on public roads. Federal documents estimate that more than 2.8 million Tesla models are covered under this investigation; specifically, 2016–2025 Model S and Model X, 2017–2025 Model 3 and 2020–2025 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self Driving will subject to the inquiry. This investigation comes after Tesla has had a year of government probes related to autonomous technology and more than half a dozen Cybertruck recalls. Neither CEO Elon Musk nor Tesla corporate overall has yet to comment on the investigation. You Might Also Like