Craze for cars

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has rejected a petition seeking the recall of approximately 2.26 million Tesla vehicles. The agency said the available evidence did not show a widespread safety defect, removing the immediate possibility of a recall related to the complaint.

The petition, filed in March 2023, claimed that Tesla’s regenerative braking and one-pedal-driving systems could contribute to pedal misapplication and unintended acceleration. It sought a recall of vehicles built since 2013 and proposed changes requiring drivers to press the brake pedal before the vehicle could come to a complete stop in certain situations.

Tesla vehicles use regenerative braking to slow down when the accelerator is released while recovering energy for the battery. This one-pedal-driving feature is also used by many other electric vehicles because it improves efficiency and reduces reliance on conventional brakes.

During its review, NHTSA examined crash reports, complaints and vehicle data. It found only a small number of incidents that could be linked to the petition and said the vehicles responded correctly to driver inputs. The agency also found no evidence that the proposed system changes would have prevented those incidents.

Closing the petition does not mean no drivers reported unexpected movement. It means the regulator did not find enough evidence to prove that a common vehicle defect, rather than driver error or other factors, caused the incidents.

The decision avoids a major recall involving Tesla vehicles produced over more than a decade. Such a recall could have created significant repair costs, logistical difficulties and reputational damage for the company.

NHTSA said it will continue monitoring new complaints, crash reports and technical data. The case could be reopened if stronger evidence of a safety defect appears.

This decision is separate from the regulator’s ongoing investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology. That investigation now covers approximately 3.2 million vehicles and focuses on the system’s performance in poor-visibility conditions.

The Full Self-Driving review began in October 2024 as a preliminary evaluation involving about 2.4 million vehicles. It has since moved to an engineering analysis, a more detailed stage that can take place before a recall is considered.

Despite its name, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system remains a driver-assistance feature that requires constant driver attention and supervision.

For Tesla, the petition’s closure removes one immediate concern involving unintended acceleration and pedal operation. However, the company continues to face regulatory scrutiny over its driver-assistance technology.

Tesla owners do not need to arrange repairs because no recall has been ordered for this issue. Drivers should still understand how regenerative braking works and remain ready to use the brake pedal when needed.

Overall, NHTSA concluded that the available evidence did not support a finding of a widespread defect. Even so, Tesla’s vehicle technology will continue to be closely monitored.