Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has been under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) since last year.
Now, the regulator has decided to expand the ongoing investigation, including more complex evaluations of its performance in low-visibility conditions, an inquiry being conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).
According to Reuters, the main objective is to verify whether the system responsible for identifying limitations in the vehicle’s cameras works properly in alerting the driver to take control.
Recent agency documents indicate possible failures in a feature called “degradation detection,” especially in scenarios involving glare or airborne particles that reduce visibility.
The tool was developed to monitor camera performance and indicate when autonomous driving is no longer reliable. Even so, in some analyzed cases, the system may not have recognized these adverse conditions or properly warned the driver before accidents occurred.
Following a fatal accident involving FSD in 2024, Tesla began developing an update for the system. However, according to the NHTSA, it is unclear which vehicles received these improvements.
The most recent investigation, launched in October 2025, continues a probe initiated by the agency in 2024. Large-scale recalls have been recorded, affecting virtually the entire Tesla fleet in the United States.
Although Tesla has continued to promote the development of more advanced driving systems, the NHTSA investigation could hinder the company’s plans by establishing new rules and regulations related to autonomous driving modes.
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