US regulator ends Tesla smart summon investigation, cites no injuries

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has closed its investigation into Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” feature after determining it was linked only to low-speed incidents with no reported injuries or fatalities.

The probe covered about 2.59 million vehicles equipped with the remote driving function, which allows users to move their cars short distances via a smartphone app while maintaining supervision.

According to the regulator, most incidents involved minor property damage, such as vehicles striking parked cars, garage doors or gates. 

These typically occurred early in summon sessions, when visibility or situational awareness was limited.

The agency said the low frequency and severity of the incidents did not justify further regulatory action at this time. 

However, it emphasised that closing the probe does not necessarily mean a safety defect never existed and noted it could revisit the issue if new concerns arise.

Tesla addressed the identified risks through a series of over-the-air software updates. 

These improvements focused on better obstacle detection, identifying camera obstructions and enhancing the vehicle’s response to moving objects such as gates.

The updates also aimed to reduce errors caused by environmental factors like snow or condensation affecting camera visibility.

The decision comes as Tesla continues to face broader scrutiny over its advanced driver-assistance technologies. 

Last month, the NHTSA escalated its investigation into the company’s Full Self-Driving system to an engineering analysis — a step that can precede a recall — expanding the review to approximately 3.2 million vehicles.

The development underscores ongoing regulatory concerns about the real-world performance of automated driving features, particularly around crash risks, visibility limitations and whether systems provide adequate warnings to drivers.