Tesla to remote patch 2M vehicles after damning Autopilot safety probe
- Reference: 1702488854
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/12/13/tesla_recall_autopilot_safety/
- Source link:
Some 2012-2023 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer were included in [1]the recall [PDF], along with "all" Model X, 3 and Y vehicles manufactured, respectively, between 2016, 2017 and 2020 to the present. The NHTSA estimated that 100 percent of Teslas are affected, totaling 2,031,220 vehicles.
"In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash," the NHTSA [2]said [PDF].
[3]
The software recall brings an end to a two-year probe by the NHTSA that [4]began in 2021 after a number of highly-publicized accidents, including several involving Teslas with Autopilot activated hitting emergency vehicles on the side of highways.
[5]
[6]
The NHTSA [7]upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis last year after finding reasons to believe "Autopilot and associated Tesla systems may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver's supervision," the agency said in 2022.
After reviewing 956 crashes where Autopilot was alleged to have been in use, 322 merited particular focus, and the NHTSA appears to have concluded that its initial suspicions were correct.
[8]
"In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature," the NHTSA said in a letter to Tesla confirming receipt of its safety recall. The NHTSA didn't respond to questions for this story.
SAE level 2 systems require drivers to maintain attention. Tesla has been [9]accused of misleading buyers of the capabilities of its Autopilot advanced driver assist system (ADAS) through its name and the company's use of [10]Full Self Driving (FSD) as the name for a more advanced variant.
Tesla said it didn't concur with the NHTSA's findings, but on December 5 decided to issue a voluntary recall "in the interest of resolving" the investigation.
[11]Tesla swerves liability in Autopilot death lawsuit
[12]Tesla says California's Autopilot action violates its free speech rights
[13]No more Mr Nice DoJ: Tesla gets subpoenas over self-driving software claims
[14]Tesla, Musk likely aware of Autopilot deficiencies behind Florida fatality, says judge
An update to Autopilot software will be delivered to affected vehicles "on or shortly after December 12," Tesla said in its recall notice to the NHTSA. The recall will "incorporate additional controls and alerts to those already existing on affected vehicles to further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility," Tesla said.
Additional controls, which will vary based on available vehicle hardware, may include more prominent visual alerts, a simpler method of engaging and disengaging Autopilot, additional checks when using the feature "outside of controlled access highways" and suspension of Autopilot if the driver "repeatedly fails to demonstrate continuous and sustained driving responsibility."
[15]
This is the second Autopilot recall Tesla has issued this year, with another OTA update issued in February after the NHTSA said Autopilot had a tendency to " [16]act unsafe around intersections " and ignore changes in speed limits.
The Register has asked Tesla for comment on this story, but hasn't heard back.
While the investigation has concluded, the NHTSA said it will leave the case open to "support an evaluation of the effectiveness" of the Autopilot update being deployed to address the issue. The NHTSA has asked Tesla to submit eight consecutive quarterly reports, followed by three annual ones, to demonstrate improved safety. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/12/13/tesla-nhtsa-recall-dec23.pdf
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/12/13/nhtsa-dec23-recall-letter-to-tesla.pdf
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZXo3lfWVzjd5CE6IhsRp4gAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/12/13/tesla-nhtsa-recall-dec23.pdf
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZXo3lfWVzjd5CE6IhsRp4gAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZXo3lfWVzjd5CE6IhsRp4gAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/09/nhtsa_tesla_autopilot/
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZXo3lfWVzjd5CE6IhsRp4gAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/08/tesla_california_autopilot/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/28/tesla_has_to_fix_safety/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/31/tesla_fatal_crash_verdict/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/11/tesla_california_autopilot_lawsuit/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/23/telsa_doj_investigation/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/22/tesla_autopilot_flaw_liability/
[15] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZXo3lfWVzjd5CE6IhsRp4gAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/17/tesla_fsd_upgrade_recall/
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "recall"
I think over-dramatizing the problem is not possible.
The so-called "autopilot", which is anything but, can actually kill people.
How about "demonstrably lethal programming flaws combined with intentional false advertising and deliberately confusing nomenclature"?
Enter the fanbois Python-esque "But it only kills a FEW people ... people kill more!"
Re: "recall"
You've missed "Suitably gullible customers" off your list.
The so-called "autopilot", which is anything but
I think the problem with the name is that the general population mis-understand what an autopilot is.
The autopilot on an aircraft takes over some of the more mundane tasks that are hard to co-ordinate under high workload or long duration phases of flight* - it does not "fly" the aircraft, and will cancel at zero notice if a fault is detected. The real difference is that it doesn't normally matter if it takes the pilot a second or two to respond when the autopilot says "over to you mate", where as any delay with a driver resuming control in a car can lead to a major accident.
* aircraft may also have a flight management system (FMS), which is more like the "Full self drive" as it is capable of navigation, climbing, descending, etc. However, it will also cancel with zero notice if a fault is detected.
Re: "recall"
But what about the NHSTA's free speech rights!?
Re: "recall"
Hasn't Musk already objected that it interferes withhis free speech rights to call it Autopilot irrespective of whether it does what it says on the tin?
Re: "recall"
It's either recall of the Tesla vehicle, or, "recall" of the Tesla "driver" by the "maker/almighty", as a consequence of the less than optimal software
Re: "recall"
The NHTSA date back to 1970 and their powers were drafted to match the technology of the time. At the time cars did not have software and the idea that faults could one day be fixed by broadcasting a software patch by radio and have it installed automatically did not occur to anyone. In theory congress could pass a law granting the NHTSA an additional power to require a software update. For the time being congress are too busy supporting Russia in Ukraine. It is simpler just to have the NHTSA use their existing power to get things fixed and not worry that the name of the power does not describe how the fix is done.
It's a Smear Campaign Against Musk
...are the words we'll be able to make out from the bleating fanboys.
Re: It's a Smear Campaign Against Musk
The fact that there's a brown sticky smear left after someone pushes Musk is only a consequence of what he's made up of.
a sticky brown smear
I found this quote ages ago (cannot source it) and I think that this is the right time to republish it :
" Adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun. So you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife. But if you mess with that word order in the slightest you'll sound like a maniac. It's an odd thing that every English speaker uses that list, but almost none of us could write it out. "
Brown, we can all agree, is color. Sticky, I think, corresponds to opinion. It's certainly not material or origin, and purpose even less.
So sticky brown smear it should be, I think.
Re: a sticky brown smear
Contrary to popular opinion around these here parts, ElReg is not on the current list of extra curricular reading for O-level English prep.
Re: a sticky brown smear
One thing the police and forensic scientists have to do is list things and the lists include clothing. You have to be careful to get the adjectives right. An "old lady's coat" isn't the same thing as a "lady's old "coat".
Witness statements might not be on the GCSE-English curriculum. Perhaps they should be. English is a more subtle language than it's often given credit for.
There's a movie in there.
NHTSA goons surround a quiet suburban home. Kids towing it to safety on their BMX bikes. 'Tesla phone home'.
Can you imagine if they outsourced the software updates to the Microsoft Windows team...
Re: There's a movie in there.
I'd really rather not imagine that.
Re: There's a movie in there.
I has the makings of a horror movie. No, make that disaster/
Consequences
Musk imagines himself to live in a Kingdom where he is a King, or an Empire where he is an Emperor. In the real world, he lives in a Country, where he's just another...
Did anybody ...
... other than the myopic Musk brown-nosers not see this coming?
In Other News
The whole "we'll sue you if you sell your Cybertruck" clause made a comeback, like the Christmas fruitcake that is perpetually regifted. Maybe it has something to do with the Cybertruck not being able to make it up shallow hills without needing to be towed?
https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-clause-sue-cybertruck-owners-resale-2023-12?op=1
https://www.newsweek.com/tesla-cybertruck-model-ford-california-hillside-video-1852126
Re: In Other News
Remember, four wheel drive allows idiots to get deeper into trouble before they ultimately get stuck. They were going to get stuck anyway, it was only a question of when and where.
That said, while the truck should have been able to extricate itself from that position, likewise the driver shouldn't have been driving in the snow that far over his head. Ultimately it was driver error combined with a vehicle that wasn't properly prepared for off-road use.
Seriously, improper tires, no rear lock-up capability, and no tow points? WTF was Tesla thinking, releasing a test vehicle like that? Numpties.
Re: In Other News
"WTF was Tesla thinking, releasing a test vehicle like that?"
He was probably thinking he'd be praised to the heavens. As usual.
"recall"
Some on the internet take exception to the word 'recall' because their car doesn't need to go to dealer for a fix and that it over dramatises the problem.
At some level, I agree. Perhaps there's a better phrase - such as "potentially lethal software issue"