Tesla has announced a large recall affecting more than 360,000 vehicles because of issues tied to the beta version of its autonomous driving software. The situation centers on the company’s autopilot system and how it behaves in real world driving, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, commonly referred to as the NHTSA. This notice covers several model years and lines, including the 2016 through 2023 Model S and Model X, the 2017 through 2023 Model 3, and the 2020 through 2023 Model Y. The beta variant of the autopilot feature has shown tendencies to exceed recommended speeds and to navigate intersections in ways that can appear unpredictable. Vehicles have reportedly passed through yellow lights or paused under stop signs for extended periods even when the intersection is clear. Such actions increase the risk of an accident in the view of the NHTSA and safety researchers who monitor autopilot performance.
