“Smart Summon” and “Actually Smart Summon,” and is accessed via the Tesla app and is used to autonomously drive the car. Tesla says the code can navigate around obstacles to reach the desired destination, though only over distances of up to 100 metres, and suggests it to do things like automatically leave a tight parking space.
However, there have been complains that Tesla has not been telling the truth and the self-driving machines have hit with obstacles and other vehicles. Twelve of these apparent accidents were by Teslas using the original Smart Summon software, while four more incidents have since been alleged by customers using its successor Actually Smart Summon, including one formal complaint being investigated by the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).
"All four incidents involve the subject Tesla vehicles operating in Actually Smart Summon failing to detect posts or parked vehicles, resulting in a crash," the watchdog wrote.
"ODI is aware of multiple crash allegations, involving both Smart Summon and Actually Smart Summon, where the user had too little reaction time to avoid a crash, either with the available line of sight or releasing the phone app button, which stops the vehicle’s movement," the NHTSA added.
Tesla has also failed to tell anyone about the incidents, which is a legal requirement for any accident involving a car using self-driving software on a public road. The probe affects every Tesla Model S, 3, and X purchased since 2016, potentially covering 2,585,000 or so vehicles.
Smart Summon was panned after its launch in 2019 as being buggy and prone to either not working at all or making cars bump into objects. Smart Summon debuted in September 2024 and, while sentiment on Tesla forums suggests it is an improvement, issues remain.
Tesla critic Dan O'Dowd said that Smart Summon and Full Self-Driving are defective engineering prototypes and should not be allowed on the road.
"Tesla has repeatedly shown its contempt for regulators and it is concerning that Tesla failed to report any of the 15 accidents NHTSA identified Actually Smart Summon to be involved in to federal regulators,” he claimed.
Tesla is saying nothing and is probably waiting US president Donald Trump to enter the White House to make the investigation go away.