The United States auto safety regulators have closed an investigation into Tesla’s remote driving feature after determining that reported incidents were minor and did not pose a significant safety risk.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it had ended its probe into Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” system, which allows drivers to move vehicles remotely using a smartphone app in parking areas or on private property. The investigation, launched in early 2025, covered approximately 2.6 million vehicles. Regulators examined about 100 reported crashes linked to the feature and found that nearly all were low-speed incidents involving minor property damage. No injuries or fatalities were recorded.
According to the agency, many of the incidents occurred at the beginning of a summon session, when visibility or situational awareness was limited. Vehicles typically struck stationary objects such as parked cars, garage doors, or gates.The NHTSA concluded that the “low frequency and severity of the incidents did not warrant further action,” effectively closing the case.
Tesla had already responded to the concerns by rolling out a series of over-the-air software updates aimed at improving the system’s performance. These updates enhanced obstacle detection, improved camera visibility, and refined the vehicle’s response to environmental conditions such as snow or condensation.
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While the decision removes one layer of regulatory pressure on Tesla, the company continues to face scrutiny over its more advanced driver-assistance technologies. The NHTSA is currently conducting a separate, more intensive “engineering analysis” into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which now covers about 3.2 million vehicles in the United States..
That investigation follows reports of crashes and traffic safety violations, including incidents in low-visibility conditions where the system may not have adequately alerted drivers. The ongoing probe highlights broader concerns among regulators about the real-world performance of advanced driver-assistance systems and their ability to ensure driver engagement and safety.
In closing the Smart Summon case, regulators expressed confidence in Tesla’s mitigation measures for that specific feature. However, continued scrutiny of its Full Self-Driving technology highlights the evolving regulatory landscape for semi-autonomous driving systems and the challenges automakers face as they push toward greater automation.