NHTSA Rejects Petition for Massive Tesla Recall, Continues Scrutiny of FSD System

The U.S. auto safety regulator has rejected a petition seeking a sweeping recall of approximately 2.26 million Tesla vehicles, stating there is no evidence of a safety-related defect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that concerns over unintended acceleration linked to pedal misapplication and one-pedal driving were not substantiated by available data. The decision removes the immediate threat of a large-scale recall for Tesla, although regulatory oversight of the company remains active.

The petition, filed in March 2023, alleged that Tesla’s vehicle control systems—particularly regenerative braking and one-pedal driving—could increase the risk of driver error leading to unintended acceleration. However, NHTSA reported only a handful of relevant incidents and confirmed that vehicle data showed cars responded appropriately to driver inputs. The agency also noted that regenerative braking is a common feature across electric vehicles and not unique to Tesla, adding that proposed remedies such as mandatory brake application would likely not have prevented the incidents.

Despite the dismissal of the recall request, scrutiny of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system continues to intensify. NHTSA has escalated its investigation into 3.2 million Tesla vehicles over concerns about the system’s performance in low-visibility conditions, moving to an engineering analysis stage that could precede a recall. Meanwhile, Tesla stated that the Dutch regulator is reviewing its FSD submission, with potential approval in the Netherlands expected by April and broader European clearance anticipated later this year.

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