The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially closed its investigation into Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon (ASS) feature after over a year of scrutiny. This marks a regulatory win for the electric vehicle maker. The probe, which was opened last January, looked into roughly 2.59 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the feature across the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y lineups. ASS allows owners to move their parked Tesla remotely via a smartphone app, directing the vehicle short distances in parking lots or private property while the driver supervises from the phone.
The feature drew attention after reports of low-speed incidents where vehicles bumped into stationary objects. The NHTSA reviewed 159 incidents, all of which occurred at very low speeds and resulted in only minor property damage with no injuries or fatalities. The agency concluded that these incidents were extremely rare and did not indicate a systemic safety-related defect.
A key factor in the closure of the investigation was Tesla’s proactive response through over-the-air software updates. The company deployed at least six updates during the probe to improve camera-based object detection, enhance neural network performance, and refine the system’s response to potential hazards. These updates addressed concerns around detection reliability and operator reaction time.
Critics of Tesla’s autonomous features initially pointed to the crashes as evidence of rushed deployment. However, the NHTSA’s decision to close the case without seeking a recall highlights the low-severity nature of the incidents and the effectiveness of software-based fixes in modern vehicles. While the feature has its flaws, improvements will continue to be made.
This closure comes as Tesla continues to advance its autonomous driving ambitions, including unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) rollouts and robotaxi initiatives. For owners, this ruling reinforces confidence in Actually Smart Summon as a convenient, low-risk tool. It also demonstrates how data-driven analysis and rapid over-the-air remediation can satisfy regulators in the evolving landscape of automated driving technology.
Tesla has not issued an official statement on the closure, but the move is seen as positive for the company’s autonomy roadmap. It reduces regulatory overhang and allows Tesla to focus on further refinements in its autonomous driving technology.