The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially closed its investigation into Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon (ASS) feature after more than a year of scrutiny. The probe, which was opened last January, focused on approximately 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 using a smartphone app, directing the vehicle short distances in parking lots or private property while the driver supervises from the phone.
The feature came under scrutiny after reports of low-speed incidents where vehicles bumped into stationary objects like posts, parked cars, or garage doors. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation reviewed 159 incidents, all of which occurred at very low speeds and resulted in minor property damage, with no injuries or fatalities. The agency determined 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. During the probe, Tesla deployed six updates that improved camera-based object detection, enhanced neural network performance for obstacle recognition, and refined the system’s response to potential hazards. These updates addressed the primary concerns around detection reliability and operator reaction time.
Critics initially pointed to the incidents as evidence of rushed deployment, given the feature’s reliance on Tesla’s vision-only Full Self-Driving (FSD) stack. However, the NHTSA’s decision to close the case without seeking a recall highlights the low-severity nature of the events and the effectiveness of software-based fixes in modern vehicles.
Despite its flaws, including personal experiences of unsuccessful summon attempts, Tesla continues to push boundaries with its autonomous driving ambitions. The closure of the investigation reinforces confidence in Actually Smart Summon as a convenient, low-risk tool rather than a hazardous experiment. As Tesla focuses on further refinements and advancements in autonomous driving technology, the outcome of the investigation showcases how data-driven analysis and rapid OTA remediation can satisfy regulators in this evolving landscape.
While Tesla has not issued an official statement on the closure, the move is seen as a positive development for the company’s autonomy roadmap. By reducing regulatory overhang and demonstrating the effectiveness of software updates, Tesla can now concentrate on further improving its autonomous driving features.