NHTSA Probes 2.6 Million Teslas After ‘Smart Summon’ Crashes Into Parked Cars

Federal safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla’s remote-control “Actually Smart Summon” feature after at least 16 crashes where the vehicles failed to detect stationary obstacles, raising fresh questions about the automaker’s autonomous driving promises as CEO Elon Musk gains unprecedented political influence.

En National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the probe on January 6, 2025, covering approximately 2.6 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the company’s optional Full Self-Driving system. The investigation marks the latest regulatory scrutiny of Tesla’s autonomous features, which have repeatedly promised capabilities the technology cannot yet deliver.

Remote-Control Feature Fails to Detect Obstacles

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation received one formal complaint and reviewed three media reports of crashes involving “Actually Smart Summon,” a feature launched in September 2024 that allows Tesla owners to remotely move their vehicles using a smartphone app. According to the federal filing, all four incidents involved Tesla vehicles “failing to detect posts or parked vehicles, resulting in a crash.”

The investigation also encompasses 12 additional crash reports involving the older “Smart Summon” feature, bringing total crash allegations to 16. The probe covers 2016-2025 Model S and Model X, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving.

In one incident, a Model 3 in Houston struck a parked car with a passenger inside in 2023. Another crash occurred in Henderson, Nevada, in September when a Model Y “abruptly turned left and struck a parked vehicle,” according to federal documents.

Users Had ‘Too Little Reaction Time’ to Prevent Crashes

The NHTSA stated it 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 feature is designed to move vehicles short distances in parking lots at low speeds, with drivers controlling them remotely while keeping the car within line of sight. Releasing the app button is supposed to immediately stop the vehicle’s movement. But the crashes suggest the system’s inability to detect common obstacles combined with slow user response times creates dangerous situations.

The investigation will examine the maximum speed vehicles can reach while Actually Smart Summon is engaged, designed restrictions for use on public roads, line-of-sight requirements, potential connectivity delays with the smartphone app, and the system’s performance in unanticipated conditions.

Tesla Failed to Report Crashes Despite Federal Requirements

The NHTSA noted that “Tesla has not reported any Smart Summon or Actually Smart Summon crashes through the Standing General Order for crashes involving ADS or Level 2 ADAS, which requires reporting of crashes on publicly accessible roads.”

This compliance failure adds another layer to the investigation. Federal regulations require automakers to report crashes involving autonomous driving systems or Level 2 advanced driver-assistance systems on public roads within five days. Tesla’s apparent failure to report these incidents raises questions about the company’s transparency with regulators—particularly as Musk cultivates close ties to incoming political leadership that could influence regulatory oversight.

Latest in Pattern of Autonomous Driving Scrutiny

This investigation follows the NHTSA’s October 2024 probe into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving software after four reported collisions, including a fatal 2023 crash where a pedestrian was killed after being struck by a Model Y in low-visibility conditions.

The heightened scrutiny comes as Musk pivots Tesla toward robotaxis and autonomous driving technology while simultaneously serving as a close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office in just days. Musk has previously criticized NHTSA’s regulatory actions, and ethics experts have warned that his political connections could lead to weakened oversight of Tesla.

Tesla’s stock fell 4% in midday trading following the investigation announcement. The company did not respond to requests for comment from multiple outlets.

EVXL’s Take

Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” investigation exposes a familiar pattern: the company rolls out features with grandiose names that promise more than they can deliver. Calling something “Actually Smart” doesn’t make it so—especially when it can’t detect a parking lot post.

We’ve documented Tesla’s troubled relationship with regulators extensively at EVXL. From door handles that trap children inside vehicles to Full Self-Driving systems that crash in low visibility, there’s a troubling gap between Musk’s promises and actual vehicle performance.

The NHTSA’s new chief, Jonathan Morrison, confirmed in September 2025 that the agency “cannot sit back and wait for problems to arise with such developing technologies, but must demonstrate strong leadership.”

But here’s the bigger concern: 16 crashes and Tesla reportedly didn’t tell regulators about a single one, despite federal requirements. That’s not a paperwork oversight—it’s a transparency problem that should alarm every EV owner and prospective buyer.

The timing couldn’t be more ironic. As Musk prepares to advise an incoming administration that may view regulations as obstacles rather than safeguards, we’re seeing fresh evidence of why rigorous oversight matters. Remote-control features that can’t see stationary objects aren’t ready for public roads, no matter how “smart” the marketing claims.

For Tesla owners who paid thousands for Full Self-Driving capabilities, this investigation is another reminder that the gap between promise and reality remains wide. And for the EV industry watching Tesla’s regulatory battles, it’s a lesson in what happens when marketing outpaces engineering and transparency takes a back seat to hype.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo credit: Tesla