US Closes 2022 Tesla Probe Into Unexpected Braking

NHTSA said the reported incidents did not cause vehicles to leave their lanes or significantly increase the risk of a crash.

Tesla vehicles sit for sale at a Tesla dealership in Long Beach, Calif., on March 29, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on July 2 it closed its 2022 preliminary evaluation into nearly 695,000 Tesla vehicles after finding that reports of unexpected braking had dropped significantly and presented a low safety risk.

The agency first opened the investigation in 2022 after receiving about 300 reports of vehicles slowing unexpectedly. The probe covered Model 3 and ⁠Model Y vehicles.

The regulator said the number of complaints fell sharply after Tesla introduced software updates in early 2022.

According to NHTSA, there were 45 reported incidents in 2024, 19 in 2025, and only three reports since the beginning of 2026.

“Due to low incident occurrence and low incident severity, this preliminary evaluation is closed,” the agency said.

The reported incidents, the NHTSA said, did not cause vehicles to leave their lanes or create a significant reduction in the distance between the Tesla vehicle and the vehicle ahead that would likely lead to a crash.

Steering Investigation

The closure comes only days after NHTSA ended another investigation involving Tesla vehicles, this time over reports of power steering problems.

U.S. safety regulators said on June 28 they had closed an engineering analysis covering about 376,241 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from the 2023 model year after reviewing a recall carried out by the company.

NHTSA first opened that investigation in July 2023 after receiving reports from owners who said they could no longer turn the steering wheel or had to apply much greater effort to steer their vehicles. The agency upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis in early 2024 to examine the issue in greater detail.

Tesla later recalled about 376,000 vehicles in the United States in early 2025.

The company said the recall addressed a fault in the power steering assist system that could make vehicles harder to steer, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tesla also said at the time that the recall was not issued in response to the NHTSA investigation, which remained open while the company carried out corrective measures.

According to the recall documents, Tesla released an over-the-air software update that was designed to prevent electrical damage to motor drive components on a circuit board. The company said the issue could increase steering effort if left uncorrected.

After reviewing Tesla’s recall, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation decided to close its engineering analysis. The agency concluded that the recall addressed the safety concerns under review.

Fatal Crash

Last month, the NHTSA opened a special investigation into a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model 3 that struck a home in Katy, Texas, after the driver told investigators the vehicle was using an automated driving feature.

The crash occurred when the car left the road at high speed, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila, who was inside the house. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said driver Michael Butler is cooperating with investigators and showed no signs of intoxication after the crash.

Tesla says its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features require a fully attentive driver who is ready to take control at any time. The investigation comes as Tesla prepares to expand its robotaxi service in several U.S. cities.

Reuters contributed to this report.