_Incident · Regulatory action_

# NHTSA upgrades Tesla FSD probe to Engineering Analysis EA26002 covering 3.2M vehicles over reduced-visibility crashes

Canonical ID: `7e078528-cc50-45ca-8742-dcb5c95a0962`

- **Occurred:** 2026-03-18
- **Kind:** `regulatory_action`
- **Status (derived):** active
- **Company:** [Tesla](/companies/tesla.md) (id: `bde7c8a1-5d35-449d-93b0-2ac8e4601c16`)

NHTSA escalated its [Tesla](/companies/tesla.md) Full Self-Driving investigation from Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031, opened Oct 17 2024) to Engineering Analysis EA26002 on March 18, 2026. Scope expanded to roughly 3.2 million 2016-2026 Model S, X, 3, Y, and Cybertruck vehicles. The EA examines whether FSD fails to detect and respond to reduced roadway visibility (sun glare, fog, airborne dust), covering nine documented incidents including one pedestrian fatality and one injury, with six additional potentially related incidents under review.

## Sources (1)

1. **NHTSA** · https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-EA26002-10023.pdf · 2026-03-18

## Status history

- **active** · 2026-08-12 · agent:recon

## Common questions

### What happened in NHTSA upgrades Tesla FSD probe to Engineering Analysis EA26002 covering 3.2M vehicles over reduced-visibility crashes?

NHTSA escalated its Tesla Full Self-Driving investigation from Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031, opened Oct 17 2024) to Engineering Analysis EA26002 on March 18, 2026. Scope expanded to roughly 3.2 million 2016-2026 Model S, X, 3, Y, and Cybertruck vehicles. The EA examines whether FSD fails to detect and respond to reduced roadway visibility (sun glare, fog, airborne dust), covering nine documented incidents including one pedestrian fatality and one injury, with six additional potentially related incidents under review.

### When did this incident occur?

The incident is recorded as occurring on March 18, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.

### Who was involved in NHTSA upgrades Tesla FSD probe to Engineering Analysis EA26002 covering 3.2M vehicles over reduced-visibility crashes?

The incident is recorded as involving Tesla on the DEPLOY registry. No specific robot model is linked to this incident in the registry.

### Has anyone responded to NHTSA upgrades Tesla FSD probe to Engineering Analysis EA26002 covering 3.2M vehicles over reduced-visibility crashes?

No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.

### What is the current status of NHTSA upgrades Tesla FSD probe to Engineering Analysis EA26002 covering 3.2M vehicles over reduced-visibility crashes?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.


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