---
title: "Government Might Investigate Teslas Accelerating Unexpectedly"
description: "The NHTSA said Friday that it's thinking about launching an investigation over a petition citing issues over Teslas accelerating suddenly."
date: "2020-01-17"
modified: "2020-01-17"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/government-might-investigate-teslas-accelerating-unexpectedly"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Tesla"
tags:
  - "autopilot"
  - "NHTSA"
  - "tesla"
  - "the digest"
---

# Government Might Investigate Teslas Accelerating Unexpectedly

![The NHTSA said Friday that it's thinking about launching an investigation over a petition citing issues over Teslas accelerating suddenly.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/government-might-investigate-teslas-accelerating-unexpectedly.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Image via pxfuel/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Not User Error

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Friday that it's considering an investigation into "sudden unintended acceleration" affecting half a million Tesla vehicles, [according to *Reuters*](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-probe-idUSKBN1ZG1IL?taid=5e21c199dbd6c90001a8ce12&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter>).

The NHTSA is considering [more than a hundred consumer complaints](<https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a30563849/tesla-nhtsa-sudden-acceleration-investigation/>) involving 123 unique vehicles — including a wide variety of Tesla models and production years, *Reuters* points out — 110 crashes and 52 injuries.

## Lurching Forward

Drivers claimed their Teslas accelerated unexpectedly and crashed into parked cars, chain link fences, and even garage doors.

It's not the first time the NHTSA has reviewed complaints from Tesla owners. For instance, [a September 2019 petition](<https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a29369387/nhtsa-tesla-safety/>) drew attention to the company's "Summon" feature and a potential battery issue.

## On Autopilot

And then there's Tesla's controversial self driving feature called Autopilot. The NHTSA has been reviewing [a number of incidents](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-crash-exclusive/us-agency-probes-12th-tesla-crash-tied-to-possible-autopilot-use-idUSKBN1YH2BF>) in which evidence suggests the feature was on right before an accident — in some instances resulting in the death of the driver.

Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment.

**READ MORE:** [U.S. will look at sudden acceleration complaints involving 500,000 Tesla vehicles](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-probe-idUSKBN1ZG1IL>) \[*Reuters*\]

**More on Tesla:** *[Watch This Adorable Mini Cybertruck Drift in the Snow](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/adorable-mini-cybertruck-drift-snow-video>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)