U.S. Traffic Regulator Extends Timeline for Tesla’s FSD Probe Response
In Focus
- Tesla asked the NHTSA for more time to find relevant reports on January 12, 2026
- The regulator allowed Tesla to respond to the information request by February 23, 2026
- The EV maker is handling multiple information requests from the traffic regulator
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has extended the timeline for Tesla’s response to the FSD traffic violation probe to February 23, 2026. According to Reuters, the probe by the NHTSA seeks to establish whether Tesla vehicles violated traffic rules when the EV maker’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) was activated.
NHTSA Announced Tesla FSD Probe in 2025
The U.S. traffic watchdog announced a probe into 2.88 million Tesla EVs that use the company’s advanced driver-assistance system in October 2025. The investigation is part of a federal scrutiny into Tesla’s self-driving system and is aimed at assessing claims that vehicles that used the FSD system violated traffic rules by running red lights and driving in the wrong direction.
The NHTSA announces Tesla’s Full Self-Driving investigation after receiving over 50 reports relating to traffic violations and multiple crashes. In December 2025, the traffic regulator sent Tesla an information request, asking the company to inform it of the number of customer complaints received. The regulator also wanted details about property damage claims, field reports, and lawsuits or arbitration reports relating to the alleged defects.
On January 12, 2026, Tesla informed the NHTSA that it required more time to identify relevant traffic violation reports for the probe. The company said it had 8,313 records requiring manual review and about 300 could be completed per day.
Tesla Is Handling Multiple Information Requests
Tesla’s extension request highlighted the fact that it was dealing with multiple queries from the traffic regulator. Besides the FSD information request, Tesla is preparing responses to two other probes on delayed crash reports and inoperative door handles.
The company said responding to the information requests within a short period was burdensome and would affect the quality of responses it provides. NHTSA’s extension of Tesla’s FSD probe response deadline comes shortly after the EV maker announced plans to drop the one-time payment for the self-driving system.
CEO Elon Musk recently said the self-driving system will only be available as a monthly subscription starting February 14, 2026.
The EV Maker Plans to Provide More Details
Tesla says it will require another extension after submitting summaries of alleged violations and its assessment of contributing factors. The company plans to provide additional details about each claim during the extension.
This includes the version of FSD software running in the affected vehicles, and whether drivers got alerts prior to traffic violations. The FSD system is increasingly becoming critical for Tesla. Musk is counting on it to drive demand for the company’s vehicles amidst declining demand.
But as the company focuses on improving FSD features, authorities in California have threatened the company with a 30-day sales suspension. The department of motor vehicles in the state claims Tesla’s marketing misleads buyers regarding the actual capabilities of the driving system. The sales halt, which will likely take place this year, will hurt sales in the company’s largest U.S. market.
