The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rejected a petition to recall approximately 2.26 million Tesla vehicles. This petition, filed in March 2023, alleged that features like one-pedal driving caused unintended acceleration.
Federal regulators found no evidence of a safety-related defect after a year-long review. The NHTSA concluded that Tesla’s regenerative braking systems are common across the electric vehicle industry. Investigators determined that vehicle data showed cars responded correctly to driver inputs during reported incidents.
The decision eliminates the threat of a massive and costly recall for the electric vehicle manufacturer. This resolution clears a major regulatory uncertainty that has persisted since early 2023. Tesla continues to face separate federal scrutiny regarding its Full Self-Driving system.