Auto Safety Regulators To Open Investigation Into Tesla Over ‘Phantom Braking’

Are Tesla vehicles "phantom braking?"

Auto safety regulators in the U.S. have begun inquiring into the famous electric vehicle maker as some of its cars are allegedly halting on roads for no clear reason, the Associated Press reports.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Wednesday that it will look into over 400,000 Tesla vehicles related to the unexpected brake activation issue.

"Complainants report that the rapid deceleration can occur without warning, at random, and often repeatedly in a single drive cycle," the government agency said.

The problem is associated with 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles when its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is engaged while driving at "highway speeds." The agency says it has received over 350 complaints related to the problem in less than a year.

As reported by Reuters, one Tesla owner told NHTSA last fall that they "almost lost control" of their car as it "braked hard and decelerated from 80 mph to 69 mph in less than a second."

NHTSA says no injuries or crashes have been reported in connection to the vehicle issue.