Key facts
- The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed its 2022 investigation into unexpected deceleration in 695,000 Tesla vehicles.
- The probe covered Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
- Tesla released software updates in early 2022 to address the issue.
- NHTSA cited a low demonstrated hazard and a substantial drop in reported incidents.
- Incident reports fell from 300 when the investigation opened to 45 in 2024, 19 in 2025, and three in 2026.
- NHTSA also recently closed a separate probe into loss of steering control in 376,241 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed its 2022 investigation into unexpected deceleration in approximately 695,000 Tesla vehicles. The agency cited a low demonstrated hazard to drivers and a substantial drop in reported incidents following software updates released by Tesla in early 2022.
The investigation encompassed Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. According to the NHTSA, incident reports related to unexpected deceleration fell from 300 when the probe began to 45 in 2024, 19 in 2025, and three since the start of 2026.
The regulator also stated that the reported conditions did not alter the vehicle's lateral positioning or cause significant loss of distance to following vehicles, thereby not leading to collisions. This development follows NHTSA's recent closure of a separate, expanded probe into an estimated 376,241 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles concerning loss of steering control.