The US safety regulator, NHTSA, has opened a safety investigation into an estimated 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 that allow games to be played on OE fitted touchscreens.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening what it terms a ‘Preliminary Evaluation’ (PE) on certain Tesla model year (MY) 2017 – 2022 Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles based on reports ‘that Tesla gameplay functionality, which is visible on the front center touchscreen from the driver’s seat, is enabled even when the vehicle is being driven’. The NHTSA said this functionality, referred to as “Passenger Play,” may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash.
ODI said it has received one Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) describing the gameplay functionality and has confirmed that this capability has been available since December 2020 in Tesla “Passenger Play”-equipped vehicles. Prior to this time, gameplay was enabled only when the vehicle was in Park, the ODI said.
The PE has been opened to evaluate the driver distraction potential of Tesla “Passenger Play” while the vehicle is being driven. Through this PE, ODI said it will evaluate aspects of the feature, including the frequency and use scenarios of Tesla “Passenger Play.”