Federal safety agency says it has nearly two dozen open investigations into Tesla crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Thursday that it has opened more than two dozen investigations into Tesla crashes, according to a report from Reuters.

Twenty-eight investigations have been opened into Tesla crashes, 23 of which remain active, according to the wire service. 

Four of the probes into the electric vehicle crashes have been completed. Three of the crashes have occurred in recent weeks. 

In a statement to The Hill, the NHTSA said it was “aware” of a crash that occurred in Houston involving a Tesla vehicle. 

“We are actively engaged with local law enforcement and Tesla to learn more about the details of the crash and will take appropriate steps when we have more information,” the agency said.

The news of multiple investigations comes after the NHTSA announced this week that it would be investigating a Tesla crash in Michigan after state police said an electric vehicle crashed into a patrol car. 

Another crash in Detroit in March was more severe. A Tesla was wedged under a tractor trailer and left the driver in critical condition. Authorities maintained that the car’s Autopilot function was not in use, according to the outlet. 

Tesla has previously advised drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel while driving with the Autopilot feature.

Since 2016, there have been three fatal Tesla crashes involving Autopilot, according to Reuters. 

In July, the NHTSA’s Special Crash Investigation team had looked into 19 Tesla crashes where it believed some form of advanced driver assistance system was engaged at the time of the incident. 

The agency said that the system doesn’t make the Tesla capable of driving itself. 

“The most advanced vehicle technologies available for purchase today provide driver assistance and require a fully attentive human driver at all times performing the driving task and monitoring the surrounding environment,” the NHTSA said. 

The Hill has reached out to Tesla for comment. 

Updated 10:19 p.m.