Key Takeaways
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi issued an official statement on House.gov on September 10, 2026, demanding NHTSA action after videos circulated showing Tesla drivers asleep with driver-assistance engaged.
- Reuters, NBC News and USA Today independently reported the call for a federal investigation; the underlying videos have not been independently verified by federal authorities.
- WardsAuto and Mashable frame the scrutiny as a federal probe tied to Tesla's Cybercab rollout in Austin, but that framing is outlet commentary, not a sourced agency statement.
- No NHTSA announcement or formal docket has been identified in the available reporting, so no federal investigation is confirmed.
Background
Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised) packages are Level 2 driver-assistance systems that require a fully attentive driver at all times. A comprehensive guide to Tesla Autopilot and FSD capabilities explains how Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, Autosteer, and the FSD feature set operate within those boundaries. Tesla's in-cabin camera adds driver attention monitoring by tracking eye and head movement on software builds where the feature is enabled; steering wheel torque remains a core hands-on detection method. For operational details, owners can consult Safe Tesla Autopilot driving tips and the Tesla FSD Beta program guide, which cover correct engagement, monitoring responsibilities, and disengagement procedures. A separate Tesla assisted driving version guide differentiates regional software releases and feature availability.
NHTSA can open defect investigations into driver-assistance systems when it identifies a potential safety defect. Consumer misuse alone does not establish a defect, but repeated incidents can form the basis for an agency inquiry. No formal investigation has been announced in this record.
Timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2026 | Tesla launched its autonomous Cybercab robotaxi service in Austin, offering rides in a vehicle without a steer |
| Sep 4, 2026 | NHTSA and other US regulators opened a probe into Tesla's self-certification of the Cybercab rollout, question |
| Sep 4, 2026 | The Trump administration launched its own investigation into whether Tesla's Cybercab service complies with US |
| Sep 7, 2026 | Tesla launched its autonomous Cybercab robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, using vehicles without steering whee |
| Sep 7, 2026 | NHTSA opened a federal audit into how Tesla self-certified the Cybercab for public road use, reportedly coveri |
| Sep 7, 2026 | Tesla shares fell amid regulatory uncertainty and investor disappointment; the Cybercab launch fleet was descr |
| Sep 8, 2026 | NHTSA is investigating Tesla's self-certification of the Cybercab for autonomous operation. |
The Latest Development
Official statement and coverageRepresentative Raja Krishnamoorthi's office published a statement on House.gov on September 10, 2026, demanding that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration act after videos circulated showing Tesla drivers asleep behind the wheel with driver-assistance systems engaged. The official statement says the footage raises serious questions about whether Tesla's safeguards adequately prevent misuse. Reuters, NBC News, and USA Today each independently reported the demand, citing the House.gov statement and the same circulating videos.
All three outlets note that the scrutiny arrived hours after Tesla launched its Cybercab service in Austin, Texas. That timing is repeated by WardsAuto and Mashable, which explicitly frame the congressional demand as a federal probe tied to the Cybercab rollout. However, no NHTSA announcement or formal docket has been identified in the available coverage; the agency has not confirmed an investigation.
The circulating videos have not been independently verified by federal authorities, and the available reporting does not establish that any driver shown was using Autopilot rather than Full Self-Driving or that either system failed. The confirmed record is limited to the official statement and the fact that multiple outlets corroborated the call for agency action.
Owner / Hands-on Perspective
Owners who want to reduce the chance of a driver-monitoring violation should verify that the cabin camera is unobstructed and that no aftermarket device is interfering with steering torque input. In the vehicle touchscreen, open Controls > Autopilot and check whether Driver Monitoring or Attention Monitoring is present and enabled for the active driver profile; some software versions also show a cabin camera preview in Service Mode. Tesla's owner documentation states that the camera may be used to detect inattentiveness and that drivers remain responsible for control.
Practically, if the car is in Autopilot or FSD and the driver repeatedly ignores attention prompts, the system can escalate to audible alerts, disengagement, and potentially limit availability of the feature for that drive. One option worth considering is to set the Autopilot activation speed to the current posted limit to reduce abrupt corrections. Because state law still classifies these consumer systems as Level 2, owners should treat Cybercab service and personal Autopilot or FSD as separate regulatory contexts until NHTSA states otherwise.
What It Means
Confirmed
Rep. Krishnamoorthi's September 10 statement demanding NHTSA action, published directly on House.gov, is confirmed. Reuters, NBC News, and USA Today independently corroborated the statement and its call for a federal investigation. Those reports also consistently note the demand came hours after Tesla launched Cybercab in Austin, though the launch itself is attributed to coverage rather than an official Tesla statement on the record.
Speculation
Not confirmed: that NHTSA has opened a formal investigation, that any driver in the videos was using Autopilot or FSD at the time, or that Tesla's driver-assistance systems failed. WardsAuto's and Mashable's description of a federal probe tied to the Cybercab rollout is an editorial framing, not an agency finding. The videos themselves have not been authenticated by a federal authority.
FAQ
QDid a House Democrat ask NHTSA to investigate Tesla over sleeping drivers?
Yes. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi published an official statement on House.gov on September 10, 2026, demanding NHTSA action after videos showed Tesla drivers asleep while driver-assistance was engaged, as independently reported by Reuters, NBC News and USA Today.
QIs NHTSA actually investigating Tesla?
No federal investigation has been confirmed. The official statement asks NHTSA to act, but no NHTSA announcement or formal docket is cited in the available reporting.
QDid the Tesla Cybercab rollout trigger the probe call?
The official House.gov statement does not explicitly tie the demand to Cybercab. WardsAuto and Mashable note the demand came hours after Tesla launched Cybercab in Austin, but that timing link is outlet framing.
QCan Tesla Autopilot or FSD be used while sleeping?
No. Tesla's Autopilot and FSD are supervised driver-assistance systems that require an attentive driver, according to Tesla's documentation. Videos showing sleeping drivers depict misuse, not approved operation.
QWhat should Tesla owners do to avoid driver-assistance misuse?
Owners should verify driver monitoring is active, keep the cabin camera unobstructed, keep hands on the wheel, and avoid devices that defeat torque detection. In-vehicle settings under Controls > Autopilot include driver attention options on supported builds.
Information compiled from official statements and independent reporting, published September 10, 2026. Confirmed facts and unconfirmed/speculative points are separated above.
