NHTSA opened a defect investigation into comma.ai's openpilot, and into its forks

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary evaluation into driving-automation devices sold by comma.ai, the agency’s opening resume shows. The investigation, numbered PE26007 and dated September 21, covers the comma three, comma 3X, comma four and the openpilot software, with an estimated population of 30,000 devices.

The agency said it had received notice of five crashes in which vehicles with comma devices installed reportedly struck stopped or slowly moving vehicles in the same travel lane, and that it had confirmed the systems were powered on or engaged in multiple crashes. Two of the crashes resulted in three deaths, and four of the five contributed to non-fatal injuries, including serious injuries, to eleven other people. The investigation was prompted by incident reports filed under the agency’s standing general order, a vehicle owner questionnaire, and police outreach.

The devices are sold directly to consumers with wire harnesses that connect to existing vehicle systems, and use the device’s cameras alongside the vehicle’s own sensors to provide sustained automated control of speed and heading. The resume quotes comma.ai’s marketing, including a claim that setup takes fifteen minutes and that openpilot can drive for hours without intervention, alongside the company’s own statement that the system requires the driver to stay alert and be ready to take over at all times.

One paragraph has no precedent in the agency’s recent work. Where modified software based on openpilot, which the resume calls a fork, is involved in a crash or other incident, the agency said it will evaluate the incident and consider the shared components between openpilot and the fork.

NHTSA issued no press release. The investigation entered the agency’s machine-readable register during the past day.