Model S Software Crashes Car, But Tesla Motors Inc Blames Driver

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Tesla owners might be proud of their vehicle, but they need to keep in mind that their vehicles are as prone to accidents as any other car. Recently in Utah, there was an incident in which a loaner Model S was reported to have parked itself automatically… right into the back of a trailer.

Summon feature in question

The driver reported the incident to Tesla, which, after analyzing the logs, concluded that the driver was responsible for the accident as he initiated the car’s auto-parking feature, which led it to hit the back of the trailer.

Tesla’s Summon feature is in the beta stage for now, and human oversight is a must. Tesla says the self-parking feature needs to be monitored and human intervention is needed to avoid obstacles leading to accidents.

However, Jared Overton, the driver of the Model S in question, clarified that he had not activated the Summon feature. He explained that he was near the vehicle and was discussing it with a worker at the business he was visiting. Overton said he parked the vehicle some distance from the trailer, but the car somehow drove itself into it as it failed to detect the trailer’s bed.

Overton told KSL, “We were trying to figure out how on earth the vehicle started on its own. What happened with this kind of rogue vehicle?”

Tesla claims it’s the driver’s fault

Tesla sent a letter to Overton saying it was his fault. The EV firm suggested that the driver may have invoked the Summon feature and failed to monitor the car. The company said it had reviewed the vehicle’s logs and claims that the driver was not properly attentive to the vehicle’s surroundings when using the Summon feature, nor was he “maintaining responsibility for safely controlling the vehicle at all times.”

Tesla explained that a double-press of the gear selector stalk button initiated the Summon feature, which shifted the car from drive to park and requested the Summon activation. The letter further explained that the incident took place three seconds after Overton exited the car and closed the door.

However, Overton disagrees with the company, saying that if he had accidentally started Summon, he would have been able to hear it and stop it. He said the company could tell him whatever they want with the logs, but that would not change the fact.

“Even during that 15, 20-second walk right here, we would have easily heard the impact of the vehicle into the back of the trailer,” Overton said.

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