Under pressure from federal regulators, the company has agreed to recall two million cars to update its driver-assistance system. The cars will be updated over cellular networks.
An employee who was fired after expressing safety concerns leaked personnel records and sensitive data about driver-assistance software.
The company said it was recalling the vehicles in North America because of concerns that bumper cover parts could fall off and create hazards on the road.
The e-bike industry is booming, but many vehicles are not legal for teenagers, and accidents are on the rise.
The automakers paid the federal government for falling short of efficiency standards for cars and trucks in recent years.
A federal auto safety agency said the technology can cause crashes, but said the company was unaware of any deaths or injuries caused by the flaws.
Regulators said 1 percent of the vehicles recalled could have the defect. The products affected include 1.7 million Escape S.U.V.s.
NHTSA will take a broad look at whether the electric carmaker’s driver-assistance system can increase the risk of crashes.
Automakers and technology companies say they are making driving safer, but verifying these claims is difficult.
Some drivers have complained that cars using the company’s Autopilot system have been slowing down suddenly even when there are no hazards ahead.