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.
Tesla told the federal regulator that rolling stops were allowed only at intersections when no cars, pedestrians or bicyclists were detected but agreed to disable the feature.
The recalls, which Tesla initiated on Dec. 21, affect about 350,000 Model 3s and 120,000 Model S cars.
Drivers can be distracted playing games while the vehicle is in motion, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, following a New York Times report earlier this month.
“We are aware of driver concerns and are discussing the feature with the manufacturer,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement.
The feature raises fresh questions about whether Tesla is compromising safety as it rushes to add new technologies.